Quantinuum finalises a $100M CHIPS R&D award to advance US trapped-ion manufacturing

Quantinuum/Helios

Quantinuum finalised a $100 million award from the US Commerce Department's CHIPS Research and Development Office, after a letter of intent in May 2026. The money funds US manufacturing capability for fault-tolerant trapped-ion quantum computers, turning key parts into products that can be made in volume.

• GlobalFoundries will make next-generation ion traps (the chips that hold the ions) and control electronics on 300 mm wafers, the standard size in modern chip fabs.
• Monarch Quantum will develop and manufacture the lasers and optical components that control the ions.
• Quantinuum says it is the only trapped-ion company to receive CHIPS R&D funding.
• No timeline for the work was given.