An Atomic Computing employee works on a computer screen.
CNBC
This story is part of CNBC’s quarterly Cities That Succeed series, which explores cities that have transformed into business hubs that are entrepreneurial and attract capital, companies and employees.
Imagine a world where computers can solve problems billions of times faster than today’s machines, ushering in a new era of scientific discovery.
Such is the promise of quantum technology—and a fierce race is on to unlock its potential. In the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, the Denver-Boulder region is emerging as a global leader in this revolution.
Atom Computers is based in the San Francisco area, but CEO Rob Hays told CNBC in a recent interview why his quantum company chose Boulder for its new $100 million facility: the area’s thriving ecosystem.
“The future looks very bright for us here…we’ve built two of the largest quantum computers on the planet,” Hayes told CNBC’s primetime special “Success: Denver and Boulder,” which aired in the United States. Airing April 11 at 10pm ET. . “The fact that we were able to do this in 18 months is pretty remarkable.”
In Denver, Maybelle Quantum, another major player in the industry, is building a super-fridge that can cool atoms to extreme temperatures—three times colder than those in the coldest parts of Antarctica.
Maybell Quantum CEO Corban Tillemann-Dick (left) and CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla stand in front of a super-fridge that cools atoms to extremely low temperatures that are critical for building quantum computers.
CNBC
“That’s 10 millikelvin,” said Maybell Quantum CEO Corban Tillemann-Dick. This is equivalent to minus 441.67 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why is it so cold? Cold conditions are critical for the operation of quantum computers. The supercooled environment helps minimize the tiniest vibrations that could disrupt the quantum chip’s delicate subatomic calculations.
promise and potential
Just as semiconductors power powerful computers and networking equipment, making today’s complex networks possible, Thielemann-Dick says the next big thing could be quantum technology.
“This technology will be as important in the next 100 years as semiconductors are to networking or cellular technology. It will change everything from medicine to defense to agriculture,” he said.
The CEO said he envisions data centers filled with rows of quantum computers to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
“In the near future, you will walk into a data center where thousands of (quantum computers) will be lined up, just like servers today, processing workloads from all over the world to solve these critical problems. , “He said.
Colorado races to become quantum hub
Physicist Richard Feynman is credited with pioneering the idea of quantum computing in the 1980s. It has come a long way since then.according to McKinseyAutomotive, chemicals, financial services and life sciences – the four industries expected to gain the greatest boost from quantum computing – are expected to be worth $1.3 trillion by 2035.
To help Colorado prosper, the Biden-Harris administration recently designated the Denver-Aurora area as one of 31 “tech hubs” in the United States. The title is part of a plan to invest in regions with high growth potential in key technology areas.
Elevate Quantum Colorado is a public-private consortium of more than 100 organizations, including the University of Colorado Boulder and other higher education institutions, state and local governments, federal laboratories and private companies.
“The idea is to create a Silicon Valley where there is no Silicon Valley today to counter the most important technologies of our time,” said Zachary Yerushalmi, CEO of Elevate Quantum Colorado.
Yerushalmi noted that the federal designation makes the state one of the few quantum centers in the country.
“We competed with 400 applicants from across the country, and we were lucky enough to be selected as one of three,” Yerushalmi explained. “This is where things really get heated… We’re competing for $70 million from the federal government.”
Only a handful of centers will be selected to receive funding, and Yerushlalmi said he was optimistic about their chances, with a decision expected later this year.
Meanwhile, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a firm believer in quantum potential, is upping the ante. In February, his administration unveiled plans to invest an additional $74 million in the quantum industry over five to nine years if Colorado becomes one of the regions chosen to receive federal funding.
“I’m bullish on quantum technology,” Polis told CNBC in a recent interview. “I think the time has come.”
WATCH: The “Successful City” special featuring Denver and Boulder will air on CNBC on April 11 at 10 p.m. ET.
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