IBM to acquire HRL Laboratories for silicon-spin qubits

IBM has signed a definitive agreement to acquire HRL Laboratories, a Malibu-based research and development firm jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors, the company announced on July 23, 2026. The acquisition marks a major strategic expansion, adding HRL's expertise in silicon-spin qubit technology to IBM's established program in superconducting qubits, creating a dual-track approach to developing fault-tolerant quantum computers.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Following the acquisition, both Boeing and General Motors will continue as collaborative partners with IBM on quantum application development.

The move represents a significant diversification of IBM's quantum hardware strategy. While the company has long focused on superconducting circuits, similar to the approach used by competitors like Google, silicon-spin qubits offer a parallel path. These qubits are fabricated on silicon platforms, leveraging the same foundational material and manufacturing infrastructure as classical computer chips, which could offer...