Startup PsiQuantum, engaged in the development of quantum computers, has signed a final agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce for funding of $100 million under the federal CHIPS and Science Act. These funds will be directed towards conducting research and establishing local production of key components such as optical switches and photon detectors. PsiQuantum's approach, based on silicon photonics, allows for the production of quantum devices in existing factories, saving time and resources on their assembly.
According to Victor Peng, the company's CEO, the federal grant will facilitate the relocation of supply chains to the U.S. and accelerate the equipment assembly process. The company is already integrating its production with GlobalFoundries, with which it has collaborated since 2019. Additionally, PsiQuantum has previously invested about $200 million in developing American suppliers to create a reliable base for its operations. In July 2026, the startup also signed a $125 million contract with the defense agency DARPA, indicating a growing interest in quantum technologies from government entities.
The current grant is part of a broader initiative by the U.S. government aimed at developing the domestic quantum industry, under which the U.S. Department of Commerce has announced plans to invest $2 billion. Of this amount, $1 billion will preliminarily go to the giant IBM, while GlobalFoundries will receive $375 million to create manufacturing capacities. The remaining funds will be distributed among seven startups, including PsiQuantum, Atom Computing, and D-Wave, which will receive financing to address engineering challenges. In exchange for these subsidies, the U.S. government acquires minority stakes in the funded companies, marking a new area of investment and government participation in high technologies.