Sandia National Labs NM Partnerships Collaboration Report 2021-2022

Quantum symposium shows NM dedication to the initiatives and coalition

Over 200 participants from New Mexico national labs, industry, and academia joined the inaugural Quantum New Mexico Symposium on March 31 and April 1 at UNM to celebrate the Quantum New Mexico Institute (QNM-I) and QNM Coalition and to discuss research and economic development opportunities with respect to the quantum industry in NM. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich provided the keynote address. QNM-I is a joint research and education institute led by UNM and Sandia that will create opportunities for workforce and economic development in New Mexico’s emerging “Quantum economy.” The QNM Coalition is a statewide, multi-sector effort to grow New Mexico as a national hub for the rapidly growing field of Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST), and it consists of the research institutions of UNM, Sandia and Los Alamos who are partnering to establish NM as a national hub for the rapidly growing field of QIST. “Quantum technology is going to change the world someday and bring with it high-paying, high-value

jobs. New Mexico already has intellectual capital and world-class research facilities. We can bring in industry, too. We can change the outlook of our state by establishing New Mexico as a national hub for this high-tech sector,” said Sandia’s Richard Muller. Quantum computers can run some tasks faster than would ever be possible with supercomputers. While the technology is still experimental, funding for its development has steadily increased worldwide as governments and businesses eye its economic and national security implications, Muller said. “Whoever makes the first breakthrough is going to have a big advantage. As a state, we want to be part of it.” Ivan Deutsch, Regents’ Professor and Director of UNM’s Center for Quantum Information and Control, said, “The Quantum New Mexico Coalition has the goal of a broad partnership across New Mexico, including our major research university, tribal colleges and community colleges, as well as national laboratories and industry.”

Sandia’s Andy Mounce, left, leads a tour group through the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies during the Quantum New Mexico Symposium following the announcement of the Quantum New Mexico Coalition. Symposium attendees also toured

the Center for High Technology Materials and the new Physics & Astronomy and Interdisciplinary Science building, both at the UNM, which is co-leading the coalition with Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

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