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ICYMI: Hickenlooper Celebrates Over $40 Million to Launch Colorado’s Quantum Computing Tech Hub

Jul 10, 2024

In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper recently celebrated the Department of Commerce’s announcement that Colorado’s Elevate Quantum has been awarded $40.5 million in federal funding to build the nation’s leading quantum ecosystem. This historic investment from the Hickenlooper-negotiated CHIPS + Science Act will activate additional commitments of $74 million in state funding and over $1 billion in private capital to establish the Mountain West as a global leader in quantum technologies.

“Colorado is the Silicon Valley of the quantum era, and Elevate Quantum is going to lead us there,” said Hickenlooper. “Quantum is going to revolutionize medical drug discovery, supercharge artificial intelligence, strengthen U.S. cybersecurity, and support our transition to clean energy. This is Colorado’s next great success story.”

With a $40.5 million dollar award from the Biden Administration, Elevate Quantum, a coalition of over 120 organizations across the Rocky Mountain West, is poised to fulfill their commitment to create 10,000+ new jobs in quantum industries, train 30,000 new workers, and support over 50 new quantum startups in the next decade. Their work to accelerate quantum technologies will drive new drug discovery, discover sources of critical minerals, provide secure encrypted communications, and enhance the capabilities of space-based navigation systems or Earth observation satellites. Read more about the announcement HERE.

Here’s what they’ve been saying:

Colorado Public Radio: Colorado Quantum Tech Hub getting $40.5 million infusion of federal funds

Elevate Quantum Tech Hub will receive $40.5 million in federal funds as Colorado and its partners move forward with plans to create a regional quantum tech hub.

…. Elevate will utilize regional expertise and assets, including federal labs, to focus on quantum information technology in applications ranging from artificial intelligence to climate technology. Its growth could also add thousands of well paying jobs in the state.

In his statement, Polis also thanked Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, as well as Rep. Joe Neguse, for their work to bring the funds to Colorado.

Hickenlooper also praised the announcement saying this will be the state’s “next great success story.”

Colorado is the Silicon Valley of the quantum era, and Elevate Quantum is going to lead us there,” Hickenlooper said in a statement. “Quantum is going to revolutionize medical drug discovery, supercharge artificial intelligence, strengthen U.S. cybersecurity, and support our transition to clean energy.”

Fox 31 Denver KDVR: ‘Capital of quantum’: Colorado receiving $40.5M to grow tech hub

It’s been a little over half a year since Colorado’s federal quantum technology hub designation, and the Biden administration is issuing $40.5 million for the state to continue developing quantum tech.

… Elevate Quantum is made up of over 120 organizations and is based in Boulder. The consortium is “poised to fulfill their commitment to create” over 10,000 jobs, according to U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.

Polis called the Centennial State “the center of the quantum technology ecosystem” and said the region has “always” been critical to advanced technology. He also thanked Bennet, Hickenlooper and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse for helping bring the funds to Colorado.

… In a joint release, Hickenlooper and Bennet said the $40.5 million federal investment will “activate additional commitments of $74 million in state funding and over $1 billion in private capital to establish the Mountain West as a global leader in quantum technologies.”

Colorado Newsline: Colorado officials celebrate $41 million federal investment in quantum development

The federal government awarded a Colorado-centered tech hub $41 million to boost its development of quantum information technology, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced Tuesday.

“Colorado is the Silicon Valley of the quantum era, and Elevate Quantum is going to lead us there,” U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper said in a statement. “Quantum is going to revolutionize medical drug discovery, supercharge artificial intelligence, strengthen U.S. cybersecurity, and support our transition to clean energy.”

Bennet, Hickenlooper and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse advocated federal funding to support Colorado’s quantum efforts, signing onto a bipartisan letter in February urging the Department of Commerce to designate funding for Elevate Quantum.

Denver Business Journal: New Mexico, Colorado quantum coalition lands $125M state, federal dollars

The U.S. Economic Development Administration on Tuesday named a coalition of companies, higher education institutions and other organizations in Colorado and New Mexico as one of 12 ‘tech hub’ grant recipients. The award will unlock up to $127 million to spur development of the region’s quantum industry.

“Colorado is the Silicon Valley of the quantum era, and Elevate Quantum is going to lead us there,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat, in a statement. “This is Colorado’s next great success story.”

Today’s investment represents a “down payment” on the next 50 years of quantum leadership and development in the U.S., Elevate Quantum said in a release.

Denver Post: Infusion of $127M boosts bid by Colorado tech hub to be “Silicon Valley” of quantum

Colorado is closer to becoming the center of the nation’s quantum technology universe with the award of $40.5 million in federal money, which will leverage $77 million in state commitments and ultimately could mean roughly $1 billion more in federal dollars for the region.

… The field, expected to galvanize the development of artificial intelligence, is predicted to generate trillions of dollars in value. The Colorado-based Elevate Quantum consortium submitted the application for the designation as a hub and was competing with the Chicago Quantum Exchange to be recognized as the country’s Silicon Valley of quantum technology.

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