Diraq unlocks up to $300M in US defence funding for quantum computing
What's the deal? UNSWDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → spinout Diraq has secured up to $300 million in US government funding after advancing to the final stage of a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → program testing whether a utility-scale quantum computer can be built by 2033. The grant begins with an initial $51 million for the next year.
Why now? Reaching Stage C of DARPADealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →'s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative triggered the funding. Earlier stages paid out up to $1 million in the first round and a further $15 million in the second.
What's the endgame? Through the program, Diraq will deliver technical demonstrations, system updates, and design work to help the US government verify its technology can reach utility scale. While DARPA targets 2033, Diraq believes it can get there by 2031.
The company builds silicon spin qubits using the same manufacturing processes as conventional computer chips. "Diraq's silicon spin qubits are built using the same manufacturing processes and infrastructure that already produce the world's conventional computer chips, which is a different starting point than approaches that require entirely new fabrication techniques to reach scale," founder and chief executive officer Andrew Dzurak said.
Diraq previously received a separate $38 million commitment from the US Department of CommerceDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
What they said: "Advancing to Stage C of the QBI program represents a crucial independent validation that our path to utility-scale quantum computing holds up under rigorous technical scrutiny," Dzurak said.
The signal: The grant ranks among the largest of its kind for the sector, placing in the top percentile of all nanotech grant rounds in the US. It underscores how government money — particularly defence funding — is driving the race to build practical quantum machines.
Read more: capitalbrief.com
Image credit: Diraq
