The Trump administration is awarding grants to a group of quantum computing companies, including IBM, in exchange for equity stakes in some of them, deepening Washington’s push to support sectors viewed as critical to domestic supply chains and technological competitiveness, Reuters reported.The move expands the administration’s strategy of taking ownership positions in companies considered strategically important, particularly in areas where the US is seeking to counter China’s influence, including advanced technology and semiconductor-related sectors.The US government has previously taken significant stakes in companies such as Intel and rare-earth miner MP Materials.Under the latest initiative, IBM will receive $1 billion, while GlobalFoundries is set to receive $375 million, according to statements issued by the companies on Thursday.Other firms, including D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion, are expected to receive around $100 million each in exchange for a US government stake in the companies.Shares of companies involved in the programme rose between 7 per cent and 25 per cent in premarket trading.According to an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal, the administration is awarding a total of $2 billion in grants to nine quantum-computing companies.Quantum computers are designed to process information exponentially faster than traditional supercomputers, although the technology still faces major technical challenges, including high error rates that limit practical applications.GlobalFoundries said it launched a business called Quantum Technology Solutions aimed at scaling manufacturing capabilities for quantum computing hardware, while the US government agreed to take an equity stake of around 1 per cent in the company.IBM also announced plans to launch a company called Anderon in New Albany, New York, which it described as America’s first dedicated quantum chip manufacturing facility.Backed by $1 billion in incentives under the CHIPS Act from the Commerce Department and an additional $1 billion cash contribution from IBM, Anderon will operate as a 300-millimetre quantum wafer foundry.IBM said it would contribute intellectual property, assets and workforce capabilities to Anderon and bring in additional investors as the company expands.“These strategic quantum technology investments will build on our domestic industry, creating thousands of high-paying American jobs while advancing American quantum capabilities,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said.
