Quantum Computing Firms Secure Millions in U.S. Federal Funding

IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, and Rigetti Computing are scaling their commercial and technical operations through a series of strategic acquisitions and federal partnerships. The U.S. Department of Commerce provided up to $100 million each to D-Wave Quantum and Rigetti Computing to advance quantum research and development.

Rigetti Computing is using its funding to accelerate superconducting quantum computing R&D. The company is also collaborating with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center to build a hybrid quantum-classical system, a project supported by a National Science Foundation grant.

D-Wave Quantum acquired Quantum Circuits to integrate dual-rail qubit designs into its systems. CEO Alan Baratz described the new design as "the best of both worlds."

IonQ expanded its footprint by acquiring SkyWater Technology to enter the semiconductor manufacturing sector. The company is also deploying its Superion 256 platform at Nvidia's Accelerated Quantum Research Center.