Quantum computing stocks surge on $2B US government grant reports

Quantum computing shares popped in premarket trading on Thursday, following reports that the U.S. government will award $2 billion in grants to nine firms operating in the space.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the deals, which will see the U.S. government take equity stakes in the companies.

IBM is reportedly the biggest beneficiary of the package, with the U.S. Commerce Department agreeing to give the firm $1 billion, per the WSJ.

Shares of IBM were trading 6% higher at 7:18 a.m. ET, climbing down from earlier gains that saw shares rise by close to 8%.

The company is a frontrunner in the movement to build supercomputers using quantum technology, which developers say will be able to solve complex problems existing computers cannot tackle.

Chipmaker GlobalFoundries is receiving $375 million, according to the WSJ, with other grant recipients D-Wave Quantum , Rigetti Computing and Infleqtion expected to be awarded $100 million. Startup Diraq is reportedly set to receive a $38 million grant.

Shares of D-Wave were last seen trading 16% higher. Rigetti shares were about 13.8% higher, while Infleqtion stock gained more than 23% ahead of Thursday's regular trading session.

The deals still have to be formally completed. Funding is reported to come from the 2022 Chips and Science Act.

CNBC has reached out to the U.S. Commerce Department for comment.

Shortly after the WSJ published its report, IBM confirmed that it would work with the U.S. government to develop America's first purpose-built quantum foundry, supported by the proposed $1 billion award. The company said the initiative will "accelerate American quantum innovation and enable advanced quantum wafer production for a broad range of companies."

IBM said the incentive from the Commerce Department will support the research and development efforts of a new IBM company called Anderon, to which IBM will contribute a $1 billion investment to match the government grant.

"Headquartered in Albany, New York as a standalone company, Anderon will operate as a state-of-the-art 300-millimeter quantum wafer foundry," IBM said in a news release. "It will help the nation solidify its leadership at the center of a thriving new quantum industry that is estimated to generate up to $850 billion in economic value by 2040 and spur American economic growth while also bolstering national security."