Photon Queue Wins $500,000 Grant to Establish Quantum Technology Presence in New Mexico​

Grant Award: Photon Queue secures $500,000 non-dilutive funding to open operations in New Mexico.Technology Focus: Free-space optical quantum memories that operate without cryogenics or vacuum systems.Ecosystem Fit: Supports New Mexico’s expanding quantum hardware cluster around national laboratories.Photon Queue, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign spinout developing free-space quantum memories, has been awarded a $500,000 (€460,000) grant to establish a formal quantum technology presence in New Mexico. The funding, announced via BusinessWire on 14 July 2026, enables the company to expand operations, hire local talent, and deepen collaboration with the state’s national laboratories and research institutions.Photon Queue’s devices store photonic qubits in compact free-space optical loops and reflection cells rather than converting them into other physical systems. The approach requires only a standard wall outlet, eliminates cryogenics, ovens, and vacuum infrastructure, and delivers bandwidth exceeding 1 THz with end-to-end fidelity above 0.99 and noise below 10⁻⁴ photons per pulse. Compatible with pulse durations from 100 fs and wavelengths from 350–2000 nm, the memories support multi-mode operation for quantum networking, photonic computing synchronization, and sensing. The underlying technology originated in the laboratory of Paul Kwiat at the University of Illinois and has already resulted in early commercial deliveries, including units supplied to Sandia National Laboratories.The grant aligns with New Mexico’s multi-year strategy to attract quantum hardware companies through the New Mexico Economic Development Department Quantum Technologies Award program and related initiatives that have already drawn firms such as Quantinuum, QuEra Computing, and Mesa Quantum. Photon Queue will use the funds to establish a physical presence, recruit staff, and expand joint work with Sandia and other regional partners already engaged through prior customer deliveries and IEEE Quantum Week activities in Albuquerque. The move positions the company’s practical, room-temperature photon-storage hardware within a growing cluster that includes Elevate Quantum, the New Mexico Quantum Venture Studio, and national-laboratory testbeds.Photon Queue’s $500,000 grant accelerates deployment of its free-space quantum memories inside New Mexico’s expanding national-laboratory ecosystem.Find out more here.—Further articles, reports, and the latest quantum computing news may be found at The Qubit Report.BosonQ Psi Federal LLC has received its first U.S. federal contract through the SpaceWERX Open Topic SBIR program. The award supports development of Physics-Constrained Quantum-Assisted The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative has launched TN QuantumWorks, a comprehensive K-12 quantum technology and career awareness program developed by Thinking Media. Piloted in Hamilton County QTREX Quantum Ltd. (Nasdaq: QTEX) has secured a commercial purchase order from a leading international government-owned company for customized proprietary Shielded RF Monolithic components. The Sign up to receive our newsletter and other reports.We keep your data private and share your data only with third parties that make this service possible. Read our privacy policy for more info.Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Our MissionContact UsPrivacy PolicyWebsite Terms of UseCopyright 2017-2026 | The Qubit Report | All Rights Reserved