By Ross Miller, SVP Strategy, SkyWater Technology
This post is the second in a two-part series on the future of U.S. quantum manufacturing.
The early phase of quantum manufacturing has proven that onshore capability is both possible and necessary. The next phase will determine whether the United States can sustain leadership as quantum technologies move toward real-world deployment.
This transition brings a new set of manufacturing requirements. Quantum developers are no longer focused solely on demonstrating functionality. They are beginning to confront questions of scale, yield, integration, and long-term reliability. The answers to those questions will shape which technologies advance, which applications mature first, and where value ultimately accrues.
Understanding these needs now is essential to building the manufacturing infrastructure that quantum technologies will require tomorrow.
What Quantum Developers Need Next
As quantum programs advance beyond research concepts toward utility-scale systems, their manufacturing requirements are becoming clearer and more demanding.
Near-term needs include access to new materials and specialized tooling tailored to quantum-specific structures, as well as advanced test infrastructure capable of supporting rapid iteration under cryogenic conditions and novel device physics. Advanced 3D integration and heterogeneous packaging are increasingly critical, particularly for systems operating at cryogenic temperatures where thermal, electrical, and mechanical constraints intersect.
Importantly, quantum is not converging on a single device architecture. Much like MEMS, different quantum modalities are beginning to specialize by application. No one approach will dominate all use cases, which means manufacturing pathways must accommodate device diversity rather than force premature standardization.
Wafer-scale cryogenic testing will be essential to accelerate learning and validate devices under relevant operating conditions. Automated design enablement and EDA tool support will also become increasingly important as design density and system complexity grow. Underpinning all of this is the need for rapid, repeatable adoption of new materials, supported by workflows designed specifically for quantum requirements.
Working across multiple quantum modalities gives SkyWater early visibility into these shared needs and the ability to plan proactively rather than reactively.
A Domestic Roadmap for Quantum Manufacturing
The U.S. cannot afford to repeat past mistakes.
Ensuring that quantum devices are manufactured onshore for the long term will require deliberate, strategic action: investment in materials capabilities, tooling, integration infrastructure, and workforce development; expansion of foundry assets aligned with emerging quantum requirements; and national recognition that quantum manufacturing is strategically vital, even before it represents premium commercial volume.
Manufacturing readiness depends on more than fabs alone. It requires a fully integrated domestic ecosystem spanning substrates, packaging, tooling, materials, cryogenic test infrastructure, EDA and simulation tools, design IP, and specialized engineering capabilities. Strengthening this ecosystem enhances national resilience, improves economic competitiveness, and reduces dependency on foreign manufacturing.
Trusted, secure facilities serve as foundational anchors for this ecosystem, enabling commercial, defense, intelligence, and academic innovators to develop and scale quantum technologies on U.S. soil. SkyWater is already building toward this future, guided by direct customer insight and aligned with national interests.
Why Business Model Matters as Quantum Scales
The attributes attracting quantum customers today will become even more critical as the industry moves toward commercialization: flexible engagement, deep engineering collaboration, and a willingness to innovate around customer needs.
Emerging quantum companies will require manufacturing partners that do far more than “run wafers.” They will need partners who can co-develop processes, integration platforms, and manufacturing strategies alongside them. Traditional fabs optimized for high-volume, standardized production may struggle to adapt to new materials, cryogenic-optimized flows, and nontraditional architectures without significant friction.
SkyWater’s Technology-as-a-Service model, combined with its openness to customer-driven tooling and materials, is purpose-built for this environment. Its Trusted processing capability and adaptable manufacturing approach position it as a natural U.S. partner for developing the next generation of quantum platforms.
The Time to Act is Now
Quantum represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to anchor a foundational new technology on U.S. soil. The outcome will not be decided by breakthroughs alone, but by manufacturing readiness and the ability to scale securely and reliably.
SkyWater’s work today through its growing quantum customer base, targeted capability investments, and differentiated business model demonstrates that domestic quantum manufacturing is both achievable and already underway. What remains is the collective will to recognize its strategic value and invest accordingly.
Industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators must ensure that the advantages built today are not lost through inaction or a repeat of past offshoring patterns. The time to plan, invest, and build a resilient U.S. quantum manufacturing ecosystem is right now.