IonQ recently opened the doors to a new manufacturing facility in Bothell, Wash., reported to be the first dedicated quantum computing manufacturing facility in the United States. (Photo: Business Wire)
IonQ’s facility will manufacture quantum computers that are replicable and deployable in customers’ data centers.
COLLEGE PARK, Md.—Quantum computer builder IonQ recently opened what is reported to be the first quantum computing manufacturing facility in the United States. The new facility in the Seattle suburb of Bothell, Washington, will manufacture quantum computers that are replicable and deployable in customers’ data centers, according to a release from IonQ.
The company also reported that it expanded its Seattle facilities, increasing its footprint from 65,000 square feet to 105,000 square feet.
The Bothell facility will be IonQ’s second quantum data center to provide cloud access to IonQ customers, and its primary production engineering site in the United States. It will also house the company’s expanding R&D and manufacturing teams, including teams focused on the upcoming rollout of the next-generation IonQ Forte Enterprise and IonQ Tempo systems, the company said.
According to IonQ, the new quantum factory solidifies the Pacific Northwest as a hub for technology innovation and manufacturing. The company plans to create thousands of new jobs and opportunities in the coming years, leveraging the skilled workforce already present in the region.
“The Seattle facility represents a tangible realization of IonQ’s commitment to commercializing quantum and getting quantum computers into the hands of customers,” said IonQ CEO Peter Chapman, in a statement. “IonQ is not just building a manufacturing facility; we’re also investing in the surrounding community, drawing talent and thought leaders to Seattle and empowering organizations within the community with innovative quantum capabilities.”
At IonQ’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell praised the company for its commitment to quantum innovation. Senator Cantwell, a staunch advocate for science and technology research, was a lead Senate negotiator of the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022.
“Quantum computing has the potential to be a game changer—it can help us create new drugs and fight disease, turbocharge clean energy alternatives, and improve food production,” Sen. Cantwell said in the release. “Quantum computing is blossoming in our region, thanks to an ideal ecosystem of world-class universities, businesses, laboratories, and talented workers.”
IonQ currently works with global corporations, such as Hyundai Motor Company, Airbus, and GE Research, to apply quantum computing to complex challenges within their businesses. The company entered into a partnership agreement with QuantumBasel to install two quantum systems in Basel, Switzerland. It also secured a $25.5 million project with the United States Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) to implement two next-generation quantum computing systems at its facilities in Rome, New York.