Intel Capital backs $178m funding round for QuantWare

The Dutch quantum hardware company has raised one of the largest private funding rounds in the sector to date, underscoring Europe’s push to build an industrial base in quantum computing.

QuantWare said on Tuesday it had secured $178m in a series B round, with new investors including Intel Capital and In-Q-Tel. Existing backers such as FORWARD.one and Invest-NL also participated.

The Delft-based group is attracting interest because it is developing technology that could break through one of the biggest bottlenecks in quantum computing: scaling up the hardware. For around a decade the quantum computing sector has been struggling to move beyond processors with around 100 qubits, or quantum bits. IBM’s quantum roadmap, for example, involves reaching a 120-qubit process by 2028.

QuantWare, however, unveiled VIO-40K, an architecture targeting 10,000 qubits by 2028 — around 100 times larger than current systems. While such targets remain aspirational, the focus on manufacturability reflects a broader shift in the industry from laboratory breakthroughs to engineering challenges.

“In superconducting quantum computing, scale is increasingly constrained by routing, packaging, and manufacturability — not just qubit design,” said Kike Miralles of Intel Capital. “QuantWare recognised that early and built VIO to address it.”

QuantWare, a spin-out from TU Delft, plans to use the funding to scale production through what it calls “KiloFab”, a dedicated fabrication facility designed to increase capacity twentyfold.

“The promise of quantum computing… can only happen once it can be manufactured and deployed at scale,” said chief executive Matt Rijlaarsdam (pictured, above). “That is exactly what we are building.”

The raise comes as Europe seeks to close a perceived gap with the US and China in quantum computing, an emerging technology that promises to tackle complex problems beyond the reach of classical machines. While the region has long been strong in academic research, translating that into industrial-scale hardware has proved more challenging.

QuantWare’s model differs from some competitors in that it aims to serve as a supplier to the wider ecosystem, rather than building full-stack quantum computers. It offers quantum processing units, foundry services and chip packaging, and has shipped to more than 50 customers across 20 countries, including research institutes and technology groups.

That positioning aligns with a growing recognition that the quantum sector will depend on specialised supply chains, much like the semiconductor industry. “The company is poised to play a key role in shaping the global quantum supply chain,” said J.D. Englehart of In-Q-Tel.

For Intel, the investment fits into a broader, if measured, engagement with quantum technologies. The US chipmaker has backed a number of quantum hardware and enabling technology companies over the past decade, while also pursuing in-house research into cryogenic control systems and qubit architectures. Its approach has been less high-profile than some rivals but reflects a long-term view of quantum as an extension of advanced computing infrastructure.

Europe, meanwhile, has stepped up efforts to build its own champions. Initiatives such as the EU’s Quantum Flagship programme and national funding schemes in the Netherlands, Germany and France have channelled billions into research and early-stage companies. Start-ups including IQM Quantum Computers and Pasqal have also attracted significant funding as the region attempts to retain talent and intellectual property.

Investors say the next phase will hinge less on theoretical advances and more on execution. “Building a global compute hardware company requires immense ambition,” said Robin van Boxsel of FORWARD.one. “With their VIO technology, they hold the key to leading the high-growth quantum industry.”

Despite the influx of capital, commercial applications of quantum computing remain limited, and timelines for practical advantage are still debated. But the scale of recent funding rounds suggests confidence that the industry is moving towards a more mature phase.

QuantWare’s bet is that this transition will be defined not by a single breakthrough, but by the ability to manufacture complex systems reliably and at scale — an area where Europe has historically struggled to compete.