Critical materials producer USA Rare Earth, Inc. (NASDAQ: USAR), neutral-atom quantum computing developer Pasqal (NASDAQ: PSQL), and industrial chemistry AI firm Riven Systems have formed a strategic partnership to develop quantum machine learning (QML) models for rare earth element (REE) separation. The collaboration combines Pasqal’s neutral-atom quantum processing units (QPUs), Riven’s autonomous chemistry laboratory, and USA Rare Earth’s feedstock processing flowsheets to identify high-selectivity extractant molecules for heavy rare earth oxides.
Addressing Western supply chain dependencies—particularly for heavy rare earths such as dysprosium, terbium, and yttrium—the project aims to optimize chemical separation without traditional trial-and-error chemistry. Under the workflow, Riven generates empirical training data via automated physical experiments. Pasqal then executes and benchmarks QML models against classical compute architectures to predict molecule binding behavior. Candidate extractants will undergo hardware-in-the-loop validation at USA Rare Earth’s Wheat Ridge, Colorado R&D facility using feedstocks from its Round Top deposit in Texas, Brazilian assets, and recycled magnet swarf.
| [ USA Rare Earth, Pasqal & Riven Systems Partnership Architecture ] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Partner Entity | Core Capability & Technology | Project Deliverable & Scope |
| • Pasqal (PSQL) | • Neutral-Atom QPU Hardware & QML Algorithms | • QML Extractant Selectivity Modeling & Benchmarking |
| • Riven Systems | • Self-Driving Lab & Autonomous Automated Synthesizers | • Empirical Training Data Generation & Physical Screening |
| • USA Rare Earth (USAR) | • Round Top Mine Feedstocks & Processing Flowsheets | • Validation in Wheat Ridge Lab & Flowsheet Integration |
If validated, targeted extractants could reduce equipment requirements, stage counts, and energy usage in commercial processing facilities. The initiative expands Pasqal’s industrial application footprint—which includes quantum simulation deployments with Saudi Aramco and Crédit Agricole CIB—by applying analog and digital neutral-atom algorithms to material chemistry workflows.
Review the joint press release via Pasqal Newsroom here.
September 18, 2026
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