The quantum era is taking shape in the Mountain West, where innovation, talent and collaboration are converging to transform technology, industry and society. At the center of this effort is Elevate Quantum, representing a regional effort that unites academic institutions, industry leaders and government partners to accelerate quantum discovery and turn breakthroughs into real-world impact.
Mines is closely partnering with Elevate Quantum to advance technology and build a quantum ecosystem where research, education and entrepreneurship intersect to build a robust quantum workforce and position the region to lead the next phase of quantum innovation.
Here’s a closer look at Elevate Quantum and the critical role Mines is playing in driving the research, talent and infrastructure that will power the quantum economy.
Elevate Quantum: Building the Mountain West’s quantum ecosystem
One of the 31 inaugural U.S. Tech Hubs designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA), Elevate Quantum represents a key national investment in the future of quantum technology. Developed under the CHIPS and Science Act, the Tech Hubs program identifies and funds regions with the potential to drive globally competitive innovation centers.
Elevate Quantum, headquartered in Colorado but representing a consortium across Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, received $40.5 million in federal funding and activated $84 million in matching state support and $1 billion in private capital to help realize its ambitious plans to make the Mountain West—and Mines as a close partner—the global leader in quantum innovation. The Elevate Quantum consortium now includes more than 120 organizations spanning academia, industry, government and venture partners, with Mines providing technical expertise, quantum workforce education and physical infrastructure to anchor this growing ecosystem.
Colorado is the launchpad for the growing quantum economy
Colorado is already home to the nation’s largest cluster of quantum companies, employing more than 3,000 workers that support the growth of more than 30 companies. This makes Colorado the largest cluster of quantum companies in the nation. The region’s unique blend of high-tech industry, national labs and research universities makes it an ideal launchpad for the next phase of quantum growth.
Over the next decade, quantum-related jobs in Colorado are projected to expand by tens of thousands, spanning roles that range from fabrication and systems integration to software and device engineering. Much like the aerospace and semiconductor industries, a large share of these roles will be open to professionals without PhDs—creating an inclusive, high-impact workforce that Mines is helping to prepare today.
What will Elevate Quantum do?
With federal, state and private backing, Elevate Quantum is advancing a bold agenda to accelerate the growth of the U.S. quantum industry. Its goals include:
- Launching more than 50 quantum startups across sensing, computing and communications, fostering innovation that can quickly move from concept to commercial application.
- Training and upskilling 30,000 workers, equipping the next generation of engineers, technicians and researchers with the skills needed to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding and highly interdisciplinary field.
- Establishing a world-leading quantum laboratory, offering startups and researchers access to advanced hardware, shared fabrication facilities and expert guidance, providing the infrastructure critical for turning discoveries into functioning systems.
Together, these initiatives are designed to accelerate the full innovation cycle, from fundamental research to prototype development to market-ready technologies, positioning the Mountain West as a hub for global quantum competitiveness. Elevate Quantum aims not only to drive technological breakthroughs but also to ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in shaping the quantum future.
“This kind of government investment at this mid-technology readiness level that bridges academia into industry is the key kind of turning point for the technology. Elevate Quantum does that,” said Lincoln Carr, Mines physics professor and quantum science and policy special advisor to Elevate Quantum.
Quantum COmmons is Mines’ hub for discovery and collaboration
A 70-acre site owned by Mines and dedicated to advancing quantum technology, Quantum COmmons is the region’s first major investment since Colorado became a designated Tech Hub. Coming online in 2026, Quantum COmmons will have:
- 10,000 square foot fabrication lab/cleanroom building to support prototyping and low-volume manufacturing
- 17,000 square foot open-access quantum labs with a collaborative community design
- 70 acres available for open access facility expansion and co-location and growth of quantum startups and scale-ups
Quantum COmmons is a key asset for the technology hub and will be developed into a leading global technology park, providing open-access user facilities critical to accelerating the speed of progress in the quantum industry. These facilities will offer capabilities in solid state and AMO modalities, alongside fabrication services to accelerate the speed of iteration across the entire quantum industry. This will enable breakthroughs ranging from artificial intelligence, climate tech and healthcare to sensing and well beyond.
Mines plays a central role in the quantum ecosystem
With close connections to industry and research aligned with national priorities, Mines anticipated the need for a quantum-skilled workforce. The university just launched the nation’s first bachelor’s degree in quantum systems engineering. This follows Mines' launch of the first quantum engineering master’s degree in the U.S. in 2020. These programs were developed to help address critical workforce shortages and provide skilled engineers that can address quantum needs across industries. Mines also currently offers quantum engineering graduate certificates and an undergraduate minor.
Mines’ quantum research enterprise spans physics, electrical engineering, computer science and materials science, driving advancements in quantum sensing, superconducting systems and quantum information science. The university’s partnerships with national research centers and its one-of-a-kind, interdisciplinary facilities make Mines a hub for both fundamental science and technology transfer. In addition, as a founding academic partner and site developer for Quantum COmmons, Mines anchors the Elevate Quantum collaboration, linking education, research and infrastructure to accelerate innovation across the Mountain West.
“From Elevate Quantum’s perspective, Colorado School of Mines is an ideal partner because they bring exactly what Colorado’s quantum future needs: world-class engineering talent, a culture of hands-on innovation and a deep commitment to solving real-world challenges,” said Jessi Olsen, Elevate Quantum’s chief financial and operations officer. “Mines understands that quantum isn’t just a research frontier—it’s an emerging industry that demands technicians, engineers and interdisciplinary problem-solvers. Their strategic purchase of the Quantum COmmons is emblematic of that commitment, signaling a bold vision to build the nation’s premier research park for quantum technologies. With their leadership in materials science, cryogenics and advanced manufacturing, Mines is a cornerstone of the workforce and technology pipeline we’re building across the Mountain West. Simply put, they are uniquely positioned to help Colorado translate quantum breakthroughs into practical impact, scalable companies and good jobs.”
Mines’ quantum leadership comes at a crucial time. “There is no scenario in which quantum information doesn’t play a part in key technology a decade from now,” Carr said. “If all we did was stay in the classical world, we would be left out. The U.S. has to do that, Colorado has to that, Mines has to do that.”
Into the quantum future
The collaboration between Mines and Elevate Quantum represents a national model for how universities, governments and industry can work together to create regional innovation engines. For Colorado, it means tens of thousands of high-paying jobs, a new generation of quantum engineers and entrepreneurs and a sustainable technology ecosystem. For Mines, this partnership marks the next chapter in a long-standing commitment to driving innovation with impact and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration that will shape the next era of quantum technology, in Colorado and beyond.
“Mines is already a national leader in education,” Carr said. “We’re just taking what we’re already good at and then porting that right into quantum engineering.”
Power in partnership: Mines and NIST combine expertise to fast-track quantum research
Another key collaboration in advancing quantum solutions is Mines' longstanding partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). A global epicenter for quantum research, NIST brings together Mines’ expertise in materials, engineering and measurement science with NIST’s world-class quantum research capabilities. This collaboration amplifies national leadership in quantum science, metrology and technology development.
“At Colorado School of Mines, we view advancing quantum science and engineering as our research and academic imperative. Our longstanding partnership with NIST—a global epicenter for quantum research—brings together unique expertise and capabilities as a collaborative breeding ground for technology advancement and innovation. Mines is also a key partner with other leading institutions in quantum science and technology, harnessing the power of shared vision and complementary expertise. Together, we’re accelerating quantum research, delivering pragmatic education to prepare tomorrow’s diverse quantum workforce, and translating discoveries into real-world impacts.”
— Walt Copan, Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer at Mines and former NIST director
Explore more of how Mines is building the quantum workforce and driving quantum innovation at mines.edu/quantum-research.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
