Xanadu and Thorlabs partner to advance optical controls for photonic quantum computing
Rhea-AI Summary
Xanadu (to list via CHAC) partnered with Thorlabs to develop customized optical fiber components aimed at reducing optical loss and improving phase and polarization stability for photonic quantum computing.
The collaboration pairs Xanadu’s photonic hardware expertise with Thorlabs’ high‑volume photonics manufacturing to move novel designs from proof‑of‑concept to mass production and support Xanadu’s utility‑scale quantum computer goals.
Separately, Xanadu announced a business combination with Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: CHAC) to form NewCo expected to be capitalized with approximately US$500 million (about US$225M from Crane Harbor’s trust and US$275M from committed investors), and to list on Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Positive
- Partnership pairs Xanadu hardware with Thorlabs manufacturing scale
- Phase and polarization stability work aims to lower qubit error rates
- Production path from proof‑of‑concept to high‑volume manufacturing
- Expected capitalization of ~US$500M for NewCo (US$225M trust + US$275M PIPE)
Negative
- Expected US$500M capitalization is contingent on no redemptions from Crane Harbor trust
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, CHAC gained 0.89%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19 | Research milestone | Positive | +0.6% | New quantum framework for photodynamic cancer therapy and deal recap. |
| Dec 15 | Government funding | Positive | +0.9% | Selection for Canadian Quantum Champions with up to CAD $23M support. |
| Dec 08 | Partnership expansion | Positive | -0.8% | Expanded A*STAR collaboration and reiteration of NewCo transaction terms. |
| Nov 25 | Aerospace project | Positive | -0.7% | Rolls-Royce airflow simulation results plus business combination details. |
| Nov 24 | Deal valuation | Positive | +1.5% | Disclosure of NewCo pro forma valuation and expected gross proceeds. |
Recent Xanadu/CHAC news has been mostly positive with mixed but slightly favorable immediate price reactions.
Over the last few months, CHAC-related news has centered on Xanadu’s growth and the proposed business combination. On Nov 24, 2025, the parties outlined NewCo’s pro forma US$3.1 billion enterprise value and US$3.6 billion market cap, with about US$500 million in expected gross proceeds. Subsequent releases on aerospace collaborations, Canadian quantum funding of up to CAD $23 million, and cancer therapy research reinforced Xanadu’s technical momentum. Today’s Thorlabs partnership fits this pattern of strategic collaborations that support scaling Xanadu’s photonic hardware ahead of the proposed NewCo listings.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Xanadu’s collaboration with Thorlabs to address optical loss and stability challenges in photonic quantum computing, while reiterating plans for NewCo to be capitalized with approximately US$500 million in gross proceeds and dual listings. Together with prior aerospace and research collaborations, it underscores a strategy of partnering to scale hardware and applications. Investors may watch for updates on the Form F-4 process, closing timing, and evidence that these technical partnerships translate into deployable quantum data center systems.
Key Terms
photonic quantum computing technical
qubits technical
quantum error correction technical
special purpose acquisition company financial
private placement financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Companies to develop customized solutions addressing optical loss and large-volume manufacturability of key components in photonic quantum computing
TORONTO and NEWTON, N.J., Jan. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. (“Xanadu”), a leading photonic quantum computing company, and Thorlabs, a globally-renowned designer and manufacturer of photonics equipment, have partnered to develop customized optical fiber components essential for realizing large-scale photonic quantum computing. The collaboration will combine Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing hardware expertise and Thorlabs’ advanced optical component manufacturing capabilities to help address critical challenges in scaling photonic quantum computing systems. Together, the companies can accelerate the production of novel component designs from proof-of-concept to high-volume manufacturing for Xanadu’s scalable hardware.
The goal of this collaboration is to develop photonic components that address phase and polarization stability -- key challenges in photonic quantum computing. Maintaining this stability is crucial. Any unwanted drift distorts information encoded in photonic qubits, resulting in computational errors.
“We are pleased to work with Thorlabs on addressing this challenge. Their deep expertise and ability to manufacture with high precision, at a high volume, and at a competitive cost makes them an invaluable partner,” said Christian Weedbrook, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Xanadu.
Meeting the stability criteria required in many of the sensitive fiber optics that link together key hardware subsystems, while limiting optical loss, will reduce physical qubit overhead and quantum error correction requirements. This resulting capability improves the scalability of Xanadu’s entire system.
“The Thorlabs team is proud to support Xanadu’s mission to advance the frontiers of quantum computing technology,” said Peter Fendel, Chief Technology Officer at Thorlabs. “This partnership combines Xanadu’s deep expertise in scalable quantum computing with Thorlabs’ decades of experience in designing and manufacturing photonic components, and subsystems at scale.”
This partnership is driven by a shared vision to push the boundaries of photonics technologies. By leveraging Thorlabs' industrial manufacturing scale, Xanadu can continue to develop its utility-scale photonic quantum computer, helping ensure that the critical optical components are ready for the high-volume demands of a quantum data center.
Business Combination
Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. (“Xanadu”) recently announced a business combination agreement with Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: CHAC), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (“Crane Harbor”). The combined company, Xanadu Quantum Technologies Limited (“NewCo”), is expected to be capitalized with approximately US
About Xanadu
Xanadu is a Canadian quantum computing company with the mission to build quantum computers that are useful and available to people everywhere. Founded in 2016, Xanadu has become one of the world's leading quantum hardware and software companies. The company also leads the development of PennyLane, an open-source software library for quantum computing and application development. Visit xanadu.ai or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @XanaduAI.
About Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp.
Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
About Thorlabs
Thorlabs is a vertically integrated photonics manufacturer founded in 1989 to serve the laser and electro-optics research community. Over the past three decades, the company has expanded its competencies to play a leading role in the photonics industry across research, life science, medical, and quantum technology segments. Backed by a dedicated workforce of more than 3,000 employees worldwide, Thorlabs operates over 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing space that encompasses everything from traditional machine and optics shops and advanced assembly cells to compound semiconductor manufacturing and packaging.
Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It
The proposed business combination transaction will be submitted to shareholders of Crane Harbor and Xanadu for their consideration. NewCo and Crane Harbor have jointly confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Registration Statement includes a proxy statement/prospectus to be distributed to Crane Harbor’s shareholders in connection with Crane Harbor’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by Crane Harbor’s shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction and other matters to be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Xanadu’s shareholders in connection with the completion of the proposed transaction. After the Registration Statement has been publicly filed and declared effective by the SEC, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents will be mailed to Crane Harbor shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed transaction. Before making any voting or investment decision, Crane Harbor’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other documents filed with the SEC by NewCo and/or Crane Harbor in connection with the proposed transaction, as these documents will contain important information about NewCo, Crane Harbor, Xanadu and the proposed transaction. Shareholders may obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement/prospectus, once available, as well as other documents filed by NewCo and/or Crane Harbor with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov, Crane Harbor’s website at www.craneharboracquisition.com or by emailing investors@xanadu.ai.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws and “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict” or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. We have based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events. These statements include: the stock exchanges on which the shares of the combined company are expected to trade; proceeds from the business combination and related PIPE; funds received by the combined company from Crane Harbor’s trust account and redemptions by Crane Harbor’s public shareholders; the companies’ ability to advance optical component manufacturing capabilities to address critical challenges in scaling photonic quantum computing systems and the companies’ ability to develop photonic components that address photon phase and polarization stability.
These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Xanadu and Crane Harbor. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause the actual results of the combined company following the proposed transaction, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include: that Xanadu is pursuing an emerging technology, faces significant technical challenges and may not achieve commercialization or market acceptance; Xanadu’s historical net losses and limited operating history; that there is substantial doubt about Xanadu's ability to continue as a going concern; Xanadu’s expectations regarding future financial performance, capital requirements and unit economics; Xanadu’s use and reporting of business and operational metrics; Xanadu’s competitive landscape; Xanadu’s dependence on members of its senior management and its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the potential need for additional future financing; Xanadu’s ability to manage growth and expand its operations; potential future acquisitions or investments in companies, products, services or technologies; Xanadu’s reliance on strategic partners and other third parties; Xanadu’s concentration of revenue in contracts with government or state-funded entities; Xanadu’s ability to maintain, protect and defend its intellectual property rights; risks associated with privacy, data protection or cybersecurity incidents and related regulations; the use, rate of adoption, and regulation of artificial intelligence and machine learning; uncertainty or changes with respect to laws and regulations; uncertainty or changes with respect to taxes, trade conditions and the macroeconomic environment; material weaknesses in Xanadu's internal control over financial reporting and the combined company’s ability to maintain internal control over financial reporting and operate as a public company; the possibility that required shareholder and regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction are delayed or are not obtained, which could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction; the risk that shareholders of Crane Harbor could elect to have their shares redeemed, leaving the combined company with insufficient cash to execute its business plans; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings or government investigations that may be commenced against Xanadu or Crane Harbor; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; the ability of Crane Harbor or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed transaction or in the future; and other factors described in Crane Harbor’s filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, including that none of the risks identified above materialize; that there are no unforeseen changes to economic and market conditions, and that no significant events occur outside the ordinary course of business. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact such forward-looking statements can be found in filings and potential filings by Xanadu, Crane Harbor or the combined company resulting from the proposed transaction with the SEC, including under the heading “Risk Factors.” If any of these risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements reflect the expectations, plans and forecasts of Xanadu’s and Crane Harbor’s management as of the date of this communication; subsequent events and developments may cause their assessments to change. While Xanadu and Crane Harbor may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, unless required by applicable securities laws. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon these statements.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this presentation, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
An investment in Crane Harbor is not an investment in any of Crane Harbor’s founders’ or sponsors’ past investments, companies or affiliated funds. The historical results of those investments are not indicative of future performance of Crane Harbor, which may differ materially from the performance of Crane Harbor’s founders’ or sponsors’ past investments.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This communication is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an advertisement or a public offering of the securities described herein in the United States or any other jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or exemptions therefrom. INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an advertisement or a public offering in any province or territory of Canada. In addition, no securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release or the merits of any of the securities described herein and any representation to the contrary is an offense.
Participants in the Solicitation
NewCo, Crane Harbor, Xanadu and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Crane Harbor’s shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Crane Harbor’s shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction will be set forth in proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed by NewCo with the SEC. You can find more information about Crane Harbor’s directors and executive officers in Crane Harbor’s final prospectus related to its initial public offering filed with the SEC on April 25, 2025 and in the subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by Crane Harbor with the SEC. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources described above.
Press Contact:
press@xanadu.ai
Investor Relations:
investors@xanadu.ai
FAQ
What is the Xanadu and Thorlabs partnership announced on January 13, 2026 (CHAC)?
How does the partnership affect Xanadu’s scalability plans for its photonic quantum computer (CHAC)?
What capitalization did Xanadu say NewCo will have after the business combination with Crane Harbor (CHAC)?
Will the Xanadu–Crane Harbor deal list on public exchanges (CHAC)?
What technical problems will Thorlabs help Xanadu address (CHAC)?
