IBM & U.S.A. Purpose-Built Quantum Foundry
The foundry will manufacture advanced quantum wafers for multiple hardware providers
IBM and the United States Department of Commerce have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to establish America’s first dedicated quantum chip foundry, marking a major step in strengthening US leadership in quantum computing and advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
The initiative will support the creation of a new IBM-backed company called Anderon, which is set to become the country’s first pure-play quantum wafer foundry. The project will receive up to $1 billion in funding through the CHIPS programme, with IBM contributing an additional $1 billion in cash alongside intellectual property, manufacturing assets and specialist talent.
Headquartered in Albany, New York, Anderon will operate a state-of-the-art 300mm quantum wafer fabrication facility designed to support the rapidly expanding quantum computing industry, which is forecast to generate as much as $850 billion in economic value globally by 2040.
The foundry will manufacture advanced quantum wafers for multiple hardware providers, initially focusing on superconducting qubit technologies and associated electronics before expanding into additional quantum computing architectures over time.
IBM said the project builds on decades of research and development in quantum computing and semiconductor fabrication, positioning the US to become a global hub for scalable quantum manufacturing.
US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described the investment as a landmark move for American innovation and technological competitiveness.
“With today’s CHIPS research and development investments in quantum computing, the administration is helping lead the world into a new era of American innovation,” Lutnick said. “These investments will strengthen domestic manufacturing, create thousands of high-skilled jobs and accelerate US quantum capabilities.”
Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, said the company’s long-standing expertise in quantum systems and silicon wafer manufacturing would play a central role in building the new ecosystem.
“IBM has pioneered quantum computing for decades, and our semiconductor fabrication expertise has been critical to that success,” Krishna said. “With support from the Department of Commerce, Anderon will help power the next phase of America’s growing quantum technology industry.”
The facility is expected to offer some of the world’s most advanced quantum wafer processing capabilities, including superconducting wiring, through-silicon vias, advanced wafer testing and scalable process design technologies.
IBM said Anderon will also serve as the foundation for a broader national quantum manufacturing ecosystem, supporting US-based production of next-generation quantum technologies while strengthening national security and supply chain resilience.
Quantum computing is widely viewed as one of the most transformative emerging technologies, with potential applications spanning materials science, cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals, energy systems and complex industrial modelling.
IBM has already deployed more than 90 quantum systems globally and works with a network of more than 325 Fortune 500 companies, universities, startups and government agencies using its quantum computing platforms for advanced research and commercial development.
The launch of Anderon remains subject to final agreements and regulatory approvals between IBM and the Department of Commerce.
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