Held during an unexpected power outage, this chat explored how a rapidly growing firm can optimize its collaboration with two leading U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories. Leaders from each organization discussed partnership strategies, current trends, and opportunities to drive innovation and economic growth in New Mexico and the region.
To open the fireside chat — a particularly appropriate name giving the power outage — Council on Competitiveness President and CEO Deborah L. Wince-Smith discussed how the nation is entering a new era of innovation and collaboration, particularly in quantum computing, a domain where New Mexico is growing as a national — and global — leader.
“The Council has a long standing role in the importance of America’s leadership in high performance computing. To out-compete is to out-compute.”
The Hon. Deborah L. Wince-Smith
President and CEO
Council on Competitiveness
Dr. Nash Palaniswamy, Chief Commercial Officer of Quantinuum, highlighted New Mexico as one of the most promising sites for quantum growth, citing its elite U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories and a strong talent pool from local universities as key factors in establishing the state as a hub for quantum technology innovation. Quantinuum, a leading commercial quantum computing company, partners closely with Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, two of the United States’ premier quantum research institutions. Together, these institutions are addressing major technical barriers to quantum computing — including improving algorithm efficiency, boosting qubit fidelity, and lowering error rates that limit broader application.
“What makes New Mexico great, from the perspective of a quantum company, is the research from Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories and the talent coming from the state’s universities.”
Dr. Avinash (Nash) Palaniswamy
Chief Commercial Officer
Quantinuum
However, the future success of the quantum industry hinges not only on advances in quantum hardware but equally on the development of practical, real-world applications that can leverage this emerging technology. Fields such as materials design and AI stand to benefit significantly from quantum computing’s unique capabilities. For example, quantum algorithms have the potential to simulate complex molecular interactions far more accurately than classical computers, accelerating breakthroughs in new materials and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Palaniswamy highlighted the convergence of quantum computing and artificial intelligence as particularly transformative. This intersection could revolutionize industries by enabling the creation of smarter, more efficient large language models and other AI systems that process and analyze data at unprecedented speed and scale. Such advancements would unlock new levels of performance in machine learning, natural language processing, and decision-making.
“When you get to point where you can hand certain pieces off, industry can take those parts and develop new practical applications which they can then hand back to the lab to further refine.”
Dr. Deborah Frincke
Associate Laboratories Director
National Security Programs
Sandia National Laboratories
To move these applications forward, New Mexico must foster an environment that supports both the development and deployment of quantum computing. As Dr. Thom Mason, Laboratory Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, explained, national security remains a key driver of quantum research at the DOE National Laboratories, but that alone will not be sufficient to scale the technology. Private-sector engagement is essential, especially from industries like finance, advanced manufacturing, and materials science, where quantum solutions could offer significant competitive advantages. However, achieving market traction requires infrastructure, coordination, and investment beyond what the laboratories alone can provide.
Bridging this gap between research and commercial viability depends on a broader ecosystem that actively connects laboratory innovation with industry application. Public-private partnerships play a central role in making that connection. As Dr. Deborah Frincke, Associate Laboratories Director for National Security Programs at Sandia, explained, these partnerships enable a continuous exchange of people, ideas, and applications. Quantum development often follows a cyclical process: research begins in the laboratories, moves to the private sector for application, and returns to the labs for further refinement. Sustaining this cycle depends on resilient partnerships that adapt to evolving federal priorities and funding environments.
“While we cannot and should not direct our funding in a way that favors one jurisdiction, the reality is that geography and relationships matter. It can be easier to do things face to face.”
Dr. Thom Mason
Laboratory Director
Los Alamos National Laboratory
In a world of shifting federal priorities, Dr. Mason discussed the importance of active state leadership in developing New Mexico’s quantum ecosystem. While the U.S. DOE National Laboratories are bound by mandates that require impartiality in funding decisions, states are not similarly restricted — they are free to pursue strategic investments that support regional economic development.New Mexico’s state leadership has the opportunity to capitalize on the region’s resources to ensure its quantum innovation ecosystem flourishes.
Bringing the fascinating discussion to a close, Ms. Wince-Smtih pointed out how, despite its research strength, New Mexico lags other states in startup formation and technology commercialization. However, the state has the opportunity to invest in the conditions that enable companies to grow — including capital access, entrepreneurial support, and workforce development — and thereby bridge the discovery-to-deployment gap and further strengthen its position as a leading quantum hub.
