IBM (NYSE: IBM) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire HRL Laboratories, LLC (HRL), the Malibu-based research and development institution jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors. The acquisition expands IBM’s quantum hardware strategy, adding HRL’s expertise in silicon-spin qubits alongside its core superconducting qubit program. Following the transaction, both Boeing and GM will continue partnering with IBM to develop quantum applications and advanced industrial workloads.
Adding a Dual-Track Modality via Silicon Fabrication
While IBM’s hardware roadmap has historically centered on superconducting circuits, silicon-spin qubits offer a parallel path to fault tolerance. Because both modalities rely on advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques, the addition of HRL’s technology enables shared learning cycles across manufacturing, control electronics, and cryogenics.
Key technical synergies from the acquisition include:
- Silicon-Spin Qubit Scaling: HRL brings a history in semiconductor quantum dot engineering, including demonstrations of digitally controlled silicon processing units built on standard CMOS-compatible processes.
- Integration with Anderon Foundry: The transaction creates opportunities for HRL to collaborate with Anderon, the pure-play quantum wafer foundry established by IBM in May 2026 with U.S. Department of Commerce support.
- Quantum Sensing & Materials Science: HRL’s portfolio includes ultra-precise quantum sensors for defense, navigation, and life sciences, alongside research into novel quantum materials for high-efficiency detectors and chips.
Aligning with IBM’s Long-Term Roadmap
The deal supports IBM’s multi-decade vision toward fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC). IBM remains on track to deploy its Starling system by 2029 (capable of 100 million quantum operations), followed by Blue Jay in the mid-2030s (projected for 1 billion operations). Integrating HRL’s hardware capabilities provides an additional technology track as systems scale toward millions of physical qubits. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
Review the official acquisition release on the IBM Newsroom here and read technical background on spin qubits via the IBM Research Blog here.
July 23, 2026
