Google is expanding its quantum effort by hiring Boulder-based quantum physicist Adam Kaufman to lead a new neutral-atom quantum computer team in Colorado.

Kaufman will establish a Colorado lab and recruit about 10 hardware specialists to push neutral-atom quantum computing, complementing Google’s existing superconducting-qubit program.

The Boulder–Denver region is emerging as a quantum hub, buoyed by federal support for NIST, collaboration with CU Boulder, and a cluster of quantum companies like Quantinuum, Atom Computing, and Infleqtion.

Chou notes Kaufman will stay connected with JILA and CU Boulder to bridge research and commercial product development, with potential lab space in CU facilities or Google’s Boulder office.

This marks Google Quantum AI’s first dedicated quantum presence in Colorado, leveraging regional institutions such as JILA, NIST, and CU Boulder.

Observers see the Boulder region as a promising ecosystem for quantum talent and startups, reinforcing Colorado’s role in the evolving quantum landscape.

Google is pursuing both superconducting and neutral-atom quantum technologies to accelerate development and bring quantum capabilities to market more quickly.