GlobalFoundries secured up to $375 million in funding from the US Department of Commerce under the CHIPS and Science Act to accelerate its quantum technology initiatives. The investment targets the domestic manufacturing of quantum processors, with a strong emphasis on silicon photonics an advanced technology that leverages light for data transmission.
Expanding Quantum Hardware Production
The funding will support the development of multiple qubit technologies, including silicon photonics, superconducting circuits, and trapped ions. GlobalFoundries plans to launch Quantum Technology Solutions, a dedicated platform for scaling production of quantum processor units and their essential components within the United States. the Commerce Department will acquire a strategic minority stake of about 1% in the company, signaling a long-term government partnership rather than a simple grant.
Established Expertise and Strategic Partnerships
GlobalFoundries’ commitment to silicon photonics spans nearly a decade, initially aimed at speeding data transfer through light-based methods. This experience now feeds directly into quantum computing applications. The company’s project involves collaborating with a variety of ecosystem partners such as PsiQuantum, Quantinuum, Diraq, Equal1, and Microsoft Quantum, each contributing specialized knowledge across various qubit modalities. This collective effort aims to strengthen the US quantum hardware supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign technology.
This award complements GlobalFoundries’ prior CHIPS Act funding of up to $1.5 billion in 2024, which was directed at expanding chip production facilities in New York and Vermont. The move aligns with a broader national security strategy, as scalable quantum computers have the potential to break current encryption standards that secure financial and military communications.
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