Quantum Research and Innovation at CU Boulder
Receive a monthly update on all things quantum from CU Boulder and the Front Range quantum ecosystem—
including news, upcoming events and other opportunities to get involved.
The future of quantum is here
Recognized as one of humanity's greatest opportunities for technological advancement since the microchip, quantum science is poised to open new frontiers of possibility in fields as diverse as aerospace, health, climate and computing. CU Boulder is at the leading edge of unlocking this potential.
As a catalyst for Colorado's prolific quantum community, CU Boulder has been driving quantum innovation for decades thanks to a comprehensive research environment that accelerates fundamental advances, develops engineering and technical expertise, and engages state and national leaders to cultivate a next-generation economy and workforce equipped to turn groundbreaking lab discoveries into real-world impact.
CU Boulder Quantum Advances
A Legacy to Shape the Quantum Future
- Prominent at the top of US News and World Report program rankings for atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics, quantum physics and condensed matter physics
- JILA—a joint Institute between CU Boulder and NIST—boasts four Nobel Prize winners and consistently produces quantum research breakthroughs
From Quantum Innovation to Real-World Impact
- A continuous pipeline of top quantum talent helps Colorado lead the nation in quantum and quantum-enabling companies
- Innovations from CU Boulder labs have resulted in the emergence of influential quantum computing companies such as Infleqtion, Quantinuum and Atom Computing
A Tight-Knit Quantum Research Community
- Boulder and the Front Range are home to a globally recognized concentration of quantum scientists, engineers, students and technology experts
- This deeply networked, collaborative culture leads to mutual learning, advancement and opportunities extending from basic scientific research to practical applications
Explore Quantum Research & Innovation at CU Boulder
At the heart of Colorado's growing quantum ecosystem
- Celebrating World Quantum Day at the Colorado Capitol
- Second round of quantum seed grants awarded to drive innovation and impact
- New quantum incubator in Boulder to propel innovations for real-world impact
- CU Boulder releases quantum workforce roadmap for economy's next big thing
- JILA hosts the inaugural workshop on quantum light generation, detection and applications
- CU Boulder, Elevate Quantum partners ready for $127M regional quantum boost
- CU Boulder wins $20M to lead National Quantum Nanofab facility
- Governor Polis signs bill strengthening quantum in Colorado
Quantum research and innovation: Real-world impact
- New sensor can take any gas and tell you what's in it
- Spinout LongPath Technologies to expand methane detection with $162M DOE loan
- Protecting our data from quantum hackers
- New laser-based breathalyzer sniffs out COVID, other diseases in real-time
- An infrared telescope that spans the globe? New grant may make it possible
- Colorado's quantum revolution turning state into new Silicon Valley
Recent quantum science and technology advances
- Dialing in the temperature needed for precise nuclear timekeeping
- CU Boulder physicists uncover quantum system that never reaches thermal equilibrium
- Making a leap by using “another state to entangle”
- New project aims to advance secure communications through quantum technology
- New quantum timekeeper packs several clocks into one
- Mapping noise to improve quantum measurements
- Squeezing in the dark of a superradiant roller coaster
CU Boulder quantum science and technology leaders
- Four with ties to CU elected to 2025 class of National Academy of Engineering
- Professor Adam Kaufman honored with prestigious PECASE Award
- Professor Shuo Sun receives NSF CAREER Award for quantum internet research
- Jun Ye awarded the Monroe Endowed Professorship
- JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman awarded prestigious Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation grant
- Meet the JILA postdoc and grad student leading the charge in a multi-million-dollar NASA-funded quantum sensing project
- JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman awarded 2024 Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award
What others are saying
- University of Colorado spearheads launch of quantum startup incubator
- Infleqtion, a CU Boulder spinout, secures $11M DoD APFIT Award
- Opinion: Colorado is cultivating a quantum future
- Quantum tech hub's $40.5M grant expected to bring thousands of jobs to Colorado
- Opinion: Colorado, Rocky Mountain West are critical to developing U.S. quantum technology and federal funding must come this way