GlobalFoundries to Specialize in Quantum Computer Chip Production

Significant Shift in Quantum Computing

A significant shift is underway in the world of quantum computing, not only because there has been a technological leap in recent months. The U.S. government has announced a $2 billion investment in various entities working in the field of quantum computing, thus opening a new chapter. Among the recipients of these funds is GlobalFoundries, the foundry that separated from AMD almost two decades ago, which has launched a new division called Quantum Technology Solutions aiming to produce QPUs, cryogenic control systems, and advanced interconnections.

GlobalFoundries Launches Quantum Division

There is excitement in the world of quantum chip manufacturing. IBM has announced the spin-off of Anderon, which until now represented the company's branch dedicated to the production of quantum chips and is now the first foundry specialized exclusively in the manufacturing of superconducting chips.

GlobalFoundries has now announced that it will launch a specific division for this market, aided by a $375 million investment promised by the U.S. government. In exchange, the government will receive 1% ownership of GlobalFoundries.

The new Quantum Technology Solutions will not focus on a single type of quantum technology. While in the classical world there has been a consolidation for decades on a single approach, albeit with variations, in the quantum world there is still a great variety of types of processors based on entirely different physical phenomena: in addition to the aforementioned superconducting processors, there are ion traps, photonic processors, topological processors, and spin qubits. GlobalFoundries will provide manufacturing services in all these areas and more: the company has communicated that it will also produce chips for cryogenic refrigerator control and the interconnections of various chips within systems.

The stated goal, which is the reason behind the government investment, is to further consolidate and strengthen U.S. supremacy in chip manufacturing and in the quantum field more generally. Quantum computers are seen as a key strategic technology for the country, on which investment is essential to maintain a position of technological independence and geopolitical supremacy.

"Quantum computing is at a turning point. Hardware is moving from the lab to industrial scale, and this transition can only happen within an advanced semiconductor manufacturing environment," stated Greg Bartlett, Chief Technology Officer of GlobalFoundries.

"Cryogenic CMOS, advanced packaging, and heterogeneous 3D interconnections necessary for practical utility quantum computing are exactly what we do every day. Just as CPUs and GPUs underpin classical computing, GF is building QPUs and bringing these capabilities to leaders across all types of qubits, positioning GF as the preferred partner for practical utility quantum computing."