The tech giant will allocate over $30 billion to R&D in quantum computing and mainframes manufactured in the United States.
IBM announced on Monday one of the largest economic commitments in its recent history: an investment of $150 billion in the United States over the next five years. The goal is clear: to strengthen its global leadership in advanced computing and solidify its commitment to the U.S. tech industry and employment.
The company, headquartered in Armonk, New York, will dedicate more than $30 billion specifically to research and development (R&D), focusing on two strategic pillars: the manufacturing of next-generation mainframe computers and the development of quantum computing systems within the country.
“Technology not only builds the future; it defines it,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM. “With this investment, we reaffirm that IBM will remain the global center of advanced computing and artificial intelligence.”
Poughkeepsie: The Industrial Heart of Global Computing
The announcement also highlights the city of Poughkeepsie, New York, where IBM has one of its main technology manufacturing plants. From there, the mainframe systems are produced that form the backbone of data processing on a global scale: it is estimated that more than 70% of global economic transactions pass through systems manufactured by IBM in the United States.
These mainframes remain essential in critical sectors such as banking, insurance, and public administration, playing an integral role in the technological infrastructure of the U.S. and other countries.
Quantum Computing: The Next Technological Frontier
IBM’s commitment to quantum computing is another cornerstone of this investment. The company already operates the largest fleet of quantum computers in the world, and with this new push, it aims to accelerate their design, assembly, and deployment from U.S. soil.
Quantum computing promises to solve problems that are impossible for traditional systems and is considered key to the future of areas like materials science, logistics, cryptography, and artificial intelligence.
IBM has a global quantum network that provides access to its systems for more than 600,000 active users and nearly 300 entities, including universities, national laboratories, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. This network has become a crucial environment for public-private collaboration and academic innovation.
A Commitment to Employment and Technological Sovereignty
The announced investment reinforces IBM’s role as one of the largest tech employers in the United States and is part of a strategy for technological reindustrialization aimed at returning the country to leadership in key capabilities like advanced manufacturing, digital sovereignty, and cybersecurity.
The company emphasizes that this investment will also have a multiplier effect on employment, national competitiveness, and economic security, with benefits that could extend for decades.
With this $150 billion commitment, IBM not only reaffirms its status as a global technology leader, but also sends a strong message: the future of computing—whether classical or quantum—lies in the United States, and the company that helped digitize the 20th century wants to continue shaping the direction of the 21st century.