Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer, built its business assembling devices other companies design. Now it wants to do the same for quantum computers.
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu told CNBC in an interview published Oct. 30, 2026, that “we hope we can become the largest quantum computer manufacturer in the world without owning that technology.” “We focus on manufacturing,” Liu said. On timing, he said, “I would say it takes at least another two years, and I think it’s not just for us,” adding, “I think it’s for the whole industry.”
For enterprise technology leaders, the remarks suggest that quantum hardware could follow the path of servers and smartphones, where design and manufacturing sit with different companies.
Foxconn Wants to Build Other Companies’ Quantum Machines
“It’s not a general purpose computer,” Liu told CNBC. He described quantum computing as “a new addition to the compute devices with a special function that accelerates certain computation.” Its existing manufacturing scale and research efforts provide context for that ambition, alongside cost and commercialization hurdles:
- Scale: Taiwan’s Liberty Times and Economic Daily News reported that Liu, in the CNBC interview, put Foxconn’s share of the artificial intelligence (AI) server market at about 40%, with about 45% possible next year.
- In-house research: Foxconn also develops quantum technology internally. Its Hon Hai Research Institute opened IonLab in October 2023 and targets a 5- to 10-qubit trapped-ion prototype by 2027. The institute says the prototype will not yet be capable of solving practical problems.
- Cost pressure: The Quantum Insider reported that Liu cited a cable costing more than $1,000 as an example of the expense associated with quantum hardware’s temperature requirements. Separately, up to $300 million in U.S. quantum awards will support manufacturing and infrastructure development, including fabrication and cryogenic systems.
- Timeline: In May, The Quantum Insider, citing DigiTimes Asia, reported that Foxconn’s quantum activities could take roughly three more years to reach a significant growth phase, with broader commercial opportunities expected closer to 2030.
Three Bets on How Quantum Hardware Gets Made
Foxconn’s proposed contract-manufacturing role offers a different emphasis from Intel’s expansion into quantum software and IonQ’s integration of chip fabrication. Intel agreed on Oct. 26 to acquire quantum software company Classiq, with closing expected in the first half of 2027; terms were not disclosed. IonQ launched its Superion 256 system on Sept. 8, with quantum processing units (QPUs) fabricated at its SkyWater subsidiary and customer deliveries planned for 2027.
| Company | Strategy | Latest Move | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foxconn | Contract manufacturing for technology owners | Chairman Young Liu’s CNBC interview, Oct. 30 | Liu estimates at least two more years to commercial viability |
| Intel | Adding quantum software through acquisition | Agreed to acquire Classiq, Oct. 26 | Closing expected in first half of 2027 |
| IonQ | Owning chip fabrication through SkyWater | Launched Superion 256, Sept. 8 | Customer deliveries planned for 2027 |
What eWeek Found: Foxconn’s Manufacturing Ambition Needs Commercial Proof
Foxconn’s opportunity depends on whether quantum developers need an outside manufacturer to turn their designs into repeatable production. Liu’s comments outline that ambition, but the forecasts cited here do not establish when Foxconn will begin delivering customer systems at scale.
The October estimate concerns industrywide commercial viability. The May report described a potential growth phase for Foxconn’s quantum activities, with broader commercial opportunities closer to 2030. These statements address different scopes and should not be read as firm delivery commitments or evidence that the company has accelerated its timetable.
Foxconn’s internal research provides a separate milestone. Its institute targets a 5- to 10-qubit prototype by 2027, while acknowledging that the machine will not yet solve practical problems. Completing it would demonstrate research progress; commercial manufacturing would still require evidence of customer demand, reliable production, and delivery capacity.
Gartner’s forecast of $1.1 billion in worldwide quantum computing revenue in 2027 provides market context, but does not isolate revenue available to contract manufacturers. It therefore cannot establish the size of Foxconn’s potential order book.
For enterprise technology leaders, the next useful signals would be a named manufacturing customer, a defined production role, and delivery and support commitments. Buyers evaluating quantum systems should also ask for demonstrated performance on relevant workloads and a clear account of installation and operating requirements. Those details would make the manufacturing proposition easier to assess than a broad commercialization forecast alone.
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