US government takes $2 billion equity stake in quantum firms
Original: US government takes $2 billion equity stake in nine quantum computing firms
Why This Matters
Major government investment signals quantum computing as strategic priority for US technological leadership
The US Commerce Department announced $2 billion in equity investments across nine quantum computing companies including IBM ($1 billion) and GlobalFoundries ($375 million). Recipients include firms with Trump administration connections.
The Commerce Department signed letters of intent with nine quantum computing companies for $2 billion in total equity investments. IBM will receive $1 billion while GlobalFoundries gets $375 million. Other recipients include PsiQuantum ($100 million), which raised money from 1789 Capital where Donald Trump Jr is a partner, and D-Wave Quantum, taken public by current Pentagon official Emil Michael. Additional $100 million awards go to Atom Computing, Infleqtion, Quantinuum, and Rigetti, with Diraq receiving up to $38 million. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the investments will advance American quantum capabilities and create high-paying jobs. This continues the Trump administration's strategy of taking equity stakes in strategic sectors, following similar moves with Intel where the government converted $2.2 billion in grants to a 10 percent stake.