Albuquerque’s Innovation District welcomed twelve initial tenants to the newly opened Roadrunner Quantum Lab, backed by a $450 million state commitment to quantum technology. The 35,000-square-foot facility, housing established companies like Diraq, IonQ and national labs including Sandia and Los Alamos, aims to encourage collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs and industry partners. “The Roadrunner Quantum Lab cements New Mexico’s place in quantum research in America,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. “It’s paying off in high-paying jobs and meaningful opportunities for New Mexicans to lead in quantum technology.”
New Mexico Establishes $450M Commitment to Quantum Technology
The Roadrunner Quantum Lab’s initial tenant roster includes companies actively pursuing diverse qubit modalities, signaling a broad approach to quantum hardware development within the new facility. Diraq, focused on silicon-based qubits, intends to expand test and measurement capabilities in Albuquerque, participating in DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) to refine its quantum processors.
The company’s founder and CEO, Andrew Dzurak, stated, “RQL is focused on bringing quantum computing to market and their commitment to commercialization closely mirrors our own at Diraq.” This emphasis on translating research into viable products highlights a key objective: bridging the gap between fundamental science and practical application. IonQ is expanding its presence in New Mexico by building on existing collaborations with state institutions, with plans to use the Roadrunner Quantum Lab and a Quantum Demonstration Facility for joint projects.
The company’s Superion system, having already demonstrated a 20x performance increase over previous iterations, will contribute to advancements in fields like drug discovery and materials science. Scott Millard, Chief Business Officer of IonQ, emphasized the state’s strengths, saying, “New Mexico has long been a leader in quantum science, with a unique combination of national security missions, research, and technical expertise.” IonQ’s 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, achieved in 2025, demonstrates a commitment to pushing the boundaries of quantum performance.
Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories will jointly operate the Quantum Demonstration Facility, offering resident companies access to their extensive quantum expertise through cooperative research agreements. This collaborative effort builds on decades of quantum research conducted at both institutions, encompassing hardware, algorithms, and sensing technologies. Quantum Machines’ contribution centers on its Hybrid Control approach, unifying quantum and classical operations to accelerate iteration and problem-solving.
The company’s Orchestration Platform, designed for systems ranging from a few to thousands of qubits, will be deployed at the RQL, establishing advanced test and measurement capabilities. Itamar Sivan, CEO and co-founder of Quantum Machines, highlighted the broader ecosystem benefits, stating, “New Mexico’s quantum ecosystem brings together national-lab expertise, venture infrastructure, and open-access quantum resources to help promising technologies move from development toward commercialization.” The planned installation of Quantum Machines’ OPX control system will support multi-modality testing across superconducting, spin, and neutral-atom platforms.
Economic Development New Mexico Secretary Rob Black affirmed the state’s proactive approach, stating, The lab’s location within Albuquerque’s Innovation District is intended to support collaboration between industry, national laboratories, universities and the state government, accelerating the transition of quantum research into tangible capabilities. David Kistin, Director of the Roadrunner Quantum Lab, added, “The RQL is helping bring together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners to build a stronger quantum ecosystem across the Southwest.” This coordinated effort aims to solidify New Mexico’s position as a national hub for quantum innovation and a driver of economic opportunity.
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