U.S. Invests $2B in Quantum Computing, Acquires Equity Stakes
The U.S. Department of Commerce made a landmark announcement on May 21, 2026. It will be awarding $2.013 billion in federal incentives to nine trailblazing quantum computing companies under the CHIPS and Science Act. These groundbreaking deals are unique as they include the government acquiring minority equity stakes in each firm. This marks a significant shift in Washington’s approach to supporting strategic technology sectors.
IBM emerges as the largest beneficiary, receiving $1 billion to establish Anderon, touted as America’s first pure-play quantum foundry. The tech giant will match the government grant with an additional $1 billion of its own capital. GlobalFoundries is set to receive $375 million to establish a secure domestic quantum foundry.
- D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and Infleqtion are each set to receive approximately $100 million.
- Australian startup Diraq will be awarded $38 million.
The announcement triggered a surge in quantum computing stocks. D-Wave saw a 33% jump, Rigetti’s stocks surged by 30%, and IBM shares gained 12%. The funding aims to accelerate the resolution of critical technology challenges in developing utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers. Quantum computing holds significant implications for national defense, biopharmaceutical discovery, financial modeling, and energy systems.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the investments position the United States to lead the world into a new era of American innovation in quantum technology. He sees it as essential infrastructure, on par with semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Source: CNN