FTC approves IonQ’s $1.8 billion acquisition of SkyWater semiconductor ‍foundry

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission cleared quantum computing firm IonQ’s $1.8 billion acquisition of chipmaker SkyWater Technology after the agency’s leaders disagreed over whether ‌to ⁠impose conditions, they ⁠said on Friday.

Chairman Andrew Ferguson said in a statement that he had proposed requiring IonQ to agree to granting fair access to rival quantum computing ⁠companies, some ‌of whom have ongoing contracts with SkyWater, among other ⁠measures to protect competition as the U.S. adds chip manufacturing capacity.