Bothell — IonQ, a publicly traded developer of quantum computing systems, will open a new manufacturing and research center in Bothell.
The 65,000-square-foot facility at 3755 Monte Villa Parkway will house its “growing R&D and manufacturing team,” the company said in a news release.
The Maryland-based company hopes to add thousands of new jobs to the region as it expands over the next few years.
IonQ President and CEO Peter Chapman said in a company statement:
“The Seattle area has been a hub for innovation and manufacturing for decades and has the skilled workforce needed to design, build and manufacture quantum computers,” said Chapman, a former Amazon executive. increase.
The Bothell location is the company’s second quantum data center and will be its primary production and engineering location in North America, the company said.
“When we were planning our expansion, the Seattle area was an ideal choice for our new facility. and excited to be a customer.”
The company said its extensive expansion plans include investing $1 billion in the region over the next decade.
Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat, and Rep. Susan Delvene, a Democrat, welcomed the company’s move to Washington state.
“IonQ’s decision to open the country’s first quantum computing manufacturing facility here in Bothell is huge and great news for the state of Washington,” said Murray. “Opening this facility absolutely helps ensure that Washington State continues to be a leader in innovation and cutting-edge technology, but it is also an investment in our family and its future. It means work.”
Murray, who backed the 2022 bipartisan legislation, said, “These things will happen when we pass laws like CHIPS and the Science Act to invest in American manufacturing and build the economy of the future here in the country. kind of investment.
“This exciting announcement further underscores Washington as a leading global technology and innovation hub,” said Delveen. “Quantum computing will play a pivotal role in many aspects of 21st century technology. Our community’s unique technological infrastructure and skilled workforce make such opportunities possible. We look forward to welcoming IonQ’s expansion into Bothell and the Pacific Northwest.”
Physicist Christopher Monroe and computer scientist Kim Jung-sang co-founded IonQ in 2015 to commercialize quantum computers.
Quantum computers can solve problems in far fewer steps than classical computers.
In many cases, the time or memory required to reach a solution can overwhelm today’s computers.
Quantum computers, on the other hand, don’t have to try every combination. Instead, they use a computational system based on quantum mechanics. It is a complex mathematics that describes how atoms and other small particles behave and interact. The result, the company says, is a faster and more powerful computing system.
Dave Mehuys, the company’s president of product engineering, will oversee construction of the new Bothell facility, which was formerly home to AT&T Wireless’ offices.
“Dave has held numerous technical leadership and executive roles in scientific, communications networking, and quantum computing companies.As the IonQ team works to scale operations and further commercialize quantum computers, We know he will be very valuable to the IonQ team,” said Chapman. He said.
The company recently announced contracts with Airbus, GE, Dow Chemistry, Hyundai Motor, the US Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Maryland.
IonQ is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IONQ.
Janice Posada: 425-339-3097; [email protected];
