Quantum Computing

New Mexico invests $315 million to build a quantum computing hub

Ken Metral

03 Sep 2025 — 2 min read

Credit: KRQE

Nearly 80 years after hosting the world’s first atomic bomb tests, New Mexico is aiming to shape another transformative technology: quantum computing. The state announced plans Tuesday to invest $315 million into quantum companies, fabrication facilities, and infrastructure, including a quantum network to connect labs and businesses.

Building a Quantum Ecosystem

The initiative, led by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, seeks to make New Mexico a leading center for quantum research and commercialization. “We don't intend to be reckless,” Lujan Grisham told Reuters. “But we intend to be fast.”

The state will allocate:

$185 million from its sovereign wealth fund to venture capital firms that invest in quantum startups with a New Mexico presence.
$60 million from both the state and the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to support and vet projects for commercial viability.
$25 million to connect scientists with entrepreneurs, helping transform discoveries into scalable businesses.

Why New Mexico?

With just 2 million residents, New Mexico boasts a unique mix of scientific talent and resources. It is home to two U.S. National Labs and a U.S. Air Force Research Lab branch, alongside affordable land and energy costs. State leaders see these assets as a foundation for building an innovation hub around quantum technology.

Commercialization on the Horizon

The investment aims to accelerate projects like a quantum equipment network hub in Albuquerque, slated to go live by mid-2026. By pairing research talent with entrepreneurs, the state hopes to position quantum computing as not just a scientific pursuit but an economic engine.

“The most important ingredient is a founding team, and that’s not always the scientist,” said Adam Hammer, CEO of Roadrunner Venture Studios, which will lead efforts to match scientists with business partners.

Quantum’s Promise

Quantum computing harnesses the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and sub-atomic scale. Advocates say it could solve in minutes problems that would take classical computers thousands of years — revolutionizing fields from medicine to finance to national security.

Global giants including Google, Microsoft, and IBM, along with a wave of well-funded startups, are racing to make the technology commercially viable. New Mexico’s move represents one of the most ambitious state-level bids to claim a stake in that future.

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