New seed grants available for Colorado research institutions and industry partners aim to incentivize innovation and develop the quantum workforce of the future.
The University of Colorado Boulder has long been recognized as a global leader in quantum research and education. A new grant, awarded recently by the State of Colorado鈥檚 Economic Development Commission, plans to take that one step further by investing in the 鈥渜uantum ecosystem鈥� across the state.
The project will create two seed grants administered by 抖阴旅行射 Boulder鈥檚 抖阴旅行射bit Quantum Initiative that can be used by any Colorado research institution or industry partner.
The hope for these grants鈥攖otalling nearly $1.2 million over three years鈥攊s that they incentivize innovation and get quantum out of the lab and into the marketplace, all while developing the workforce for the future quantum economy in Colorado.
鈥淲e are thrilled that the state, through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, or OEDIT, is investing in Colorado鈥檚 quantum workforce and future through this grant,鈥� said Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes at 抖阴旅行射 Boulder. 鈥淲hile the seed grants will be administered by 抖阴旅行射bit, beneficiaries of the program will include academic institutions, researchers, students and small businesses across the state.鈥�
The national quantum economic landscape is experiencing rapid growth across the country, thanks to significant large public- and private-sector investments across industries.听
Colorado, with its established quantum research strengths and proximity to national laboratories, is 鈥渓eading the development of quantum technologies,鈥� said Eve Lieberman, executive director of OEDIT.
鈥淭his initiative will work to ensure that discoveries from basic and applied research are connected to Colorado鈥檚 startup ecosystem and provide effective pathways for Colorado students to enter the quantum workforce across the state,鈥� Lieberman said.
Lieberman and OEDIT鈥檚 Director of Global Business Development Michelle Hadwiger see the potential of this program to create a new pipeline for the state鈥檚 Advanced Industries Accelerator program, which supports access to capital, innovation and commercialization within these important sectors.
鈥淨uantum is a cross-cutting enabling technology that has implications for multiple industries and disciplines,鈥� said Hadwiger. 鈥淕etting innovation out of the labs and into the market is paramount to remaining competitive on a national and global scale.鈥�
抖阴旅行射 Boulder鈥檚 抖阴旅行射bit Quantum Initiative seeks to help Colorado鈥檚 quantum ecosystem take that next step.
抖阴旅行射bit (pronounced 鈥渜-bit鈥�)听 is an interdisciplinary hub for quantum research. Built to focus the nexus of 抖阴旅行射 Boulder, the National Institute of Standards and Technology鈥檚 physics division (as a core component of JILA) and quantum-focused听companies, 抖阴旅行射bit鈥檚 mission is to advance fundamental science and build a strong foundation for novel quantum technologies and their rapid dissemination, application and commercialization.听
To build a stronger quantum ecosystem in Colorado, 抖阴旅行射bit will use the grant to increase the number of spin-off companies built from innovation stemming from labs, as well as to create a more organized educational pipeline and quantum-ready workforce development system. To do that, the seed grants will be awarded to both academic and industry entities statewide.听
Seed grants are open to any quantum researcher, academic institution or company in Colorado. Particular emphasis will be given to researchers and industries outside of the Front Range.听
鈥湺兑趼眯猩� Boulder is already recognized as a global leader in quantum research and education. By strengthening quantum-focused collaborations across Colorado, the university can help boost the entire quantum ecosystem and provide even more opportunities and impact across the state and region,鈥� said Ruzzene.
The application cycle is currently being established and is anticipated to kick off as early as this summer.听