IBM Acquires HRL Laboratories to Accelerate Quantum Computing Roadmap

IBM has acquired HRL Laboratories, a quantum research and development company jointly owned by Boeing and General Motors, in a move that underscores the escalating competition in the quantum computing sector. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The deal, expected to close by the end of the third quarter of 2026, will see Boeing and GM partner with IBM on developing quantum applications and advanced technology following the acquisition. IBM stated that HRL’s expertise in silicon-spin qubit engineering will complement its long-standing mission to scale increasingly powerful quantum computers and accelerate its quantum vision.

Beyond quantum computing, IBM noted that HRL’s innovations in quantum materials could unlock advancements in semiconductors and more sensitive sensors. “Combined with additional capabilities in cryogenics, control electronics, qubit interconnects, and packaging, IBM anticipates that HRL’s technical breakthroughs will help fuel its quantum program for decades to come,” the company said in a statement.

IBM has been a prominent player in quantum computing development. In February 2025, it reported booking $1 billion in quantum business between the first quarter of 2017 and the fourth quarter of 2024. More recently, in June 2026, IBM announced plans to invest over $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years, signaling its long-term commitment to the field.

Jay Gambetta, IBM’s director of research and an IBM fellow, said the HRL team will help the company push further toward the frontiers of quantum innovation. “This talented group of researchers brings a broad portfolio of technologies that will strengthen IBM’s long-term plans to deliver useful quantum computing to the world, bringing together advances across quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum networking to enable the applications of the future,” he commented.

Rob Vasquez, president and CEO of HRL, described the acquisition as a natural next chapter. “Our team has dedicated years to exploring paths to how future quantum computers could be built at scales that today seem impossible. We now look forward to leveraging IBM’s industry leadership and working alongside their world-class talent on fundamental infrastructure to take this vision forward,” Vasquez said. He added that HRL’s cutting-edge physical and information science innovations will combine with IBM’s advanced research capabilities to deliver an unmatched suite of technology solutions for commercial and government customers.