BOULDER, CO, UNITED STATES, October 24, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- This morning, The US Department of Commerce designated Elevate Quantum a Regional Technology Hub for Quantum Technologies. This milestone reaffirms the Mountain West’s position as a global leader in this critical emerging industry.

Elevate Quantum, a consortium of regional leaders in QIT, was one of 31 organizations to receive designation out of 378 applications to the program. The designation was awarded as part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, with a goal of spurring place-based investment in American innovation across technologies critical to US economic and national security.

One element that sets the Mountain West’s quantum ecosystem apart, according to Elevate Quantum’s CEO and Regional Innovation Officer Zachary Yerushalmi, is its diversity. “With quantum poised to transform the coming century, most people know that our region is a leader in quantum research and qubit development. But here, quantum is already out of the lab and creating good jobs for a wide range of people. We have sensor companies like Longpath protecting our environment by detecting methane leaks. We have hardware companies like Maybell Quantum and Vescent Photonics building the ‘picks and shovels’ for the quantum gold rush. Quantum in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming isn’t just PhD physicists in labs, it’s good jobs for welders, soldering technicians, machinists, and others. These jobs are already scaling and bringing people from diverse communities and backgrounds.”

Elevate Quantum is grateful for its partnership and support from the Community Funding Accelerator. With their support, Elevate Quantum will work to build a new type of tech hub, one that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and with career pathways starting K-12, and continuing through to great Quantum jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.

“The quantum sector is one of the key industries of tomorrow, and I’m thrilled the Biden administration is awarding our region a TechHub designation for quantum technology. We will take full advantage of this decision to help create jobs, and support businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Senator John Hickenlooper, continued, “this is the culmination of the hard work we started on my first day as Mayor of Denver: making Colorado the best place in the country to do business, to find a good-paying job, and to live a good life. This will future-proof our successes and ensure we remain an economic and technological powerhouse.”

“Being designated a Tech Hub is a significant acknowledgment of the Mountain West's quantum strengths and the rich confluence of research, industry, and technological prowess that it hosts,” said Dr. Marlou Slot, Quantum Lead at the Womanium Foundation - an Elevate Quantum Member - and a researcher in Quantum Sensors and Quantum Materials. “We have already trained thousands of women and members of underrepresented groups, bringing young scientists, engineers, technicians and thinkers into the quantum industry," Womanium founder, Prachi Vakharia adds, "Right now, we're at an inflection point to start a quantum age with a talent pool that is diverse, skilled and ready to turn ideas into global technological leadership. Given its unique combination of research labs, industry, universities, nonprofits, and the commitment to leadership, our region is ready to champion this vision and turn it into a reality.”

The Mountain West’s legacy in quantum science can be traced back to the establishment of Los Alamos, Sandia, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and JILA in the 1940-60s. Fundamental research into the nature of the universe performed at these institutions helped build the foundation of quantum mechanics. Their endeavors put the U.S. at the forefront of global quantum research and led to four Colorado quantum scientists earning Nobel Prizes since the mid 90s. They have also been a catalyst for quantum businesses. Today, Colorado is home to more quantum research, more quantum organizations, and more quantum jobs than any other state, and it serves as a hub for long-standing collaborations across New Mexico, Wyoming, and the nation.

“America must keep our competitive edge in next-generation technologies like quantum computing,” said Senator Michael Bennet. “Colorado has spent decades investing in research and development and supporting a vibrant start-up ecosystem to strengthen American leadership in quantum technologies. Today's announcement will ensure we continue to lead the country in this field. There’s no state better positioned to serve as a quantum technology hub.”

“Quantum’s next chapter is unfolding in Colorado,” said Dan Caruso, founder of Zayo Group and Chair of Endeavor Colorado - an Elevate Quantum member. “With a 60-year heritage of pioneering this industry, Colorado is transitioning to spearheading a global industry. Our research and development landscape is now paired with a proven track record of commercializing. It’s not just about the depth of our knowledge; it’s about the breadth of visionary leadership that Colorado uniquely offers.” Caruso Ventures is an investor in three of Colorado's quantum companies: Maybell Quantum, Infleqtion, and Atom Computing.

Receiving this designation underscores both the achievements made thus far and the potential ahead. TechHub designation brings commitments from local governments and industry members to strengthen our regional coalition and prepare a ‘Phase 2’ application. If that application is successful, up to $75m in Federal Resources will flow to the region and with full congressional funding of the TechHub program, up to $1billion in additional federal funding is expected over the next decade for quantum in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.

“Our coalition is already delivering on the promise of the quantum future,” said Yerushalmi. “With the support of state and local governments, our bipartisan congressional delegation, and organizations such as TechHubs Now!, the Colorado and New Mexico Community College systems, and Colorado Thrives, we are stepping into a future where the Mountain West isn’t just recognized for its quantum excellence, but as the critical hub and most diverse and inclusive ecosystem for the technology set to define the next century.”
For more information or media inquiries, please contact media@elevatequantum.org

Zachary Yerushalmi
Elevate Quantum
+1 8572336305
zach@elevatequantum.org

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.