At Tech Summit, New Mexico stakes its claim as a quantum leader

Ivan Deutsch recognizes the world is living in a digital information age. One where almost everyone has a “pocket computer” and communication often comes over the internet.

Deutsch, a University of New Mexico professor and Center for Quantum Information and Control director, wants to remind people that quantum physics was key in getting here.

“That’s what we call the first quantum revolution that indeed led to these new technologies,” Deutsch said in a keynote address Wednesday at Tech Summit. “We’ve come to understand now that if we can really harness the power of quantum physics at the microscopic level, we’re in store for the next information revolution.”

The New Mexico Technology Council hosted its annual Tech Summit at the Sandia Resort and Casino this week. The event aims to shape the future of technology.

During the address, state officials and local experts discussed the past, present and future of New Mexico’s quantum ecosystem — one that has seen consistent evolvement over the past several months.

The six panelists shared a common thread: New Mexico is at the forefront of quantum exploration after “doing this for decades.”

“We’ve been able to build up some really amazing, differentiating teams, fabrication capabilities, facilities, and we’re at this really interesting inflection point where we’re trying to get technology out of the lab and into the commercial sector,” said Jake Douglass, Sandia National Laboratories’ quantum business development specialist, during the panel discussion.

The event comes as the state has made large investments aimed at building on New Mexico’s rich quantum history.

Earlier this month, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced New Mexico’s newest partnership with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop the Quantum Frontier Project, aiming to accelerate the development, testing and validation of emerging quantum technologies.

Albuquerque-based Roadrunner Venture Studios was also awarded $25 million as part of the state Economic Development Department’s new state-funded quantum innovation and commercialization project, looking to raise the number of quantum startups in the state.

Nora Meyers Sackett, director of the EDD’s Technology and Innovation Office, said people would be “hard pressed” to find a leading quantum company that doesn’t employ someone who trained at UNM or one of the state’s national labs.

“We have these people who are here, who are training here, who love New Mexico — because you can’t be here and not love New Mexico — and they want to come back and work here,” Meyers Sackett said. “We have to create the industry for them.”

Meyers Sackett said in the Mountain West region, there are three job openings for every one person trained in quantum technologies. With an obvious demand, she said New Mexico is looking to “lean into” those opportunities to bring and grow the industry here.

“There’s no other state that has two national labs with quantum expertise and the leading program we have at UNM. So, we have to make sure that we grab onto that and capitalize on that,” she said.

Seizing the opportunity, public and private officials are already bringing quantum-oriented companies to New Mexico. Colorado-based Quantinuum detailed plans in July to build a research and development facility in Albuquerque. Not long before, in April, Mesa Quantum, also out of Colorado, announced it would be in New Mexico for at least two years to develop laser systems needed for quantum sensing applications.

Rep. Meredith Dixon, D-Albuquerque, said the most recent legislative session was a “great example” of working with the EDD to put a tranche of money toward these strategic initiatives.

“Supporting the universities with their research, career technical education, helping to build out some of the physical space for quantum — those are roles I think the state right now can provide without interfering in what’s going on, but really supplementing and complementing what this ecosystem needs to develop,” Dixon said.