Why QuEra is betting on New Mexico’s quantum future

When Richard Feynman first imagined quantum computers in the early 1980s, he described something remarkably close to what we build at QuEra today: single atoms, lined up in precise arrangements, processed in ways that unlock computational power no classical machine can match. What he couldn’t have predicted is where some of that work would happen.

QuEra is bringing our neutral-atom quantum computing platform to New Mexico. Not as a satellite office or a symbolic gesture, but as a real investment: facilities, full-time hires and infrastructure designed to accelerate the entire quantum ecosystem here.

Here’s why this matters to New Mexicans.

Quantum computing is moving from laboratory curiosity to practical capability faster than most people expected. The timeline for useful quantum systems now compares favorably with the timeline for training a workforce to operate them. That means the decisions being made today about workforce development, research infrastructure and industry partnerships will determine which regions lead this transition and which ones watch from the sidelines.

New Mexico has always had research strengths in quantum. Sandia and Los Alamos have been advancing quantum science for decades. The University of New Mexico has built serious expertise. But research strength alone doesn’t create an economy. What creates an economy is the infrastructure that lets companies test and prove their technologies quickly, efficiently and accurately, and then turn those technologies into products, jobs and growth.

That’s what our partnership with Roadrunner Venture Studios and the state of New Mexico is designed to deliver. The Roadrunner Quantum Lab will house testbeds where founders and researchers can validate quantum components — laser systems, photonics, control electronics — on real hardware. They won’t have to build everything from scratch or wait months for access to specialized equipment. They can iterate, learn and move faster.

Building an ecosystem, not just a facility

A single company doesn’t make an ecosystem. What makes an ecosystem is the gravitational pull that brings talent, capital and complementary businesses to the same place. Our investment in New Mexico is designed to create that pull.

We’re hiring locally: researchers, engineers and technicians who keep quantum systems running. We’re deepening collaboration with Sandia and Los Alamos, whose expertise in quantum science and national security applications aligns naturally with what we’re building. And we’re creating infrastructure that other quantum companies can use to grow their own presence here.

When a photonics startup can test their components on our systems in Albuquerque instead of shipping them across the country, they have a reason to stay. When a controls company can collaborate directly with our engineering team, they have a reason to expand. That’s how ecosystems grow — through shared infrastructure, proximity and the compounding benefits of being where the action is.

Roadrunner’s quantum coalition already includes nearly a dozen partners spanning national laboratories, universities, private companies and venture capital. QuEra’s presence adds another anchor. But anchors work best when they attract more ships to the harbor.

Workforce beyond the Ph.D.

I’d push back on how we sometimes talk about quantum workforce development. We focus heavily on top-tier universities and R1 Ph.D. programs. Those matter, of course, but once quantum reaches enterprise value, the operational footprint expands dramatically. The boots on the ground have to increase. The range of people and backgrounds that will contribute has to broaden.

New Mexico has the opportunity to build that broader workforce now, before the demand curve outpaces the supply. Community colleges, technical training programs, apprenticeships — these aren’t afterthoughts. They’re how you build a workforce that can actually operate and maintain the systems that quantum companies are deploying.

Going on offense

There’s also a strategic element to this. Quantum computing will disrupt industries. Some of that disruption will be positive, some will require adjustment. The organizations and regions that understand the technology deeply will be better positioned to capture the upside and manage the risks. Engaging early, gaining hands-on experience, building institutional knowledge. These aren’t luxuries. They’re how you go on offense.

What comes next

Our partnership with New Mexico is the first step, not the last. The facilities we’re building this year are designed to prove what’s possible. If New Mexico continues to invest in its quantum ecosystem, and if the collaboration with our partners here delivers the results we expect, there’s no reason this can’t grow into something much larger.

QuEra’s vision is to make New Mexico a national hub for neutral-atom quantum computing. We’re backing that vision with capital, with people and with the kind of long-term commitment that creates durable economic impact.

Feynman imagined the quantum computer. New Mexico is helping build the economy around it. We’re proud to be part of that work.

Nate Gemelke is co-founder and chief technology strategist at QuEra Computing, a neutral-atom quantum computing company headquartered in Boston. Executive’s Desk is a guest column providing advice, commentary or information about resources available to the business community in New Mexico. To submit a column for consideration, email mnarvaiz@abqjournal.com.