IBM Commits $10 Billion to Quantum Computing, Targets Fault-Tolerant Systems by 2029
June 17, 2026
IBM Commits $10 Billion to Quantum Computing, Targets Fault-Tolerant Systems by 2029
IBM has announced a $10 billion investment plan over the next five years to advance quantum computing, signaling a major push to bring scalable, fault-tolerant quantum systems to market. The commitment, disclosed in a company statement and a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, covers research and development, capital expenditures, manufacturing, partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. The move underscores IBM’s ambition to lead in a technology it believes is transitioning from experimental to commercial reality.
“The quantum era is no longer ahead of us—it has begun,” said Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM, during a recent address. The company has set a target of 2029 to achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing, a milestone that would allow quantum machines to perform calculations beyond the reach of classical computers. The $10 billion allocation is intended to accelerate progress along that roadmap. According to Heather West, an analyst at IDC, “the amount of investment is quite significant. It’s a clear signal that to truly advance the technology at a sustained pace and reach these larger-scale systems, more investment in the technology itself is needed.” She added that if the United States wants to maintain its leadership edge, “this level of funding must be secured, whether through public or private sector, or a combination of both.”
Analysts have estimated the addressable quantum computing market could reach $850 billion, with strong backing from the U.S. federal government. Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow predicted that IBM’s stock could rise to $350, describing quantum as “the next chapter” for the company. Citi raised its price target for IBM from $285 to $375, calling the stock “undervalued” and highlighting its exposure to a quantum market supported by government initiatives. West noted that “these announcements do not change IBM’s quantum timeline,” as the company had already set 2029 as its target for fault-tolerant systems. “What we are seeing today is the financial side, which underpins the research journey the company has been pursuing,” she said. Gartner analyst Mark Horvath remarked that “IBM has an almost unmatched track record of sticking to its roadmap,” adding that “this $10 billion is a substantial investment—it’s a significant step forward both in advancing their technology base and bringing their quantum computers into the mainstream.”
Part of IBM’s broader strategy includes support for Anderon, a specialized quantum foundry that will produce 300-millimeter wafers for multiple quantum technology providers. IBM has already invested $2 billion in Anderon, with $1 billion coming from the company and another $1 billion from the U.S. government. The foundry will initially support superconducting qubits and associated electronic wafers, but IBM has said it aims to expand to other types of quantum computers in the future. Horvath noted that while superconducting qubits have been the most reliable quantum computing platform so far, other systems such as photonics, trapped ions, and neutral atoms are also showing promise. It remains unclear whether the $10 billion plan includes IBM’s $1 billion investment in Anderon or is separate from it. IBM did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
In parallel, the U.S. government has committed over $2 billion to nine quantum-related companies, according to a Commerce Department announcement in late May. The largest share—$1 billion—was allocated to IBM for its quantum foundry. Another $375 million will go to GlobalFoundries for a foundry supporting various quantum computing types, including superconducting, trapped ion, photonic, topological, and silicon spin systems. Six other companies—Atom Computing, D-Wave, Infleqtion, PsiQuantum, Quantinuum, and Rigetti—will each receive $100 million, while Diraq will receive up to $38 million. In return, the U.S. government will hold non-controlling minority stakes in these firms. “IBM has the means to invest billions in quantum computing, which is not the case for startups that rely heavily on external funding,” said IDC’s West.
Source: lemondeinformatique
