CU Boulder-led Colorado Quantum Incubator to drive innovation and economic growth

Leaders in the quantum ecosystem, including higher education, government and the private sector, celebrate the official launch of a new quantum incubator in Boulder on Jan. 15

Eva Yao (Flari Tech Inc.) and Phoenix Dai (FormFactor) celebrate the ribbon-cutting

The 13,000 square foot facility in East Boulder

(Photos: Glenn Asakawa)

In a bold move to transform quantum research into real-world applications, CU Boulder and partners have launched the 13,000-square-foot Colorado Quantum Incubator in east Boulder. The facility marks a major milestone in the state’s growing quantum ecosystem and aligns with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.

The incubator is a collaboration between CU Boulder, Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines and Elevate Quantum—which represents a coalition of 120 organizations across Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. Funded through a Colorado state tax incentive and supported by leadership and staffing from CU Boulder, the initiative will accelerate the development of quantum technologies and the companies that create them.

“I couldn’t be prouder of CU Boulder’s role in this effort,” said Massimo Ruzzene, vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes at CU Boulder. “By securing the facility, setting up operations, and recruiting tenants, we’re helping meet a critical need for advancing quantum innovation across the region.”

A hub for cutting-edge collaboration

Housed in BioMed Realty’s Flatiron Park—a tech and life sciences hub—the incubator provides collaborative office space for early-stage companies and cutting-edge equipment typically only available in research labs. This includes devices such as atomic clocks and precision sensors, enabling the rapid prototyping and testing of quantum-based solutions.

Quantum technologies have the potential to revolutionize sectors from healthcare to cybersecurity, with possible applications like breath-based illness detection and unhackable communication networks.

“Quantum science will enable life-changing advances that touch every segment of society,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “This facility helps translate our researchers’ discoveries into commercial impact and further strengthens Colorado’s leadership in the field.”

The incubator is a key piece of a broader regional strategy to grow the Mountain West as a national hub for quantum innovation. In 2023, the U.S. Economic Development Administration designated Elevate Quantum as an official tech hub. Since then, it’s unlocked over $120 million in funding to expand quantum infrastructure and capabilities in 
the region.

Strengthening Colorado's quantum ecosystem

This momentum continued with Colorado’s passage of House Bill 1325 in 2024, signed by Gov. Jared Polis, which directed state investment into the incubator. Today, Colorado’s quantum industry supports about 3,000 jobs, with projections to grow to over 10,000 within a decade.

“What is Boulder uniquely great at when it comes to quantum?” asked Scott Sternberg, executive director of the CUbit Quantum Initiative at CU Boulder. “The incubator will help amplify those strengths and accelerate breakthroughs.”

The incubator is one of several major facilities coming online. In June 2024, the National Science Foundation announced a $20 million National Quantum Nanofab facility to be built on CU Boulder’s campus. Additionally, Elevate Quantum is developing a 70-acre site in Arvada—dubbed the Quantum COmmons—with the Colorado School of Mines leading construction of 30,000 square feet of shared-use facilities.

These projects are designed to create a pipeline from scientific discovery to scalable, market-ready products—bringing benefits to both consumers and the regional economy.

“As a longstanding leader in this research, CU is excited to team up with CSU, the School of Mines, our partners at Elevate Quantum and the State of Colorado to realize this wonderful new facility,” said CU President Todd Saliman. “This meaningfully advances our efforts to establish Colorado as a global epicenter of quantum research and technology, and it will enable our great state to continue to drive this critical industry.”