Quantum Computing Inc. has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology to design and fabricate thin-film lithium niobate photonic integrated circuits. The award, which runs from 16 June 2025 through 15 April 2026, is the company’s first direct government deal for its TFLN foundry services and comes alongside a separate order from an unnamed Fortune 500 defense and technology firm. The NIST project calls for low-loss waveguides, high-performance modulators and narrow-band filters, strengthening a domestic supply chain for advanced photonic components used in quantum computing and secure communications. Quantum Computing Inc. shares rose roughly 10% in pre-market trading following the announcement. Investor interest in quantum technologies was underscored later in the day when Amazon’s quarterly 13F filing revealed a holding of 854,207 IonQ shares valued at about $36.7 million. IonQ gained 4% to $43.77 in after-hours trading. Needham & Co. separately raised price targets on D-Wave Quantum, IonQ and Rigetti Computing, citing accelerating momentum across the sector.