In an effort to capitalize on the next wave of the quantum revolution, The University of New Mexico, along with partners including Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)), are working hand-in hand to capitalize on the latest quantum revolution and chart a roadmap establishing the state of New Mexico as a national leader in QIS research, industry innovation, and workforce development.
"We stand at the threshold of the second quantum revolution, where discovery moves at the speed of imagination," said Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher. "UNM is committed not only to advancing the science, but to becoming a catalyst for breakthrough innovation by building a thriving ecosystem – one wherein researchers, industry partners, and the next generation of quantum pioneers come together to shape technologies that will redefine the future."
Quantum New Mexico Institute
The foundation for this statewide effort launched in January 2024 with the Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-I), an initiative that partnered UNM, SNL and LANL to turn quantum science into real-world impact while establishing New Mexico as a leader in the field. QNM-I is one of UNM's interdisciplinary, university-level research centers, advancing quantum information science and technology through collaborative research, education, and workforce development. By uniting academia, national laboratories, industry, and state and federal government, QNM-I accelerates innovation, strengthens the quantum workforce, and drives economic and societal impact—establishing New Mexico as a global leader in quantum information science and technology.
Over the past several decades, scientists at The University of New Mexico, led by physicists Professors Carlton Caves and Ivan Deutsch, have played a pioneering role in the development of QIS and helped establish the University as a leader in the field.
"New Mexico's role in the development of QIS will be vital to the technology of tomorrow," said Deutsch, a UNM distinguished professor and QNM-I founding director. "Our scientists helped launch the second quantum revolution, through activities at UNM, SNL, and LANL, and I believe QNM-I will build on this foundation, putting New Mexico in the national spotlight for its strong quantum science and engineering activities."
Ledoux was hired at QNM-I to create a roadmap and develop a thriving quantum ecosystem in New Mexico involving UNM, SNL, and LANL, and in collaboration with Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) as well as multiple commercial and venture capital ecosystem partners. Focused on research, education, and workforce development, the Institute was designed to leverage the state's existing strengths and new investments to position New Mexico as a national leader in quantum innovation and economic growth.
"UNM's approach to advancing quantum information science is to harness the largest possible concentration of QIS expertise in the country, which exists in NM," said Ledoux. "With a 25–30-year history in quantum science, UNM has helped develop core discoveries in the field and trained many of its current leaders, creating deep expertise and strong connections with academic and industry partners. Combined with the talent at Sandia and Los Alamos, New Mexico has an unmatched concentration of quantum talent — but fully unlocking that potential requires a coordinated strategy and the resources to bring it all together."
UNM has been building for this moment in the quantum revolution over the past four years by expanding its research and development, education and workforce, commercial support and government partnerships including state government programming and the development of a three-year implementation plan of potential generational investments through Fiscal Year 2029.
Forming QNM-I was critical to New Mexico's part in creating Elevate Quantum in 2024, the only quantum Tech Hub in the nation, supported by the US Economic Development Agency through a combined state and federal investment of $127 million.
In 2025, the QNM-I innovation ecosystem expanded significantly with a $25 million investment by the State of New Mexico Economic Development Department. An additional $20 million, including $16 million in funded grants and $4 million from the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory, strengthened the effort. As part of the developing ecosystem, UNM has 35 Ph.D. students and 12 HB-2 Fellowships.
"Four years ago, people thought quantum information science was something only in movies, and economic development officials nationwide would look at you like you were insane to talk about it as a new industry, and they weren't entirely wrong," said Hanson. "However, New Mexican's had the inside knowledge, and now we are leading the way."
Ledoux's charge is to establish QNM-I headquarters as a singular focus on quantum in New Mexico, help build a sustained workforce, create cost-effective industry incentives, and develop an entrepreneurship program, all of which will help establish New Mexico as an industry leader.
"I think the first major milestone is recruiting more top-level academic talent to the university's existing outstanding talent and having the resources to support that growth," said Ledoux. "The second is building a proven track record of attracting QIS-Engineering companies — both established firms relocating and startups launching here. Both are essential because meeting those goals will naturally draw the private investment we need. Right now, we have a strong founding group and early momentum, thanks to the State's investments. But to truly accelerate that progress, we need to establish a dedicated, fully realized sustainable center to bring it all together."
Coordinated strategy
A coordinated strategy can lead to the state and federal funding needed to provide an advantage over other states New Mexico is competing against, of which there are many.
"Industry, government, and academic partners from around the world have been coming to New Mexico for the past two-years wanting to learn how we are leading," said Hanson. "What they tell us is that they are amazed about how well we work together across institutions and sectors, and how accessible everyone is, and they think that is a key part of our formula. It hasn't been easy to achieve this level of coordination, but I am very proud of New Mexican's for winning together."
"If we coordinate effectively and tap into federal funding, including national lab funding — which no other state has fully leveraged — we can gain a real advantage," said Ledoux. "But to compete with other states, we need a dedicated center. We need a place that brings people and equipment together, along with sustained R&D funding to support the work. That's where QNM-I comes into play."
Therein lies a key ingredient for continuing to build the roadmap—funding. Sustained funding is essential, particularly for attracting talent and companies. That's how competing national centers — such as those supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense — operate: with long-term, reliable investments rather than annual re-competition. Federal funding increasingly requires significant matching funds. This center will incorporate state-of-the-art classical and quantum computers for QIS hardware R&D, applications research, and workforce training.
"Quantum innovation doesn't evolve in short bursts – it requires steady, long-term commitment," said Fisher. "Sustained funding will empower New Mexico to grow the research, partnerships, and workforce needed to create a vibrant quantum ecosystem that will define the technologies of the next century. Without sustained funding, the future arrives somewhere else."
"The core message is clear: think big and move fast. The window to establish a national center is limited," emphasized Ledoux. "Within the next 18 months, several major centers will likely emerge across the country, and once those are established, opportunities will narrow significantly. To compete, the university must demonstrate scale, speed, and sustained commitment.
"That means creating a permanent, dedicated center with stable funding to attract and retain top faculty and industry partners. It also requires stronger alignment with the national labs and far more visible engagement with federal leaders in Washington. To become a true national leader, the university must pursue multiple funding sources, show institutional commitment, and proactively build federal relationships — not just advocate at the state level, but "show the flag" in Washington as well," he added.
If the first quantum revolution quietly reshaped modern life, the second promises to redefine it. For New Mexico, the question is not whether quantum innovation will transform industries — from national security and advanced computing to health care and communications — but whether the state will help lead that transformation. With decades of foundational research at UNM, unmatched national laboratory partnerships with Sandia and Los Alamos, and a growing pipeline of students and entrepreneurs, the pieces are already in place.
Through QNM-I and a coordinated statewide effort, New Mexico is positioning itself not simply to participate — but to lead.
