June 2025
IN THIS EDITION...
How to get involved in New Mexico’s $25M quantum RFP
Elevate Quantum, IBM to train 3,500 workers
Infleqtion’s $100M raise & becoming Boulder’s biggest quantum player
IonQ acquires Oxford Ionics in $1.075B deal
New office space at Quantum COmmons available
Jobs, events, and more!
The Quantum Lead
New Mexico Launches $25M Quantum Venture Studio RFP – How to Get Involved
On May 26, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) released a $25 million RFP to fund the creation of a quantum venture studio and facility that will accelerate commercialization and catalyze regional leadership in quantum technologies. The state plans to award one comprehensive proposal that combines studio operations, a shared physical facility, and robust industry partnerships. Proposals are due June 24.
Let’s connect strong ideas, build together, and make this another milestone for the Mountain West quantum community!
Quantum Advancement
Elevate Quantum, IBM Partner to Train 3,500 Workers
Elevate Quantum has partnered with IBM to roll out the company’s curriculum to local colleges and universities and set a goal to train 3,500 workers in quantum-related careers by 2030 — no Ph.D. required.
“With quantum, the idea is this is a tool for computational science,” said Bradley Holt, IBM’s lead for workforce development partnerships and who is on Elevate’s workforce advisory board. “This is a tool for exploring scientific problems in many different domains. We don’t want to limit ourselves to just computer science, to just physics. It really is about getting outside the physics department.”
Learn more about how IBM and Elevate Quantum are teaming up to train the quantum leaders of tomorrow.
Quantum Investment
Infleqtion Raises $100M, Solidifies Status as one of Boulder’s Biggest Quantum Players
Infleqtion recently drummed up $100 million from investors as part of its Series C fundraiser, further emphasizing the role of the company — along with the Boulder ecosystem in which it operates — as major players in the world’s quantum future.
Quantum World
IonQ Announces Agreement to Acquire Oxford Ionics
IonQ and Elevate Quantum member Oxford Ionics announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for IonQ to acquire Oxford Ionics in a transaction valued at $1.075 Billion.
IonQ is a leader in quantum computing and networking, developing high performance systems based on trapped ion technology, to help solve the world’s most complex commercial and research challenges. Oxford Ionics holds the current world records for fidelity, which measures the accuracy of quantum operations.
Quantum COmmons
Office Space Available at New Quantum COmmons
Lease space is available at the soon-to-open Elevate Quantum Community Office building at the Quantum COmmons. This facility will serve as the center of our growing Quantum Tech Campus where companies of all sizes come together to collaborate and stay informed about opportunities and EQ activities. Being part of the Elevate Quantum community unlocks the ability to network with quantum technologists, collaborate, and gain insights from fellow business leaders.
For more information, contact Anjul Loiacono at anjul@elevatequantum.org.
Quantum COmmons
July 25: DARPA to Hold Pitch Day in Aurora for $400K in Potential Funding
DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) will host an invitation-only, in-person Pitch Day on July 25, 2025. It will be held in conjunction with MTO Spark Tank in Aurora, Colo.
MTO Pitch Day is an opportunity for selected participants to pitch revolutionary concepts directly to MTO program managers for potential funding of up to $400,000 for short-term exploratory efforts. Awardees will be announced the same day that they are pitched.
This initiative aims to fast-track transformative ideas that could evolve into future DARPA programs. MTO is looking for revolutionary – not evolutionary – research ideas that align with the following technical areas of interest:
Unconventional Computing: Exploring new paradigms beyond traditional digital computing, with the potential to improve speed, energy efficiency, and processing capabilities
Biologically Inspired Microsystems: Developing electronic microsystems that integrate biomolecules and leverage biological principles for superior sensing and computation capabilities
Commercially Catalyzed Defense Deployment: Leveraging commercial-scale technologies to enhance national security and create a self-sustaining ecosystem for accelerating defense-specific microsystem deployment.
Upcoming Quantum Events
June 11-13
CSU San Marcos Faculty Workshops
CSU San Marcos, California
June 16-19
SPIE Photonics for Quantum 2025
Waterloo, ON, Canada
June 18-19
Quantum Now
Montreal, QC, Canada
June 20-25
IEEE MTT-S International Microwaves Symposium
San Francisco, CA, USA
June 24-27
World of Quantum 2025 – Munich
Munich, Germany
August 11-15
‹Q|School Single Photonics Short Course
University of Colorado Boulder
Have an event, job posting or achievement to celebrate with the quantum community? Email anjul@elevatequantum.org to submit your information, and we’ll update here in and in our newsletter!
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