Fact Sheet: A $25 Million Quantum Hub for the United States
Overview
A $25 Million State Investment Will Turn Breakthrough Science into New Quantum Companies and Economic Opportunity for New Mexico and the United States.
New Mexico has made a major bet on quantum commercialization through a new $25 million initiative to turn breakthrough science into new companies, jobs, and cutting-edge innovation.
Led by Roadrunner Venture Studios and a coalition of national labs, startups, universities, and venture firms, the investment will create a dense tech ecosystem in Downtown Albuquerque’s Innovation District.
Unlike many quantum efforts that focus on research or facilities, this quantum technology hub will launch real companies, attract and deploy private venture capital, and generate jobs and other economic returns in the state.
As one of the most ambitious state-led quantum efforts in the country, the initiative offers the United States a true regional model for quantum competitiveness—something that could help America catch up to national competitors in quantum innovation.
Why This Matters Now
Quantum is going from theory to deployment while the global race is accelerating.
- Global public funding exceeded $42 billion in 2023.
- McKinsey projects a $200 billion market by 2040.
- Major enterprises and governments are investing at scale.
- China’s public quantum investment is 4x higher than that of the U.S.
If the U.S. wants to lead in quantum, it needs to move from science to execution. This initiative will provide a blueprint for how to do that.
What’s Being Built
The new campus will be a modality-agnostic testbed and company creation environment. Quantum founders of all sorts will find what they need to invent, test, and scale their products alongside leading platform startups and national lab researchers.
- A venture studio-led commercialization platform focused on quantum technologies
- A live entanglement-based quantum network deployed in Albuquerque
- New lab infrastructure including testbeds, packaging and demonstration facilities, etc.
- Cryogenic cooling systems designed to maintain temperature-controlled lab conditions
- At full capacity, provide space and support for 80+ researchers, builders, and founders
- Roadrunner’s operational hub, a studio designed to launch and scale startups
Fast Facts
- $25 million in state support through the New Mexico Economic Development Department
- National labs + startups + academia + VCs + workforce in one coalition
- $6 billion in combined AUM from partner venture firms
Co-location in a high-density urban innovation zone in Albuquerque
Initial Targets
- $4 million in private capital
- 3+ startups attracted
- Create new high-value jobs
The Coalition’s Vision: To Spur New Mexico’s Next Billion-Dollar Company
Who’s Involved
The Roadrunner Venture Studios-led Quantum Coalition Includes:
- National Laboratories
- Technology Startups
- Universities
- Venture Capital Partners
Why Roadrunner’s Coalition & Why New Mexico
- Most states are still forming task forces, but New Mexico is leading in quantum and deep tech innovation.
- The coalition will be of the only existing efforts combining infrastructure, capital, talent, and company creation under one roof
- World-renowned organizations are coming together to build the future of quantum innovation for the United States
- The result will be a global model for deep tech innovation and competitiveness, the creation of a local quantum economy, and a high return on investment for New Mexico taxpayers
What Partners Are Saying
“Quantum technology will reshape the future, and New Mexico is ready to lead that transformation,” said Nora Sackett, Director of the Technology and Innovation Office at EDD. “By creating an environment where the top scientific minds have the tools and collaboration they need, New Mexico is backing the bold quantum startups and partnerships that will fuel breakthroughs.”
“In this pivotal moment for New Mexico and for America, we are stepping forward to help lead the coming quantum revolution.” – Adam Hammer, Co-founder and CEO, Roadrunner Venture Studios
“Quantum computing is inevitable — and increasingly imminent. Roadrunner’s approach is built for technologies the country needs but that don’t map neatly to existing commercial paths. This initiative will put in place the infrastructure quantum needs to scale.” Peter Barrett, General Partner, Playground Global
"What New Mexico is building is unique in the quantum world - networking the state's universities, and national labs with innovative companies and business expertise to spur innovation and jobs. New Mexico is now poised to be the leader in commercial quantum." – Noel Goddard, CEO, Qunnect
Narrative
Roadrunner Venture Studios, a leading venture studio for deep tech innovation, today announced its selection by the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) to lead a $25 million initiative to accelerate quantum innovation and commercialization in the state.
The Roadrunner-led quantum coalition will bring together premier quantum researchers, infrastructure, and emerging technologies to scale the next generation of companies. Based in Downtown Albuquerque’s Innovation District, the coalition includes national laboratories, pioneering quantum startups, universities, and top-tier venture capital firms.
The effort will make Albuquerque a national launchpad for quantum startups—deepening the state’s growing emergence as a hub for advanced technology commercialization.
“This award is not just a boost for New Mexico, it’s a signal to the entire country that the serious work of building a quantum economy is already underway,” said Adam Hammer, Co-founder and CEO of Roadrunner Venture Studios. “We’re ready to hit the ground running. With proven infrastructure, trusted partners, and a history of launching science-based companies, Roadrunner has laid the groundwork to start delivering in quantum—starting now.”
A National Quantum Commercialization Engine Built in New Mexico
While many regions are still organizing task forces and planning infrastructure, New Mexico is ready to deploy. The Roadrunner-led coalition is designed to do what most quantum initiatives are only just beginning to plan: launch venture-backable quantum companies based on real-world systems, with early pilots, talent pipelines, and investor support already in motion.
The Coalition
The coalition comprises nearly a dozen partners, including national laboratories (Sandia National Labs, Los Alamos National Lab), pioneering quantum startups (Qunnect, QuEra, Maybell, and Resonance), academic centers (University of New Mexico’), and top-tier venture capital firms (DCVC, Playground Global, Quantonation), along with workforce development and policy partners.
“Quantum innovation is a national imperative,” said Nora Sackett, New Mexico Economic Development Department. “This initiative aligns New Mexico’s world-class scientific base with a proven commercialization engine and private-sector execution—strengthening our position as a model for how the U.S. can lead in quantum.”
From Frontier Science to Scaling Startups
The coalition is grounded in Roadrunner’s proven track record of building companies at the frontiers of science and national strategic and economic priorities. Its venture studio model is designed specifically to identify breakthroughs from federal labs and rapidly spin them into scalable, venture-ready businesses with market traction and staying power.
Roadrunner’s team has launched startups across advanced energy, robotics, and precision manufacturing—translating scientific talent into investable technologies, and unlocking private investment for companies that advance critical innovation. Quantum is the studio’s next frontier.
“Roadrunner’s model combines science-backed technology and startup discipline with their mission to bolster national competitiveness,” said Peter Barrett, Founding Partner at Playground Global. “Their model helps launch technologies the country needs but the market isn’t built for. That’s exactly what it will take to win in quantum.”
The coalition’s work is already beginning to take shape. Within a few blocks downtown will eventually be Maybell’s cryo labs, Qunnect’s quantum network, and QuEra’s testbed. The physical infrastructure, co-located in Albuquerque's Innovation District, will form the backbone of the coalition’s efforts. Roadrunner’s startup Foundry will provide the operational hub for the new effort.
“The coalition will bring additional innovation and economic growth to New Mexico’s fast-developing quantum infrastructure,” said Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect. “We’re proud to deploy and scale our systems here. The quantum future is being built in New Mexico, and this coalition is best positioned to deliver it.”
A Race Underway for U.S. Competitiveness
The global market for quantum technologies could reach nearly $200 billion by 2040, according to a 2024 McKinsey report, with the steepest growth in defense, telecom, and enterprise computing. What once seemed theoretical is now a race to build quantum science as critical infrastructure that will underpin the next era of computing and communications.
Major enterprises have invested billions into early-stage quantum capabilities. Meanwhile, McKinsey reports that global public funding in quantum exceeded $42 billion in 2023, with governments involved in research, commercialization, and deployment at scale. In some areas, U.S. funding is being outpaced by four- or five-to-one.
To remain competitive, the U.S. must move from leadership in science to leadership in execution. New Mexico’s initiative provides a blueprint that links world-class research to real-world company formation and commercial infrastructure.
About Roadrunner Venture Studios
Roadrunner Venture Studios is the nation’s first venture studio purpose-built for hard science commercialization. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Roadrunner identifies breakthrough research with national importance and transforms it into scalable, venture-backable companies. With deep ties to the national labs, leading research institutions, and top-tier venture capital firms, Roadrunner specializes in spinning out companies in advanced energy, robotics, precision manufacturing, and now quantum. The studio combines founder development, operational mentorship, and early-stage capital to accelerate company creation at the frontiers of American innovation. For more information, visit roadrunnerventurestudios.com.
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