U.S. Department of Commerce Backs Quantum Computing

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced plans to provide more than $2 billion in proposed federal incentives supporting quantum computing research, manufacturing infrastructure, and advanced engineering development as part of broader efforts to strengthen domestic leadership in quantum technologies and national security.

The proposed funding, administered through the CHIPS Research and Development Office under the CHIPS and Science Act, includes letters of intent involving nine quantum technology companies spanning multiple quantum computing architectures and manufacturing technologies.

The portfolio includes two domestic quantum foundry initiatives alongside seven quantum computing companies working across neutral atom, silicon-spin, superconducting, photonic, and trapped-ion quantum computing modalities. The investments are intended to accelerate development of utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computing systems while addressing a range of unresolved engineering and manufacturing challenges throughout the broader quantum ecosystem.

Quantum computing technologies are increasingly viewed as strategically important across national defense, advanced materials development, pharmaceutical discovery, financial modeling, cybersecurity, and energy systems infrastructure. The announcement reflects growing federal focus on establishing domestic manufacturing capacity and reducing long-term reliance on foreign-controlled advanced technology supply chains.

“With today’s CHIPS Research and Development investments in quantum computing, the Trump administration is leading the world into a new era of American innovation,” said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. “These strategic quantum technology investments will build on our domestic industry, creating thousands of high-paying American jobs while advancing American quantum capabilities.”

Among the largest proposed investments are two quantum foundry initiatives intended to establish foundational domestic manufacturing infrastructure for quantum technologies.

GlobalFoundries is expected to receive $375 million in planned funding to establish a domestic quantum foundry supporting multiple quantum computing architectures, including superconducting, trapped ion, photonic, topological, and silicon spin technologies. IBM is expected to receive $1 billion in planned funding to establish a new quantum foundry subsidiary focused on quantum-grade superconducting wafer manufacturing.

The remaining proposed incentives are structured around engineering and manufacturing challenges associated with scaling fault-tolerant quantum computing systems.

Atom Computing, Diraq, D-Wave, Infleqtion, PsiQuantum, Quantinuum, and Rigetti are each expected to receive planned incentives supporting development of technologies involving qubit scalability, photonic packaging, cryogenic integration, readout electronics, optical systems, control hardware, and error correction infrastructure.

“The CHIPS R&D Office is taking a portfolio approach to strengthen and accelerate U.S. leadership across multiple quantum modalities at once, while focusing each award on discrete technological problems of genuine consequence,” said Bill Frauenhofer, Executive Director of Semiconductor Investment and Innovation. “We will be providing incentives to build domestic quantum capacity, solve the hardest engineering challenges, enable multi-year acceleration of technology roadmaps, and drive continued U.S. quantum leadership.”

The Department of Commerce stated that the investments are intended to support domestic quantum manufacturing capacity, accelerate engineering development timelines, and strengthen long-term U.S. leadership across emerging quantum computing technologies. Under the proposed structure, the federal government would also receive minority non-controlling equity stakes within participating companies.

The announcement highlights increasing competition surrounding scalable quantum computing architectures and growing industry focus on fault-tolerant quantum systems capable of supporting commercially viable and strategically significant applications across government, defense, scientific research, and advanced industrial sectors.

About the CHIPS Research and Development Office

The CHIPS Research and Development Office (CRDO), operating under the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), supports research, prototyping, commercialization, and manufacturing initiatives intended to strengthen domestic semiconductor and advanced technology capabilities within the United States. Established through the CHIPS and Science Act, the program supports development of critical technologies involving semiconductor manufacturing, advanced packaging, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, and next-generation microelectronics infrastructure. Key initiatives include the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC), the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP), CHIPS Manufacturing USA Institutes, and research programs supporting advanced measurement science, testing, and commercialization.0 The office also supports workforce development, domestic manufacturing expansion, and public-private technology partnerships intended to strengthen long-term U.S. technology leadership and supply chain resilience.

Source: U.S. National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST)

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