New York State is rapidly becoming a hotbed for innovation in quantum computing and space technology. Projects like the IBM Quantum System One at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are highlighting New York’s capabilities and investment to a global audience, while researchers across the NYSTAR network lead groundbreaking efforts to push the boundaries of these transformative technologies.
From enhancing the manufacturing processes for quantum components to developing new solutions for space exploration, New York’s academic and industrial collaborations are driving real progress in the field. These advancements are aimed not only at accelerating the development of quantum computers, but also at ensuring these technologies can seamlessly integrate with existing systems, benefit industries across sectors, and train the next generation of quantum computer scientists and space technology researchers.
Here’s a look at just some of the exciting work being done throughout the NYSTAR network:
Driving Quantum Tech Innovation
Researchers across the NYSTAR network are exploring ways to make it easier for companies to develop their quantum technologies and for those technologies to connect with each other.
Robust work is being done with qubits—the main building block for quantum computers. Producing qubits in larger quantities has been a challenge, so one of those projects is examining ways to make qubits on a larger silicon wafer, which would allow more qubits to be produced at once. This can introduce issues with the stability of the qubits, so researchers at Albany-based NY CREATES, with the help of new tools funded by the Center for Advanced Technology in Nanomaterials and Nanoelectronics (CATN2), are working on improving the process of making these qubits on larger wafers. The end goal is to provide this new technology to New York companies as they create their quantum circuits.
Down the I-90, the Rochester Institute of Technology was awarded $3.97 million from the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH) to advance quantum chip technologies. The project is focused on making quantum systems stronger and more powerful by connecting them together using entangled photons (light particles).
Meanwhile, Dr. German Kolmakov, chair of the Physics department at New York City College of Technology, and Shaina Raklyar, a former doctoral student at the school, are developing a new technology called “quantum interconnect” that allows traditional internet connections to link up with quantum computers. After participating in the National Science Foundation I-Corps Hub through the NYC Innovation Hot Spot, they were able to develop a product from their technology, forming the company NextGen Quantum to help tech companies and data centers work faster and use less energy.
Building the Moon’s Infrastructure
The moon has long captured creative and scientific imagination, and New York State is helping to lead the way in the future of space exploration.
At Alfred University, the Center for Advanced Ceramic Technology (CACT) is a lead partner in the creation of the Space Materials Institute (SMI), currently working with Blue Star Manufacturing, a small materials-science company located in Allegany County, with ongoing NASA-funded programing. The project is creating new technology called “top-down microwave sintering” to heat and harden dust and rocks found on the moon. The technology is used to create strong surfaces, like durable landing pads, with resources found on the moon. Building essential infrastructure with material found on the moon will make it easier and cheaper to explore space.
At Brookhaven National Laboratory, another NASA-led project is underway. LuSEE-Night is a mission to land a sensitive radio spectrometer on the far side of the Moon, where the radio-quiet environment will enable searches for cosmic signals that are impossible to observe from Earth or Earth-orbiting satellites. Brookhaven Lab is responsible for several of the main electronic modules of the spectrometer, and in September completed the fabrication, testing, and delivery of the flight. The next steps will be to complete and test the onboard flight software, assemble the flight configuration, and begin the extensive environmental tests prior to integration with the spacecraft in preparation for the late-2025 launch.
Building the Next Gen Workforce
From bridging educational gaps to collegiate hackathons and the hiring of world-class faculty, New York is not only investing in technology development but is also helping students gain the skills and experience necessary to be the future leaders in the quantum and space technology fields.
The Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR) co-founded the New York Consortium for Space Technology (NYCST), which focuses on driving growth in education, space technology, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain development. The consortium awarded $100,000 to the non-profit Science Buddies to develop hands-on explorations and career discovery activities for students in kindergarten through 12th grade to support the STEM talent pipeline needed to grow the space industry workforce.
While the high school pipeline develops, the Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center (ETIC) at Long Island’s New York Institute of Technology found that students who learned traditional and classic computer science skills needed an educational bridge to learn the different concepts and skills required for quantum computing. Based on the work of Shwetha Jayaraj, who created an end-to-end transitional program to quickly bring traditional computer scientists into the world of quantum computing for her thesis, ETIC launched a quantum training program for students and entrepreneurs, including an upcoming video seminar on its YouTube channel (@NYITETIC).
Putting skills into action, nearly 700 students across three campuses (NYU Tandon School of Engineering, City College of New York, and Columbia University) participated in the NYC HAQ Hackathon this past September. After completing a rigorous week of online training hosted by QWorld, 60 selected students formed 10 teams for the competition. During the opening weekend, held at City College and Columbia, participants tackled challenges in cryptography, finance, and health presented by SandboxAQ, qBraid, and DoraHacks, using quantum computing to address these problems. The event culminated at NYU Tandon with a final showcase where the winning team earned an all-expenses-paid invitation to the 2025 NYU Abu Dhabi Quantum Hackathon.
Meanwhile, New York-based universities continue to attract the best minds in the world. In October, Syracuse University announced that Dr. Alexander Maloney, an international leader in quantum information science, joined the College of Arts and Sciences as the inaugural Kathy and Stan Walters Endowed Professor of Quantum Science. At Syracuse, Maloney will work with four new researchers—now being recruited by the University with support from Invest Syracuse and Empire State Development—who will grow curricula and research in quantum science, providing opportunities for students to advance understanding of nature and design the next generation of quantum technologies.
Creating More Efficient Infrastructures
Researchers and companies are utilizing quantum and space technologies to solve a variety of real-world challenges, including optimizing heating and cooling systems for buildings, integrating communication networks, and improving radar sensor technology.
A major source of both electricity usage and greenhouse gas emissions in the United States is HVAC systems for residential and commercial buildings. Researchers at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE) developed a quantum computing method for model predictive control of a rooftop HVAC unit. Compared with traditional approaches, quantum computing solutions resulted in significant energy savings and reductions in electricity usage. The study was published in the academic journal Applied Energy in March 2023.
Following its acquisition of satellite TV provider DirecTV, AT&T wanted to explore if satellite dish receiver costs for subscribers could be reduced by using ground-based networks.
The Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT) worked with AT&T to quantify the savings using a novel approach that led to a patent. The work showed that a cost-efficient wireless framework for delivering live TV services—consisting of a mix of wireless access technologies—requires 75–90% fewer satellite dish receivers, compared to traditional structures.
The Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC) Sensor CAT has been working with Astrabeam, LLC on a new type of radar sensor that works at a very high frequency which can be used for a variety of purposes involving wireless sensing such as weather monitoring from space satellites, industrial safety, building security and automation, in-vehicle passenger monitoring, and vital sign detection for healthcare. Astrabeam has been working with the CUNY-ASRC Sensor CAT program on several projects since 2023, including developing new material that helps improve the radar sensor’s performance and to creating a prototype of a CubeSat, a small satellite for space deployment.
Driving Industry Connections
Throughout the year, events across the state provide opportunities for researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and funders to meet. The introductions lead to collaborations and are a hallmark of the power of the NYSTAR network.
Seeqc is a Westchester-based quantum company which works with the Hudson Valley Venture Hub, exhibited and gave a talk at the Quantum for International (Q4I) Workshop at Griffiss Institute in June. Oleg A. Mukhanov, Seeqc CTO and company founder, presented at the event’s Quantum Alley and was invited to participate in international trade missions by Global NY.
August featured “Future of Air & Space,” produced by Upstate Capital, in partnership with GENIUS NY and the Griffiss Institute, to highlight innovation in uncrewed systems, dual-use and enabling technologies in Upstate New York. This annual event provides visibility and access to key Upstate New York assets to a national audience of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals active in aerospace, defense, uncrewed systems, robotics, and enabling technologies.
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