US firm partners with top lab to advance quantum tech that can boost defense innovations

The collaboration reflects the laboratory's commitment to advancing quantum technologies that will support future national security. (Representational image)Andrey/gorodenkoff Quantum computing company IonQ has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sandia National Laboratories to accelerate the co-design of quantum technologies for U.S. national security applications. The collaboration aims to combine the strengths of government research and commercial innovation to develop next-generation quantum computing and networking systems. Advancing key areas of quantum technologies for national security The partnership will focus on advancing key areas of quantum information science, including system optimization, device development, characterization, testing, and the integration of hardware with mission-specific applications. Research activities will be carried out at Sandia’s Quantum Demonstration Facility in New Mexico, a hub established to foster public-private collaboration and validate emerging quantum technologies for government use. According to IonQ Chairman and CEO Niccolo de Masi, major technological breakthroughs often emerge when industry and government collaborate closely. He emphasized that the partnership has the potential to shape the future of quantum technology while strengthening both economic competitiveness and national security. The agreement also builds on a longstanding relationship between the two organizations. Sandia previously fabricated the ion traps used in IonQ’s earliest quantum computers. Under the new collaboration, the scope expands significantly by bringing together IonQ’s hardware and application teams with Sandia’s expertise in trapped-ion fabrication and silicon photonics. Integrated approach is expected to improve scalability of quantum computers This integrated approach is expected to improve the scalability of quantum computers and enhance their ability to communicate through quantum networks. Sandia National Laboratories Associate Laboratories Director for Deterrence, Science and Energy, Toby Townsend, said that the collaboration reflects the laboratory’s commitment to advancing quantum technologies that will support future national security and economic competitiveness. He noted that combining the capabilities of both organizations will help accelerate innovation and translate advanced research into practical solutions for critical government missions. The partnership also expands IonQ’s presence in New Mexico, reinforcing the state’s growing quantum technology ecosystem. The Quantum Demonstration Facility provides independent validation of technologies that could pave the way toward utility-scale quantum computers, helping government stakeholders assess the readiness of emerging quantum systems. IonQ has continued to strengthen its position in the quantum computing industry through advances in trapped-ion technology. The company reported achieving a record 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity in 2025 and recently introduced its latest quantum system, IonQ Tempo. IonQ says its quantum platforms are being used across computing, networking, sensing, and cybersecurity applications, with customers including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA. As governments around the world increase investments in quantum technologies, the IonQ–Sandia collaboration highlights the growing importance of public-private partnerships in accelerating research and preparing quantum systems for real-world defense and security applications. By combining scientific expertise with commercial innovation, the initiative aims to help advance the next generation of secure, scalable quantum technologies for the United States. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.