IBM acquires HRL Labs to boost silicon‑based quantum computing

IBM announced on 23 May that it will acquire HRL Laboratories, a U.S. research centre jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors. HRL recently disclosed a silicon‑spin quantum processor that integrates the qubit chip, control electronics and error‑correction functions into a single system. The device uses superconducting ribbon cables to link up to 18 qubits and demonstrated a ten‑fold reduction in two‑qubit gate error rates compared with conventional approaches. In laboratory tests, error‑correction was performed on a seven‑qubit configuration, showing the feasibility of scaling silicon quantum chips.

The acquisition, whose financial terms were not disclosed and are slated to close within the third quarter, aligns with IBM’s strategy to develop scalable, mass‑produci​ble quantum computers. IBM plans to leverage the silicon‑based approach, which can use existing semiconductor manufacturing processes, to create cost‑effective quantum hardware that could reach commercial readiness faster than competing superconducting technologies.