Colorado for quantum industry growth

SANTA FE - Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Tuesday that a coalition representing New Mexico and Colorado has been awarded $41 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to advance the region’s quantum information technology sector as one of twelve Tech Hubs selected nationwide.

The Elevate Quantum Tech Hub, led by Elevate Quantum, will combine $41 million from the EDA Tech Hubs Program with matching funds from Colorado ($74 million) and New Mexico ($10 million) to enable a total of over $125 million in funding to solidify the Mountain West as a global leader in quantum information technology (QIT).

“This is a tremendous opportunity for New Mexico as a rapidly expanding hub for cutting-edge research and technology,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “Quantum information is exactly the kind of industry we want to build and expand in New Mexico, and I thank our partners in Colorado, sector leaders in New Mexico, and the entire Elevate Quantum team for this historic announcement making the Mountain West the only quantum tech hub in the country. Once again, EDA has demonstrated their immense value as a partner for New Mexico and the region.”

Tapping into regional expertise and assets, including leading national laboratories, the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub will build on existing relationships between the regional research community and private sector to unlock transformative technologies needed to move quantum-based products to market.

The Elevate Quantum Tech Hub seeks to strengthen the Mountain West’s QIT sector by focusing on commercial-ready applications in sensing, computing, networking, and enabling hardware. The consortium aims to expedite lab-to-market translation by establishing globally unique quantum labs and fabrication facilities, reducing the time and cost of commercializing quantum innovation; lowering barriers to quantum entrepreneurship; and building a workforce ready to meet the needs of this growing sector.

New Mexico assets played a crucial role in the Elevate Quantum coalition, including the Economic Development Department, the University of New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College, Sandia National Laboratories, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

“This announcement reflects New Mexico’s longstanding history and culture of innovation, as well as a willingness to embrace frontier technologies,” said Alex Greenberg, economic development advisor to Gov. Lujan Grisham. “We’re excited to enter the next phase of quantum technology which represents limitless potential. The 10,000 jobs and 30,000 skilled workers expected as a result of this announcement will dramatically bolster the workforce and investment opportunities in New Mexico and across the region.”

Programmatic deployment of the Tech Hub in New Mexico will be made up of two central aspects: a quantum information technology fabrication and laboratory facility for translational research and commercial deployment, and comprehensive quantum workforce development that will include a Quantum Learning Lab. The Economic Development Department Office of Strategy, Science & Technology plans to work with the Tech Hub to attract and support the growth of quantum industry in the state.

The Elevate Quantum Tech Hub will catalyze the quantum sector in New Mexico, furthering existing efforts like that of the Quantum New Mexico Institute and building the foundation for a thriving high-tech industry in the state – Albuquerque was recently touted as a potential next hotbed for quantum technology by Quantum Insider.

U.S. EDA information on the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub: Elevate Quantum Tech Hub | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov)