Quantum is Best in the West: Governor Polis Celebrates the Grand Opening of Colorado’s Quantum Commons, Continuing Colorado’s National Quantum Leadership

Trending...
ARVADA ~ ARVADA - The grand opening of Quantum Commons, the first major building on Elevate Quantum's new campus in Arvada, was celebrated today with the presence of Governor Jared Polis, higher education leaders, and industry partners. This new hub is set to become the centerpiece of Colorado's rapidly growing quantum ecosystem, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world applications while creating thousands of good-paying jobs.

Governor Polis expressed his excitement for the innovations that will come from this site, which will serve as a physical hub for Colorado's leading quantum technology. "It is exciting to think of the innovations that will come from this site, a physical hub for Colorado's leading quantum technology that will bridge the gap between research and real world quantum applications," he said.

Eve Lieberman, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), also highlighted the significance of this milestone for Colorado. "Today's grand opening of the Quantum Commons is a significant milestone for Colorado, underscoring our state's innovation and leadership in Quantum," she said. "This vibrant hub will accelerate commercialization and help companies scale, solidifying our position at the forefront of quantum technologies and creating thousands of good-paying jobs and driving significant economic growth for our state."

More on Colorado Desk
Colorado's journey in quantum technology has been rapidly accelerating over the past two years. In October 2023, it was designated by the Biden administration as a federal Regional Technology and Innovation Hub for quantum. This recognition was secured by private and public sector leaders led by Elevate Quantum in partnership with a bipartisan coalition of state legislative leaders and the Polis Administration.

Building on this momentum, Governor Polis and lawmakers announced bipartisan legislation at the January 2024 Mountain West Elevate Quantum Summit. This paved the way for HB24-1325, which created $74 million in refundable tax credits to supercharge Colorado's quantum industry, unlock federal funding, and generate billions in economic activity. In July 2024, the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub was the only Tech Hub granted federal funding for quantum, catalyzing further investment.

The grand opening event was attended by nearly 300 partners, researchers, and community leaders. Elevate Quantum CEO Zach Yerushalmi, OEDIT Executive Director Eve Liberman, Colorado School of Mines President Paul Johnson, and Senior Vice Chancellor For Research and Innovation and Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene were among the speakers at the event. This also marked the beginning of a new series of convenings at the campus to strengthen the Mountain West's quantum community.

More on Colorado Desk
Currently, there are about 3,000 Coloradans working in the quantum sector across more than 30 companies. However, projections show that this number is expected to grow to 30,000 jobs over the next decade. Colorado's leadership in quantum dates back to 2009 when Boulder-based NIST scientists demonstrated the first universally programmable quantum computer. This work earned a Nobel Prize and ignited the global race to harness quantum technology.

The opening of Quantum Commons builds on this legacy and ensures that Colorado will remain at the forefront of this transformational field. It will continue to deliver breakthroughs in various industries such as healthcare, artificial intelligence, climate solutions, national security, and next-generation computing.

In addition to creating job opportunities in this rapidly growing field, Governor Polis has also prioritized quantum-based learning for Colorado students. On World Quantum Day in April 2025, he unveiled Colorado's K–12 Quantum Blueprint - the nation's first roadmap for integrating quantum learning into classrooms. This includes expanding teacher training and ensuring that all Colorado students have access to pathways into the rapidly growing quantum economy.

With its new campus and Quantum Commons building now open for business, Colorado is well-positioned to lead in this exciting field of technology and innovation.

Filed Under: Government, State
Show All News | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on Colorado Desk