IonQ (IONQ) is expanding its global reach with a new role as the primary quantum technology provider for South Korea’s National Quantum Computing Center of Excellence. Backed by a multi-million-dollar government award, the initiative is led by KISTI (Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information), with IonQ expected to deliver a 100-qubit system and build a hybrid quantum-classical cloud platform.
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This is a step up for IonQ’s presence in Asia. The company already has partnerships in place with Hyundai (HYMLF), SK Telecom (SKM), Intellian, and top universities like Seoul National. The new deal positions IonQ at the center of Korea’s strategy to build a nationwide quantum service infrastructure supporting both academic and industrial R&D.
The project with KISTI does not yet include a disclosed dollar value or timeline for revenue recognition, but it adds to IonQ’s growing portfolio of national-scale deployments. The hybrid system is expected to be remotely accessible via a secure private cloud, aligning with IonQ’s long-term goal of becoming a key backend for global quantum services.
The Bull Case for IONQ Stock
On the analyst front, Craig-Hallum’s Richard Shannon reiterated a Buy on July 9. Benchmark’s David Williams also reiterated a Buy rating with a $50 to $55 price range, forecasting a 20.72% upside. TipRanks AI ranks the stock as Hold with a $47 target, and Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage at $45 with a slight -1.23% downside view.
IONQ stock has been on a strong run in 2025, up more than 70% in the last three months. This latest announcement may not change short-term earnings forecasts, but could strengthen the bull case for long-term quantum adoption in the enterprise and government sectors.
Is IONQ Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
The latest analyst sentiment suggests continued optimism, but with a more measured outlook. Based on 7 Wall Street ratings in the last 3 months, IONQ holds a Moderate Buy consensus. The average 12-month price target is $42.67, implying a -6.34% downside.
TipRanks readers should continue tracking earnings guidance, government funding trends, and enterprise pipeline updates to better gauge where this story goes next.