SkyWater Technology Warns Quantum Manufacturing Must Stay Onshore for US Leadership
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SkyWater Technology is sounding the alarm: the U.S. must prioritize domestic manufacturing to maintain leadership in the rapidly developing field of quantum technology. In a blog post released January 7, 2026, the semiconductor foundry warns that, mirroring the offshoring of much of the traditional semiconductor industry to Asia, early quantum innovation risks migrating overseas without focused investment in U.S. infrastructure. “The same forces that reshaped classical semiconductor manufacturing could easily repeat themselves in quantum if action is delayed,” says Ross Miller, SVP Strategy at SkyWater Technology. This isn’t just about quantum computing; the technology underpins next-generation communications, secure networking, and sensing systems vital to national security and economic competitiveness – and scaling manufacturing, not just achieving breakthroughs, will determine ultimate dominance.
Geopolitical Risks Drive Need for Onshore Quantum Manufacturing The United States currently occupies a strong position in early-stage quantum innovation, but this lead is far from guaranteed, particularly as geopolitical factors reshape technological landscapes. For decades, the semiconductor industry prioritized globalization for efficiency, resulting in a concentration of manufacturing capacity—a vulnerability now acutely felt, with a majority of mixed-signal analog semiconductor production residing in Asia. “Geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and national security concerns have brought the consequences of offshoring into sharp focus,” highlighting the urgent need to reassess manufacturing strategies. This isn’t simply about leading-edge digital logic; maintaining technological leadership hinges on foundational technologies like quantum, which extends beyond computing to encompass next-generation communications, secure networking, and advanced sensing systems. A critical national decision looms regarding investment and rebuilding domestic capability to prevent quantum technology from mirroring the semiconductor industry’s offshoring experience. The stakes are high: securing not just leadership in quantum, but also its long-term economic and strategic value. Quantum represents a “fundamentally new technological frontier,” and history demonstrates that scientific innovation alone isn’t enough. Without robust domestic manufacturing infrastructure, early advancements inevitably migrate offshore, carrying with them valuable talent and intellectual property. SkyWater Technology, operating as a foundry, is actively working to restore onshore capability for foundational semiconductors while simultaneously becoming a key enabler of quantum device manufacturing, offering a unique perspective on the required evolution of quantum manufacturing. Effective leadership demands purpose-built investment in areas like superconducting electronics, cryogenic CMOS, photonics, and advanced packaging – capabilities essential not only for quantum computing, but also for quantum networking and secure communications. The race is no longer solely about proving feasibility; it’s about reliable, scalable manufacturing, and SkyWater has already secured relationships with multiple quantum customers, demonstrating that developers are prioritizing manufacturing decisions now. “Quantum developers do not simply need wafer supply; they need deep engineering collaboration,” said SkyWater, offering a Technology-as-a-Service business model to facilitate this. SkyWater’s Technology-as-a-Service Enables Quantum Device Innovation SkyWater Technology is uniquely positioned to address the escalating demands of quantum device manufacturing, moving beyond simple wafer supply to offer a collaborative, flexible model for innovators. The company recognizes that the U.S. is at “a critical inflection point for technology leadership,” and is actively building domestic capability for foundational semiconductors alongside emerging quantum technologies. This dual focus provides crucial insight into the evolution of quantum manufacturing, particularly as geopolitical factors and supply chain vulnerabilities become increasingly prominent. faces a historical challenge: translating scientific breakthroughs into sustained dominance. A key differentiator is SkyWater’s “Technology-as-a-Service” business model, responding to the specific needs of quantum developers. This approach is particularly valuable in the rapidly evolving quantum landscape, where requirements shift quickly and risk management is paramount. Furthermore, SkyWater demonstrates a willingness to embrace innovation through nonstandard materials and unconventional processes. While many foundries restrict experimentation, SkyWater has “built structured pathways to safely evaluate and enable new technologies,” including openness to customer-purchased tools and modified process flows. Over a decade of process development at its Minnesota fab has created a foundation for supporting superconducting, photonic, and other emerging quantum technologies, accelerating customer learning cycles and bridging the gap between laboratory research and manufacturable devices—a critical step for scaling quantum systems beyond prototypes. Geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and national security concerns have brought the consequences of offshoring into sharp focus. Superconducting Electronics & Advanced Packaging Support Quantum Scale-Up The transition of quantum technologies from laboratory proof-of-concept to scalable systems hinges critically on advancements in manufacturing, specifically within superconducting electronics and advanced packaging. While initial quantum innovation currently resides within the U.S., maintaining this lead requires a deliberate shift towards robust domestic manufacturing infrastructure, according to SkyWater Technology. History demonstrates that “scientific leadership alone does not guarantee long-term dominance,” and without such infrastructure, early innovation will inevitably migrate offshore, taking valuable intellectual property with it. The company’s approach isn’t simply about wafer supply; it’s about collaborative engineering. This is crucial for early-stage quantum programs where requirements are fluid and risk management is paramount. This ability to reliably move beyond prototypes is now the defining challenge, as the race to manufacture quantum systems “in quantity, with trust, security, and repeatability” is already underway. Source: https://www.skywatertechnology.com/a-defining-moment-for-u-s-technology-leadership-why-quantum-manufacturing-must-stay-onshore/ Tags: