State Pledges $121M QuantumCT Investment

Connecticut is stepping up its commitment to investing in quantum technology.

The Lamont administration announced it’s pledging up to $121 million dollars to expand quantum infrastructure, workforce, and research capacity.

“This is a Silicon Valley-like moment,” Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said announcing the investment Nov. 21 at Yale University.

“The time to prepare our state, to lay the groundwork for our future and to prepare our workforce is now.

“And I believe Connecticut is uniquely positioned to lead.”

‘In our DNA’

Gov. Ned Lamont said the state funds will strengthen Connecticut’s long-standing reputation as a leader in innovation.  

“Connecticut has always been the most innovative state in the country,” Lamont said. “This is in our DNA.”

“Through quantum innovation, Connecticut has an opportunity to enhance that legacy and lead in emerging fields like cybersecurity, drug discovery, and advanced computing.”

The investment will support QuantumCT, a nonprofit partnership led by Yale University and the University of Connecticut.

QuantumCT’s mission is to drive regional innovation and economic growth through the adoption of quantum technologies.

The organization—which includes public and private partners such as CBIA—is in the final stages of a National Science Foundation competition with awards of up to $160 million.

Quantum Infrastructure

The $121 million state investment includes $50 million to expand the Connecticut’s quantum infrastructure.

That includes the launch of the QuantumCT incubator in New Haven—a first-of-its-kind fully functional deep-tech hub on Yale’s campus in New Haven.

That funding complements a recently announced $10 million from the state’s Innovation Clusters Program.

“The QuantumCT incubator will position Connecticut as a destination for deep tech experimentation and breakthrough development.”

Green

“By building an incubator alongside advanced prototyping and engineering facilities, we are giving startups and industry the ability to design, validate, and iterate new quantum technologies in real time,” said QuantumCT president and CEO Albert Green.

“The QuantumCT incubator will position Connecticut as a destination for deep tech experimentation and breakthrough development.”

If Connecticut wins the NSF competition, the state will provide an additional $60 million in funding.

Investing in the Future

State officials said quantum technology is key to Connecticut’s economic future and workforce.

“If you look at our core industries, things like advanced manufacturing in support our national defense, things like cryptography, if you look at things like financial technology, if you look at insurance technologies, if you look at health care, biotech, the emergence of quantum will accelerate innovation in every single one of those industries,” O’Keefe said.  

Both UConn and Yale have ramped up quantum initiatives in recent years, investing in new facilities, laboratories, and research capabilities.

“We can ensure that quantum technologies take root and grow here.”

Yale University’s Michael Crair

“The future of Connecticut’s workforce depends heavily on our ability to embrace quantum by maximizing our research capacity and teaching important skillsets to students and workers of all ages,” said UConn interim provost Pamir Alpay.

“By building shared infrastructure and training the next generation of innovators, we can ensure that quantum technologies take root and grow here in New Haven and throughout Connecticut,” Yale University vice provost for research Michael Crair said.