IonQ, a publicly traded quantum computing company (NYSE: IONQ), completes its acquisition of Lightsynq Technologies, a Boston-based startup specializing in photonic interconnects and quantum memory. The acquisition is aimed at accelerating IonQ’s development of fault-tolerant quantum computing systems and enhancing its capabilities in quantum networking.
Lightsynq has developed a photonic interconnect platform designed to support high-fidelity, multi-node quantum operations—an essential requirement for building scalable and modular quantum systems. Its technology also includes advances in quantum memory and repeater systems, which are expected to complement IonQ’s trapped-ion quantum architecture.
“This acquisition brings in technology and expertise that support our roadmap toward scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing and long-distance quantum networking,” said IonQ CEO Niccolo de Masi. He noted the deal also supports the company’s transition from experimental bulk optics to integrated optical chip platforms.
Lightsynq was founded by researchers with backgrounds in quantum networking from Harvard University and Amazon Web Services, including Dr. Mihir Bhaskar, Dr. Bart Machielse, and Dr. David Levonian. The startup’s work has focused on enabling modular quantum processing units to operate with high bandwidth, a capability seen as critical to the future of data center-scale quantum systems.
According to Bhaskar, who served as Lightsynq’s CEO, the integration into IonQ is expected to accelerate the development of distributed quantum computing platforms.
As part of the acquisition, IonQ will add over 20 patents and patent applications related to quantum memory and photonic interconnect technologies to its intellectual property portfolio. This move is the latest in a series of steps to expand IonQ’s position in the quantum networking space, including previous acquisitions of Qubitekk and ID Quantique, as well as the establishment of a quantum innovation center in collaboration with EPB in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
