SALT LAKE CITY — The Nucleus Institute, in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), announced the launch of the Utah Quantum Initiative — a statewide effort to assess Utah’s quantum technology landscape, identify critical gaps, and develop a coordinated roadmap for establishing Utah as a national leader in quantum science and quantum-enabled industry.
As its first act, the Nucleus Institute has convened a cross-sector working group drawing from Utah’s research universities, business, defense partners, and state and federal government stakeholders. The group’s charge is direct: examine where Utah stands, where it falls short, and what measurable steps in investment, policy, and legislative action is required to close the gap.
“The Nucleus Institute Exists precisely for moments like this. Quantum technology is advancing faster than any single sector can respond alone. Our role is to bring the right people to the table, surface the honest gaps, and turn alignment into a plan that keeps us ahead, not catching up.” — Jefferson Moss, CEO of Nucleus
The aim of the working group is to produce a formal quantum strategy, including specific policy recommendations and potential legislative funding priorities to be presented to the Governor and the Utah Legislature. Areas of focus are expected to include university research capacity, workforce development pipeline, commercialization infrastructure, and Utah’s positioning within federal quantum programs and defense procurement.
“The Nucleus Institute is built to drive exactly this kind of coordination. Utah’s ability to align government, higher education, and industry faster than any other state is our edge — and quantum technology is where we need to use it.” — Governor Spencer Cox
Utah’s Quantum Initiative builds on Utah’s existing strengths: nationally recognized research programs across the University of Utah, Utah State University, BYU, and UVU; a defense technology corridor at Hill Air Force Base; and a startup community with proven deep-tech commercialization capacity. The convening process will begin this spring, with strategy development targeting completion ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
About The Nucleus Institute
The Nucleus Institute, powered by the Utah System of Higher Education and in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, is Utah’s statewide innovation organization, connecting universities, industry, government, and global partners to accelerate economic growth and position Utah as a leader in science, technology, and entrepreneurship. Learn more at nucleusutah.org.