Quantum company IonQ opens R&D lab in Boulder

BOULDER — Quantum computing company IonQ Inc. (NYSE: IONQ) opened a new laboratory suite Tuesday in Boulder with Gov. Jared Polis and state officials in attendance.

IonQ, based in College Park, Maryland, expects to create dozens of net new jobs in the high-paying deep-tech space, including quantum scientists, system engineers and operations managers. The 22,000 square feet of laboratories will occupy two floors in Boulder 38, a 9.3-acre Class A research and innovation campus developed by Breakthrough Properties at 1685 38th St.

“Colorado is a quantum hub, and we are only growing,” Polis said. “The selection of Boulder as IonQ’s North American expansion is proof of Colorado’s strong and growing quantum economy, and will bring more high-paying skilled jobs to the region and attract more businesses to Colorado.”

The company builds trapped-ion quantum computers using electronics instead of lasers, enabling mass manufacturability via the standard semiconductor supply chain. The new facility, which is projected to have its first quantum computer fully installed by the third quarter of this year, will enable IonQ to design, test and iterate new generations of its semiconductor ion trap chips. With the work in Boulder, IonQ expects to innovate and increase the technological sophistication and performance of its trapped-ion chips and of the quantum computers they power as the company scales.

“Quantum is now,” Niccolo de Masi, IonQ chairman and CEO, said in a prepared statement in advance of the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “IonQ is delivering today on the promise of using our advanced quantum technologies to solve the world’s most complex problems, aiding communities and businesses in everything from improving lives with faster pharmaceutical development, to enhancing reliability of infrastructure and optimizing manufacturing processes.

“IonQ is proud to partner with Gov. Polis, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and the city of Boulder to continue to drive Colorado’s reputation as a leader in quantum innovation,” he said. “We’re deeply appreciative of the support Colorado has demonstrated in helping bring our new R&D labs here, and excited to tap into its highly skilled workforce as we continue to grow.”

“The world is at a quantum inflection point, and Colorado companies are leading the way developing and commercializing these transformative new technologies,” said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT executive director. “We are thrilled that IonQ is part of this movement, strengthening our state’s quantum ecosystem while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and creating good-paying jobs for Coloradans.”

To support the company’s expansion in Colorado, the Colorado Economic Development Commission approved a performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit for the company over an eight-year period. The EDC also approved IonQ for Colorado Refundable Tax Credits and the company will earn additional credits through the Boulder CHIPS Zone, established by the EDC in November 2025. These incentives are contingent upon IonQ, referred to as Project Electron and Project Neon throughout the OEDIT review process, meeting net new job creation and salary requirements.

“IonQ’s decision to locate this facility in Boulder reflects the city’s commitment to building the infrastructure and innovation ecosystem needed to support emerging industries like quantum technology,” said Boulder mayor Aaron Brockett. “Through city and state incentives and initiatives like the CHIPS Zone Program, we are continuing to build on the conditions that make Boulder an ideal place for innovative companies to thrive. This milestone also highlights the strength of Boulder’s collaborative ecosystem, where universities, government, industry and economic development partners work together to advance our community as a global hub for innovation.”

IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

Besides its new Colorado location, IonQ has operations in California, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada and the United Kingdom. Its quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers.

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