The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) has awarded the State of New Mexico, Sandia National Laboratories, and their partners with its State and Local Economic Development Award for building a quantum technology sector that has attracted five companies to the state in under two years.
New Mexico wins national award for quantum ecosystem
SANTA FE (May 21, 2026) — The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) has awarded the State of New Mexico, Sandia National Laboratories, and their partners with its State and Local Economic Development Award for building a quantum technology sector that has attracted five companies to the state in under two years.
The honor acknowledges the broad coalition’s work over the past two years to build the partnerships, programs, facilities and workforce needed to sustain a thriving in-state quantum sector.
“New Mexico has always been where America solves its hardest problems,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “This award recognizes what happens when world-class national laboratories, state government, community colleges and the private sector lock arms around a shared vision. New Mexico families, students and the next generation of American innovators will feel the difference for decades to come.”
Quantum information science represents one of the most consequential emerging technology fields of the coming decade, with applications in computing, communications and national security. New Mexico, home to Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, has long been at the cutting edge. In less than two years, a coordinated push by Sandia, Economic Development New Mexico’s Technology and Innovation Office (TIO), the Governor’s Office, Roadrunner Venture Studios and Central New Mexico Community College has turned this scientific progress into economic growth.
New Mexico’s quantum momentum is being powered by several interconnected initiatives:
- Elevate Quantum, a $127 million grant-funded program bringing together 140+ partners to speed commercialization.
- A new DARPA partnership through the Quantum Frontier Project, potentially providing up to $120 million over four years.
- The New Mexico Quantum Venture Studio, launched with a $25 million state investment to support emerging quantum startups with funding and dedicated facilities.
- A first-of-its-kind Quantum Learning Lab and Technician Bootcamp from CNM and Sandia to train New Mexico’s future quantum workforce.
The results have been swift. At the start of this initiative, there were no quantum companies based in New Mexico. Today, at least five firms — Quantinuum, QuEra Computing, Qunnect, Maybell Quantum and Mesa Quantum — have established or are establishing operations in the state.
The first two cohorts of the Quantum Leadership and Learning program have completed their training, while the QCaMP outreach program, which targets high school students and teachers, has already reached more than 75 educators and 85 high school students statewide.
“New Mexico has emerged as the place for quantum technology, driven by strong public-private partnerships,” said Economic Development Secretary Rob Black. “With a history of shaping world-changing innovation, we’re ready to lead the next generation of industry.”
“This recognition is a testament to what New Mexico’s innovation community has accomplished together,” said Nora Meyers Sackett, director of the Technology and Innovation Office. “With the state’s significant investment in quantum and frontier technologies, New Mexico is one of the most compelling destinations in the country for companies and researchers working on the technologies of the future.”
The FLC’s State and Local Economic Development Award, established in 1984, is among the most prestigious honors in technology transfer, recognizing successful initiatives that link federal laboratory expertise with broader economic development goals. The winners were honored at a ceremony at the FLC National Meeting on May 13.
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