IBM has agreed to acquire HRL Laboratories, a leading research lab in quantum computing, according to a report from...

IBM has agreed to acquire HRL Laboratories, a leading research lab in quantum computing, according to a report from Digitimes on July 27, 2026. This acquisition bolsters IBM's quantum computing portfolio and aligns with its strategy to lead in hybrid cloud and AI, as stated on its investor relations page. The deal is expected to strengthen IBM's capabilities in quantum hardware and software, positioning it against competitors like Google and IonQ.

Separately, IBM continues to demonstrate research prowess with its 0.7nm transistor technology (7A Nanostack) announced in June 2026, as covered by TechTechPotato. The technology uses a complementary FET (CFET) architecture and shows Moore's Law is still viable. While IBM does not manufacture chips at scale, this innovation could be licensed to foundries.

Additionally, IBM engineers are contributing to open-source AI infrastructure, as seen in recent commits to llama.cpp, signaling ongoing investment in the AI software stack. The company's Q2 2026 revenue was $31.5B with net income of $3.2B, per SEC filing.

What the sources said

• Digitimes: "IBM agrees to acquire HRL Laboratories to expand quantum computing capabilities" (https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20260727VL200/ibm-quantum-computing-acquisition-development-communications.html).
• TechTechPotato on IBM's 7A Nanostack: "IBM's new 7A Nanostack proves scaling still works" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mRJw2F6j5Q).
• IBM IR page: "Today’s IBM has defined a clear strategy to lead in the era of hybrid cloud and AI" (https://www.ibm.com/investor).
• llama.cpp release: commit by Aaron Teo (IBM) refactoring mlock/mmap/directio (https://github.com/ggml-org/llama.cpp/releases/tag/b10105).