Capital Region Booms in Photonics and Quantum Computing Patents

The Capital Region in New York is experiencing significant growth in photonics and quantum computing research and development, according to a new study by the Center for Economic Growth. Over the past year, nearly 600 patents involving semiconductor technology were issued to local researchers and inventors, with IBM leading the pack at over 250 patents.

IBM's research and development of quantum computer chips is conducted at NY Creates' Albany NanoTech campus, where Tokyo Electron, a Japanese company, also conducts its U.S. research. GlobalFoundries, which has its headquarters and Fab 8 manufacturing facility in Saratoga County, was third on the list with between 100 and 125 patents.

James Schlett, director of research and communications at the center, found that nearly one in six semiconductor patents involved either photonics or quantum computing. Both fields are expected to play major roles in next-generation chips designed to power artificial intelligence applications.