IBM signed an agreement to get HRL Laboratories, a research facility owned by Boeing and General Motors. The deal adds silicon-spin qubit technology to IBM's quantum computing lineup. Boeing and General Motors will continue to work with IBM on quantum applications.
Dual Hardware Modalities and Manufacturing
Superconducting circuits and spin qubits both rely on silicon fabrication methods. HRL’s expertise in spin qubits offers a dense architecture that integrates into standard semiconductor manufacturing processes.
Key elements of the acquisition:
- Hardware Expansion: HRL’s silicon-spin qubits provide a second path alongside IBM’s superconducting processors.
- Quantum Sensing and Materials: The acquisition includes research in ultra-precise sensors for defense, navigation, and life sciences.
- Foundry Alignment: HRL’s research will support Anderon, IBM’s pure-play quantum wafer foundry established in May 2026.
Long-Term Roadmap
IBM remains focused on its public quantum timeline. The company plans to ship its fault-tolerant Starling system by 2029, followed by the Blue Jay processor in the mid-2030s. Spin-qubit technology from HRL will help scale hardware architectures beyond those milestones.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
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