Insider Brief:

• CU Boulder, Colorado State University, and the Colorado School of Mines, in partnership with Elevate Quantum, are launching a 13,000-square-foot quantum incubator in Boulder to support startups, provide advanced tools, and test quantum technology such as secure quantum networks sensors.

• The incubator, funded by a state tax incentive and led by CU Boulder, builds on Colorado’s momentum as a U.S. tech hub for quantum, such as Elevate Quantum securing $120 million and House Bill 1325 projected to create 10,000 quantum jobs within a decade.

• Complementing facilities like the National Quantum Nanofab Facility and Quantum COmmons, the incubator encourages collaboration among academia, industry, and government to advance research, workforce development, and commercialization.

• Image Credit: University of Colorado Boulder

PRESS RELEASE — In a recent announcement, three of the Colorado’s prominent universities—CU Boulder, Colorado State University (CSU), and the Colorado School of Mines—have joined with the Elevate Quantum coalition to launch a state-of-the-art quantum incubator in Boulder.

The 13,000-square-foot facility, situated in east Boulder, is designed to support quantum startups, provide access to advanced scientific tools, and test developing innovations, including secure quantum networks and sensors capable of detecting illnesses. The incubator is funded by a state tax incentive program and led by CU Boulder, which is providing key resources and staff to guide its development.

COLORADO AS A DEVELOPING HUB FOR QUANTUM INNOVATION

As reported in the release, CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz emphasized the significance of Colorado’s role: “This facility accelerates discoveries from the lab to market, strengthening Colorado’s leadership in this dynamic field.”

The launch of the incubator represents another milestone for Colorado, following the establishment of Elevate Quantum in 2023, a coalition of over 120 organizations spanning Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming designated as a U.S. tech hub for quantum information technology. The coalition has since secured over $120 million to support quantum initiatives.

In 2024, the state legislature passed House Bill 1325, designed to encourage economic growth in the quantum sector. The law is projected to create over 10,000 quantum-related jobs in Colorado within the next decade.

“By bringing together our world-class higher education system with the companies who are helping to shape this industry, this incubator will help drive forward the next chapter for quantum in Colorado, driving more jobs and economic development,” said Gov. Jared Polis.

COLLABORATIVE FACILITIES FOR QUANTUM ADVANCES AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

The incubator will complement other quantum projects in the state, such as the upcoming National Quantum Nanofabrication (Nanofab) Facility at CU Boulder and the Quantum COmmons technology hub in Arvada. Together, these initiatives are working towards morphing quantum discoveries into real-world applications.

“With these new facilities from CU and our R1 universities, we’re strengthening the foundation of what is already the world’s largest quantum industry cluster. Elevate Quantum could not be more excited to see this vital piece of infrastructure come to life, said Elevate Quantum CEO Zachary Yerushalmi.

The incubator will encourage collaboration between academia and industry, bringing together experts to advance workforce development, research, and commercialization efforts.

“CSU is proud to collaborate with other quantum experts across the state as part of this effort. We will continue to develop a leading-edge degree program infrastructure that will meet future workforce needs in this high-demand space,” said CSU President Amy Parsons.

Colorado’s current contributions in quantum are driven by its aligned research institutions and partnerships, as demonstrated by the collaboration between CU Boulder, CSU, and the Colorado School of Mines, along with Elevate Quantum. The launch of the Boulder quantum incubator unites Colorado’s academic, industrial, and governmental resources to actively advance quantum technology through workforce development and cross-disciplinary collaboration.