BOTHELL — IonQ, a publicly-traded company that develops 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 the firm’s “growing research and development and manufacturing teams,” the company said in a news release.
The Maryland-based company hopes to add thousands of new jobs to the region as it expands in the coming years.
“Advanced technologies like quantum computing are key to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges such as climate change, energy, and transportation,” Peter Chapman, president and CEO of IonQ, said in a company statement.
“The Seattle region has been a hub of tech innovation and manufacturing for decades, and has the skilled workforce we need to design, build and manufacture our quantum computers,” said Chapman, a former Amazon executive.
The Bothell location will be the company’s second quantum data center, as well as its primary North American production and engineering location, the company said.
“As we planned our expansion, the Seattle area was an ideal option for our new facility. We’re excited to be among the other innovative companies who call Seattle home, many of which are IonQ partners and customers.”
The company’s broader expansion plans include investing $1 billion in the region over the next decade, the company said.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene hailed the company’s expansion into Washington state.
“IonQ making the decision to open the first ever quantum computing manufacturing facility in the country right here in Bothell is a very big deal — and it’s great news for Washington state,” Murray said. “Opening this facility will absolutely help ensure Washington state continues to be a leader in innovation and cutting-edge technologies — but it also means jobs that will be an investment in our families and their futures.”
“These are the kinds of investments that happen when we pass legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act to invest in American manufacturing and build the economy of the future right here at home,” said Murray, who supported the 2022 bi-partisan Act.
“This exciting announcement further underscores Washington as a cutting-edge global technology and innovation hub,” DelBene said. “Quantum computing is going to play a pivotal role in many aspects of technology in the 21st century. Our community’s unique tech infrastructure and skilled workforce make opportunities like this possible. I look forward to welcoming IonQ’s expansion to Bothell and the Pacific Northwest.”
Physicist Christopher Monroe and computer scientist Jungsang Kim co-founded IonQ in 2015 to commercialize quantum computers.
Quantum computers can solve problems in far fewer steps than traditional computers.
Often the time or memory needed to arrive at solutions can overwhelm today’s computers, “which must guess-and-check every possible combination (which could take billions of years) or else resort to imperfect and expensive approximations,” the company said.
Quantum computers, on the other hand, don’t have to try every combination. Instead, they use a computational system based on quantum mechanics — the complex math that describes how atoms and other tiny particles behave and interact. The result is a faster and more powerful computing system, the company said.
Dave Mehuys, the company’s president of product engineering, will oversee the build out of the new Bothell facility, which formerly housed the offices of AT&T Wireless.
“Dave has held a number of technical leadership and executive roles at scientific, telecom networking, and quantum computing companies, and we know he will be of tremendous value to the IonQ team as we work to scale operations and further commercialize quantum computers,” Chapman said.
The company recently announced contracts with Airbus, GE, Dow Chemistry, Hyundai Motors, the United States Air Force Research Laboratory and the University of Maryland.
IonQ trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol IONQ.
Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com;
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