The company is betting that the future of quantum computing may not rely on exotic hardware, but instead on adapting the same silicon chipmaking technology already used to manufacture everyday computer processors.
A Different Path in the Quantum Race
Quantum computers are widely viewed as one of the next major frontiers in technology because of their potential to solve highly complex problems beyond the capabilities of traditional computers.
At the centre of quantum computing is the “qubit,” the quantum equivalent of a transistor.
Unlike conventional computer bits—which can represent either a 0 or a 1 at any moment—a qubit can exist in multiple states simultaneously, allowing quantum systems to process vast numbers of calculations at once.
Many of the world’s leading tech firms are racing to build stable and scalable quantum systems using different approaches. Companies like IBM and Google have focused heavily on superconducting qubits, while other researchers use laser-controlled neutral atoms.
But one of the industry’s biggest obstacles remains scale: building machines with thousands or even millions of reliable qubits.
Quantum Motion believes silicon manufacturing could offer a more practical solution.
Turning Everyday Transistors Into Qubits
Rather than inventing entirely new hardware systems, the company’s strategy is to adapt standard transistors—the same tiny switches used in phones and laptops—into quantum components.
“We just kind of started the company in reverse,” said Quantum Motion CEO James Palles-Dimmock.
“What are the minimum adaptations that we can make to transistors to turn them into high-quality qubits?” he explained.
In a normal semiconductor chip, transistors simply switch on or off, controlling the movement of electrons. Quantum Motion’s design instead traps a single electron within the transistor gap and manipulates its quantum “spin” using magnetic fields.
The method, known as electron-spin quantum computing, is not entirely unique. Other startups and companies including Intel are also exploring similar techniques.
However, Quantum Motion says its advantage lies in making the technology manufacturable at scale using existing industrial chip fabrication processes.
Partnership With GlobalFoundries
The startup is working with manufacturing partner GlobalFoundries to produce its chips using established semiconductor production methods.
Palles-Dimmock said leveraging conventional silicon infrastructure could dramatically reduce the cost of building useful quantum computers.
According to him, commercially viable systems could potentially be developed for between $10 million and $20 million, far lower than the enormous costs associated with many experimental quantum platforms today.
“We’ve got a very clear path to delivering the world’s most powerful computer at a reasonable cost,” he said.
Major Investors Back the Vision
The $160 million funding round was co-led by venture firms DCVC and Kembara, with additional participation from the British Business Bank and Firgun.
Existing investors also joined the round, including Oxford Science Enterprises, Inkef, Bosch Ventures, Porsche Automobil Holding, and Parkwalk Advisors.
The strong investor interest reflects growing confidence that practical quantum computing may eventually emerge from technologies compatible with existing semiconductor manufacturing rather than entirely new hardware ecosystems.
Why Silicon Quantum Computing Matters
If Quantum Motion’s approach succeeds, it could mark a major shift in the quantum computing industry.
Using conventional silicon processes could make quantum hardware easier to mass-produce, integrate into current supply chains, and scale globally—much like the semiconductor revolution that transformed classical computing.
Analysts say the ability to build millions of qubits using familiar chip fabrication methods could eventually accelerate the transition of quantum computing from experimental laboratories into real-world commercial applications.
For now, though, the race remains highly competitive, with companies worldwide still working to overcome the technical hurdles that stand between today’s prototypes and truly practical quantum machines.