The US government announced $2 billion in investments in quantum computing companies, with $100 million allocated to multiple startups in exchange for equity. A member of Congress argues the deals are illegal because the funding comes from the CHIPS and Science Act, which was intended for microelectronics R&D focused on semiconductor technology. The technology used in quantum processors overlaps only partially with semiconductor technology. The member also argues the funding was meant to foster public/private research partnerships, while the deals involve equity and government-backed company arrangements. The largest portion of funding is directed to Anderon, which is set up with $1 billion from IBM and the government and will fabricate quantum processing units for IBM and other customers.
"“This announcement is illegal and troubling on so many levels,” Lofgren said one day after the announcement, pointing out that the money being used for the deal comes from the CHIPS and Science Act, which was passed during the Biden administration and was allocated “specifically for microelectronics R&D, with a focus on semiconductor technology.”"
"That technology overlaps only partially, at best, with what's used in quantum processors. In addition, Lofgren says the money was allocated to foster public/private research partnerships, which these deals most decidedly are not. Finally, she noted that the largest sum of money will go to IBM, and she suggested that a former IBM executive (Dario Gil, current Under Secretary for Science at the Department of Energy) was involved in the negotiations th"
"Last week, the US government announced $2 billion in investments in quantum computing companies, allocating $100 million each to a range of startups in exchange for equity in the companies. Those could be make-or-break investments for many companies that are likely years away from a product that could see widespread use."
"Anderon will be set up with a billion dollars each from IBM and the government and will inherit personnel and IP from IBM. It will serve as a foundry for fabricating quantum processing units and will contract its services out to IBM and any other company that wants access to cutting-edge hardware."
#quantum-computing #chips-and-science-act #semiconductor-rd #government-investment #public-private-partnerships
Read at Ars Technica
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]