IBM Confirms $1 Billion US Quantum Foundry Award, Matching It With $1 Billion Investment
Updated
Updated · CNBC · May 21
IBM Confirms $1 Billion US Quantum Foundry Award, Matching It With $1 Billion Investment
5 articles · Updated · CNBC · May 21
IBM said it will build America’s first purpose-built quantum foundry with a proposed $1 billion Commerce Department award and a matching $1 billion company investment.
Albany, New York-based Anderon will operate as a standalone 300-millimeter quantum wafer foundry, backing R&D and production for a broader range of quantum companies.
The confirmation followed a Wall Street Journal report that the U.S. plans roughly $2 billion in grants to nine quantum firms while taking equity stakes; the deals still need to be finalized.
IBM shares rose 6% in premarket trading, while D-Wave gained 16%, Rigetti 13.8% and Infleqtion more than 23% after investors reacted to the expected awards.
The funding is tied to the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, part of a U.S. push to build domestic quantum manufacturing capacity in a market IBM says could reach $850 billion by 2040.
As rivals advance, can America's new foundry deliver on its promise of quantum advantage this year and secure long-term leadership?
Beyond the foundry, how will the U.S. master the complex supply chain of cryogenics and software needed for quantum dominance?
America’s First Quantum Foundry: Anderon and the Race for U.S. Quantum Leadership (2026–2029)
Overview
On May 21, 2026, IBM and the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Anderon, America’s first purpose-built quantum foundry, marking a major step in advancing the nation’s quantum technology leadership. Anderon’s mission is to accelerate American quantum innovation by enabling advanced quantum wafer production and supporting a broad ecosystem of companies. The foundry is set to become a cornerstone of the U.S. quantum landscape, but its official launch depends on finalizing legal agreements between IBM and the Department of Commerce. This collaboration aims to strengthen domestic quantum manufacturing and drive future technological breakthroughs.