New Mexico, historically known as the site of the world’s first atomic bomb tests, is now aiming to be at the forefront of another transformative technology—quantum computing. The state announced plans on Tuesday to invest $315 million into private companies, fabrication facilities, and infrastructure, including a quantum network designed to connect labs and businesses, in a bid to establish itself as a leader in the field.
Quantum computing, which exploits the unique properties of matter and energy at the atomic and sub-atomic scale, has the potential to solve problems in minutes that would take today’s most powerful supercomputers thousands of years. Global tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and IBM—as well as a growing ecosystem of well-funded startups—are racing to make the technology commercially viable.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who unveiled the initiative, told Reuters that New Mexico has a unique edge thanks to its combination of scientific talent, affordable land, and energy resources. With a population of about two million, the state is home to two U.S. National Laboratories and a U.S. Air Force Research Lab branch.
As part of the $315 million package, $185 million from New Mexico’s sovereign wealth fund will be deployed through private venture capital firms to back quantum businesses with a local presence. The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the state will each contribute $60 million to help evaluate and position these projects for commercial success. Several initiatives, including a network linking quantum equipment through a central hub in Albuquerque, are expected to come online by mid-2026.
“We don’t intend to be reckless,” Lujan Grisham told Reuters, “but we intend to be fast.”
Additionally, around $25 million will go toward efforts to pair scientists with entrepreneurs capable of translating groundbreaking research into viable business ventures. “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 spearhead the initiative.
With this investment, New Mexico seeks to position itself as a major player in the race to harness quantum computing’s potential—an emerging technology that could reshape industries from pharmaceuticals to cybersecurity.
