Quantum computer developer PsiQuantum has finalized a $100 million agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce.
This grant is part of the federal CHIPS and Science Act, aimed at supporting research and the establishment of domestic production for essential hardware components, such as optical switches and photon detectors.
PsiQuantum is focused on developing fault-tolerant quantum computers utilizing silicon photonics. This method enables the assembly of devices at existing semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Victor Peng, the company's CEO, stated that the federal funding will assist in relocating supply chains to the U.S. and expedite the assembly of equipment.
The primary manufacturing partner for chips is GlobalFoundries, with which the startup has been collaborating since 2019. By 2025, PsiQuantum had invested around $200 million to develop its network of American suppliers.
In July 2026, the company also signed a $125 million contract with the defense agency DARPA. This initiative aims to explore commercial pathways for creating useful computational systems based on quantum technologies.
The current grant marks a phase in a broader government initiative. In May 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced plans to invest $2 billion in fostering the domestic quantum industry.
The funding is distributed among nine companies, with IBM set to receive half of the total—$1 billion—while GlobalFoundries will obtain $375 million for establishing production facilities. The remaining funds will support seven startups, including PsiQuantum, Atom Computing, and D-Wave, in addressing engineering challenges.
In return for the subsidies, the U.S. government will acquire minority stakes in all funded companies.
Previously, the company QuSecure tested its post-quantum cryptography platform, QuProtect R3, on the U.S. Army's tactical systems during the Project Convergence exercises.