Welcome to this week’s look at quantum computing. Today, we track a new deal in the UK, a fresh arm for U.S. defense, and major funding for photonics. We also see IBM (IBM) test new ways to use noise, while QuEra adds support from Nvidia (NVDA). For investors, IonQ (IONQ) stays in focus with its buyout news and new government push.
Meet Your ETF AI Analyst
- Discover how TipRanks' ETF AI Analyst can help you make smarter investment decisions
- Explore ETFs TipRanks' users love and see what insights the ETF AI Analyst reveals about the ones you follow.
IonQ Gains Oxford Ionics, UK Adds Safeguards
We begin our journey in the United Kingdom, where IonQ has been cleared to buy Oxford Ionics for about $1.075 billion in stock and cash. However, the deal came with strict conditions under the National Security and Investment Act. All trapped ion hardware must stay in the UK, while staff, intellectual property, and production must also remain local.
Oxford Ionics is known for chip-based trapped ion qubits built with standard chip tools. IonQ aims to merge that hardware with its own software and cloud stack. In turn, the UK keeps oversight of key technology while still drawing foreign capital.
IonQ Federal Targets U.S. Defense
We stay with IonQ, but in a separate step. The company has launched IonQ Federal, a new unit that will handle contracts with the U.S. government and its allies. The company has over $100 million in such deals already, with groups like the Air Force Research Lab and DARPA.
Robert Cardillo, a former U.S. intelligence chief, was named executive chairman of the unit. The goal is to expand the reach of IonQ’s quantum computing and networking products across defense and security programs.
QuEra Draws More Capital with Nvidia
Next, QuEra Computing has expanded its Series B round to $230 million with a new stake from NVentures, the venture arm of Nvidia (NVDA). The two firms already work together on hybrid systems that link QuEra’s neutral atom machines with Nvidia GPUs.
The plan now is to use Nvidia’s software stack to link quantum jobs with AI-driven tools. Projects include quantum error decoding with transformer models and large joint efforts at the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Center in Boston.
IBM Explores a New Role for Noise
Meanwhile, IBM (IBM) researchers have published new work showing that certain types of noise can help quantum circuits operate more efficiently. In simple terms, the team showed that “nonunital” noise, like the way qubits settle to their ground state, can be used to reset parts of a circuit and extend useful computation.
The method, called RESET, recycles noisy qubits into cleaner ones without measurement. The study suggests that near-term devices may have more power than previously thought, even before full error correction is in place.
PsiQuantum Secures $1 Billion Round
Finally, PsiQuantum has raised $1 billion in a Series E round led by BlackRock (BLK), with support from Temasek, Baillie Gifford, and NVentures. The new round gives the company a valuation of about $7 billion.
The firm will use the funds to build large prototype systems in Brisbane and Chicago. It will also scale up production of its Barium Titanate switches, a key piece for photonic quantum chips. PsiQuantum says its photonic approach, which uses tools from chip plants, is the fastest path to fault-tolerant quantum machines.
We used TipRanks’ Comparison Tool to line up some of the top quantum stocks. It’s an easy way to see how they compare and get a sense of where the space might be headed.
