US Government to Invest $2 Billion in 9 Quantum Computing Companies

Central News Agency, Washington, May 21. The US government will invest $2 billion (approximately NT$63.5 billion) in 9 quantum computing companies, including an IBM joint venture, to ensure US leadership in emerging technologies and counter China. Reuters reported that this move highlights the growing importance of quantum computing, with recent breakthroughs deepening investor interest in its potential to accelerate tasks ranging from drug discovery and financial modeling to cryptography. The US Department of Commerce announced today that IBM will receive $1 billion to establish a company to manufacture quantum chips, while GlobalFoundries will receive $375 million to build a factory in the US to produce different types of quantum machine components. IBM stated that the new company, Anderon, will be headquartered in New Albany, New York, and will be the first US manufacturing plant dedicated to quantum chips. The Department of Commerce added that companies including D-Wave, Rigetti Computing, and Infleqtion will each receive about $100 million, and Diraq will receive up to $38 million to address key technical hurdles. The funding is drawn from incentives in the CHIPS and Science Act, signed by the Biden administration, as part of Washington's strategy to secure supply chains and compete with China. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, 'These strategic quantum technology investments will build on our domestic industrial base, enhancing US quantum capabilities while creating thousands of high-paying American jobs.'