Washington: The Trump administration is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire equity stakes in several U.S.-based quantum computing companies, aiming to bolster the nation's position in cutting-edge technologies. According to a Wall Street Journal report, these negotiations involve firms such as IonQ, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, Atom Computing, and Quantum Computing Inc. Each deal is said to involve federal funding of at least $10 million in exchange for government ownership stakes.
This initiative is led by Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Dabbar, a former quantum computing executive and Energy Department official. It follows a series of similar strategic investments by the U.S. government in other sectors, including a 10% stake in Intel, a "golden share" in U.S. Steel, and a significant investment in MP Materials to enhance rare earth magnet production.
The push for these investments comes amid rapid advancements in quantum computing by major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and IBM, who have reported faster-than-expected progress in the field. Despite the government's proactive approach, most parties involved, including the White House and the companies mentioned, have declined to comment on the reports.
This move underscores the administration's commitment to securing a competitive edge in emerging technologies, reflecting a broader trend of government intervention in strategic industries. As quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize fields such as cryptography, materials science, and artificial intelligence, the U.S. government's involvement could accelerate innovation and maintain its leadership in the global technological landscape.