A “Capital of Quantum” initiative is being formed as a partnership between the State of Maryland, the University of Maryland, IonQ, and others to attract and grow a quantum industry within the state as part of the governor’s 2025 economic growth agenda. He is putting in his FY26 budget proposal to provide $27.5 million in state funding, but is hoping that ultimately, the initiative will be able to obtain additional private and public funding of $1 billion over the next five years.
The goal will be to position the state as a global leader in quantum information science and technology. The funds will be used to recruit to the state top quantum scientists and engineers, expand the National Quantum Laboratory (QLAB), hire test and evaluation experts to support quantum focused projects, create additional facilities for the Quantum Startup Foundry, and increase quantum education and workforce development activities.
For its part, IonQ plans on being the anchor partner in this initiative. And it has also indicated it plans on growing its Maryland headquarters facility to 100,000 square feet including data center, laboratories, and office space and double its Maryland workforce to 250 people over the next five years.
The Maryland/DC/Virginia region has many academic, commercial, and public organizations working or highly interested in quantum technology including agencies and research laboratories of the U.S. Federal government. However, other many other regions are also vying to develop a significant quantum industry including Illinois, Colorado, and other locations in the U.S. and other countries.
For more information about this initiative, you can view a news article published on the University of Maryland’s website here, a press release issued by IonQ here, and a video replay of the governor’s announcement here.
January 14, 2025
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