Diraq to Establish Quantum R&D Lab in New Mexico

Diraq Expands Quantum Footprint with New R&D Lab in Albuquerque

In a move that underscores New Mexico’s growing reputation as a quantum hub, Diraq announced plans to open a dedicated research and development laboratory at the Roadrunner Quantum Lab (RQL) in Albuquerque. The facility, slated to become operational by year‑end 2026, will house cryogenic equipment and a measurement‑engineering team focused on silicon spin‑qubit testing and characterization.

Why Albuquerque? The State’s Quantum Ecosystem

New Mexico’s partnership with DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) and the state’s matching funds have created a fertile environment for quantum companies. The Roadrunner Quantum Lab, a joint venture between Roadrunner Venture Studios and the New Mexico Technology and Innovation Office (TIO), offers shared space, advanced cryogenic infrastructure, and a collaborative atmosphere for startups, industry partners, and national labs.

Diraq’s founder and CEO, Andrew Dzurak, highlighted the alignment between RQL’s commercialization focus and Diraq’s mission: “We’re building quantum processors based on silicon because that’s the most economical and scalable way to reach the many millions of qubits that our customers will require.” The state’s investment signals confidence in silicon‑based approaches and provides the necessary support to accelerate progress toward utility‑scale quantum computing.

Building a Silicon Spin‑Qubit Powerhouse

Diraq’s core technology centers on silicon spin qubits fabricated with CMOS‑compatible processes. By leveraging the semiconductor industry’s established manufacturing ecosystem, the company aims to integrate millions of qubits on a single chip while keeping costs and power consumption within data‑center budgets.

Key milestones include:

• 150,000 physical qubits on a single chip by 2029.
• Over 2 million qubits on a chip by 2031.

The new Albuquerque lab will support these targets by providing a dedicated measurement engineering team. This team will conduct device characterization, error‑rate analysis, and process‑optimization studies—critical steps for scaling up qubit counts and improving coherence times.

Complementing Existing U.S. Operations

Diraq already maintains R&D centers in Palo Alto, Chicago, and Los Angeles, as well as research hubs in Australia. The Albuquerque lab will complement these sites by adding a U.S.‑based, cryogenic‑focused capability that can collaborate closely with the Roadrunner Quantum Lab’s broader ecosystem.

TIO Director Nora Meyers Sackett noted, “New Mexico has the talent, the labs, and the infrastructure quantum companies need to go from research to real‑world scale.” Meanwhile, RQL Director David Kistin emphasized the collaborative potential: “Diraq’s measurement engineering team will add another technical dimension to the work taking place at RQL and create new opportunities for collaboration.”

Looking Ahead

With the Albuquerque lab set to open by the end of 2026, Diraq is positioning itself at the forefront of silicon‑based quantum computing. The facility will not only accelerate the company’s own roadmap but also contribute to New Mexico’s emerging quantum ecosystem, attracting further talent and investment.

As the quantum industry moves toward practical, utility‑scale systems, Diraq’s expansion demonstrates how strategic partnerships between startups, state agencies, and shared research facilities can bridge the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and real‑world applications.

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TL;DR: Diraq will open a silicon‑spin‑qubit R&D lab at Albuquerque’s Roadrunner Quantum Lab by end‑2026, adding cryogenic equipment and a measurement team to accelerate its push toward utility‑scale quantum computing.