DARPA, State of New Mexico Establish Framework to Advance Quantum Computing

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

As part of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), DARPA signed an agreement with the State of New Mexico’s Economic Development Department to create the Quantum Frontier Project. This effort focuses on furthering quantum computing technology aligned with DARPA’s mission to create strategic surprise as well as advance economic, industrial, and scientific value of national security importance.

QBI, which kicked off in July 2024, aims to determine whether it’s possible to build a useful computer much faster than conventional predictions. Specifically, QBI is designed to rigorously verify and validate whether any quantum computing approach can achieve utility-scale operation — meaning its computational value exceeds its cost — by the year 2033.

“New Mexico is the latest state to enter into partnership on QBI, and we are eager to leverage new facilities and expertise as we test and evaluate claims from a number of quantum computing companies about their progress in building a useful quantum computer,” said Joe Altepeter, QBI program manager. “World-class national laboratories in New Mexico, such as Sandia and Los Alamos, are already a part of QBI’s independent verification and validation team, and we look forward through the Quantum Frontier Project to tapping into more of the state’s quantum R&D and testing infrastructure to help us determine whether quantum computers will work or not.”

The agreement does not establish or require specific funding levels for either DARPA or the State of Mexico. DARPA and New Mexico have agreed, depending on results achieved, to provide matching contributions of up to $60 million each over a four-year period. The funding will be applied to efforts that directly support QBI and the Quantum Frontier Project.

“Quantum computing may prove to be the most consequential technology of this century — for national security, for breakthrough innovations, and perhaps most importantly, for avoiding strategic surprise,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “New Mexico, having once pioneered applied physics, is excited to partner with DARPA on the QBI program to stay at the forefront of frontier technology and bring our world-class research, development, and entrepreneurial ecosystem into the fold.”

The DARPA-New Mexico Quantum Frontier Project follows similar QBI agreements signed with the State of Illinois (the Quantum Proving Ground) and the State of Maryland (the Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub). DARPA is open to partnering with any State on quantum computing, if:

• That State has already launched and funded an effort related to quantum computing
• The specific nature of the State effort has the potential to directly contribute to goals of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative