US Government Takes Equity Stakes in Quantum Startups via CHIPS Act

Each company will receive $100 million in research-and-development grants. Rigetti intends to use the capital to overcome bottlenecks in superconducting processor scaling and expand cryogenic capacity. D-Wave, based in British Columbia, plans to funnel the investment into microelectronics prototyping and scalable high-performance hardware. Quantinuum is prioritizing the development of integrated photonics, establishing partnerships with GlobalFoundries and Monarch Quantum to manufacture essential components like ion traps and optical lasers.

Simultaneously, GlobalFoundries finalized a separate $375 million agreement to bolster domestic manufacturing infrastructure. Under this five-year deal, the firm will provide the industrial capacity necessary for quantum developers to move beyond laboratory prototypes. This follows a previous commitment where the Commerce Department acquired a 1% stake in GlobalFoundries to support silicon photonics. Investors reacted positively to the news, with shares in D-Wave rising 9.1%, Rigetti gaining 6.4%, and Quantinuum climbing 5.5%.