US To Award $2 Billion To Quantum Companies, Take Equity Stakes
Source: Slashdot
Overview
The Trump administration is preparing a new round of industrial policy aimed at quantum computing, with roughly $2 billion in grants expected to go to nine companies developing quantum hardware and related technologies. The U.S. Department of Commerce plans to distribute the funding through deals that also give the federal government equity stakes in the companies receiving the awards. This approach expands Washington’s direct involvement in sectors viewed as strategically important to national security, advanced manufacturing, and competition with China.
Funding Allocation
- IBM – expected to receive the largest share, about $1 billion.
- GlobalFoundries – slated for approximately $375 million.
- D‑Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, Quantinuum, and Infleqtion – each potentially receiving around $100 million.
- Diraq (Australian quantum startup) – could receive about $38 million.
Anderon Quantum Wafer Foundry
IBM announced that it will invest the funds it receives into a new IBM subsidiary called Anderon and will match the grant with an additional $1 billion in cash.
“Anderon will operate as a state‑of‑the‑art 300‑millimeter quantum wafer foundry,” IBM stated. “It will help the nation solidify its leadership at the center of a thriving new quantum industry that is estimated to generate up to $850 billion in economic value by 2040 and spur American economic growth while also bolstering national security.”
Market Reaction
Following the announcement, quantum‑computing stocks surged:
- IBM: +9.7 %
- D‑Wave: +28.1 %
- Rigetti: +26.7 %
- GlobalFoundries: +13.8 %
- Infleqtion: +30.9 %