UbiQD received $200,000 through New Mexico’s Quantum Technologies Award to develop a light source emitting single particles of light on demand, an important component for both quantum computing and secure communication networks. Unlike many quantum computers requiring extreme cooling, UbiQD’s device will connect directly to a fiber optic cable.
“Quantum computing is what originally drew me into this field, and this project is an exciting opportunity to bring our technology full circle,” said Hunter McDaniel, PhD, Founder and CEO of UbiQD. The grant will fund optical equipment and device prototyping at UbiQD’s Los Alamos headquarters.
UbiQD Secures New Mexico Funding for Quantum Light Source Development
UbiQD’s expanding intellectual property portfolio now includes a patent applicable to both faster data center connections and quantum hardware, bolstered by a $200,000 grant from New Mexico’s Quantum Technologies Award. US patent #12,085,443, granted in multiple international markets including Korea and Canada, details a fiber-coupled broadband light source important for both high-speed data transmission and emerging quantum technologies. The funding, awarded through the Economic Development New Mexico Department’s Technology & Innovation Office, directly supports the development of a single-photon light source designed for integration with fiber optic cables.
This new light source differs from many current quantum computing approaches by operating at room temperature, a significant departure from systems requiring the extreme cooling of superconducting circuits. UbiQD researchers aim to reliably emit single photons, one at a time, on demand, a capability essential for both quantum computation and the creation of ultra-secure quantum communication networks.
Nikolay Makarov, Senior VP of R&D at UbiQD and principal investigator on the grant, explained the team’s focus: “Now we’re using what we learned to build a light source that delivers one photon at a time, reliably, at room temperature.” The development builds upon a 2024-2025 partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory, which yielded initial measurements of the company’s proprietary semiconductor quantum dots. The company’s decade-long investment in quantum dot technology has positioned it to address key limitations in existing light sources, which often produce a multitude of photons at random or require cryogenic cooling.
UbiQD’s approach centers on its I-III-VI semiconductor quantum dots, notable for being free of cadmium, lead and mercury, materials increasingly scrutinized for environmental and health concerns. The grant will fund optical equipment and device prototyping at UbiQD’s Los Alamos headquarters, allowing the team to refine material performance to meet industry standards.
The company currently holds or exclusively licenses 17 granted U.S. patents and 23 international patents, with an additional 27 applications pending, demonstrating a strategic focus on intellectual property development. McDaniel’s early work in the field included research with Nobel laureate John Martinis at UC Santa Barbara, providing a foundation for UbiQD’s current trajectory.
The company’s broader strategy extends beyond quantum computing, encompassing applications in agriculture, energy and security, using its expertise in quantum dot materials, UbiQD says. UbiQD’s patent portfolio is structured in three layers, beginning with foundational patents on the quantum dot material itself, progressing to methods for creating usable forms like films and concentrates, and culminating in specific end-use applications.
Some of these foundational patents originate from McDaniel’s research at Los Alamos National Laboratory and licensed technology from M.I.T. and the University of Washington. “We’re not just manufacturing materials, we’re building an optical product and an IP position in the quantum industry,” Makarov said. The New Mexico grant is intended to accelerate this process, positioning UbiQD as a key player in the emerging quantum landscape.
Quantum computing is what originally drew me into this field, and this project is an exciting opportunity to bring our technology full circle.
Hunter McDaniel, PhD, Founder and CEO of UbiQD
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