European quantum computing startup IQM is set to go public in New York through a SPAC merger, aiming for a $1.8 billion valuation and signaling a new phase of commercialization for the nascent industry. The Finland-based firm announced its plan to combine with Real Asset Acquisition Corp, a move that could inject over $300 million in capital to accelerate its development and market penetration. This proposed listing, anticipated around June, would mark one of Europe’s first public ventures in the quantum computing arena, with a potential dual listing on the Helsinki stock exchange also under consideration.
Founded in 2018, IQM has already established itself as a significant player, having raised $320 million in a Series B funding round last September, which valued the company at $1 billion. That round saw participation from prominent investors like Ten Eleven Ventures and Tesi. The company’s strategic focus lies in developing full-stack, open-architecture quantum systems designed for both on-premise deployment and cloud accessibility, positioning them to serve a diverse range of enterprise needs.
The promise of quantum computing lies in its potential to revolutionize computation, offering exponential speedups over classical systems for complex problem-solving and massive data processing. Industries such as medicine, materials science, and finance are keenly watching its progress, anticipating breakthroughs that could redefine innovation. While the technology is still navigating significant technical hurdles and has yet to see widespread commercial adoption, a growing consensus suggests the quantum sector is moving beyond its purely research-oriented phase.
“Quantum computing is no longer just a science project,” stated Jan Goetz, IQM’s co-founder and CEO. “We are seeing it emerge as a tangible industry where clients are actively acquiring, operating, and building solutions on advanced quantum hardware.” IQM’s commercial traction is evident in its sales of 21 quantum systems to 13 customers, alongside reporting unaudited revenues of at least $35 million in 2025. This commercial drive aligns with industry projections that anticipate initial commercial deployments of quantum computing by the end of the decade, prompting discussions on its integration within existing data center infrastructures and cloud ecosystems.
IQM is part of a burgeoning European quantum ecosystem. Competitors like U.K.-based Quantinuum have secured substantial funding, raising $800 million last year, while Spain’s Multiverse Computing garnered 189 million euros in its Series B round. On a global scale, China leads in public investment in quantum technology, allocating nearly $18 billion, with the European Union following closely, according to analyses by the European Centre for International Political Economy. IQM’s public listing could provide a crucial catalyst for the European quantum sector, attracting further investment and accelerating the transition from research to commercial viability.
Original article, Author: Tobias. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/19169.html
