Realist Lab presents CT Tech Week, happening June 1-5, 2026. A premier gathering for startups, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, and tech enthusiasts.
Centered on “Connecting Connecticut’s Innovators,” the statewide event features workshops, networking sessions, pitch competitions, and more.
Join us May 27-28th at Yale’s premier innovation event—where discovery meets capital, science meets startups, and partnerships spark real-world impact.
As the Northeast’s largest innovation event, the Yale Innovation Summit gathers the world’s brightest minds—visionaries, founders, investors, and industry leaders—for two transformational days of inspiration, investment, and impact.
More than a conference, the Summit is a launchpad for revolutionary ideas. With 60+ sessions across six tracks of programming—arts, biotech, civic, climate, health, and tech—attendees explore the frontiers of innovation shaping our world. Dynamic pitch competitions, world-class keynotes, and a powerful investor network converge to accelerate real change.
Hosted by Yale Ventures, the Summit is a flagship celebration of the university’s entrepreneurial spirit. It bridges research and real-world application, showcasing how Yale and its partners are catalyzing global impact through ideas that matter.
Preparing Connecticut’s Students for the Quantum Economy
An initiative to engage students from across Connecticut in business-, policy-, and law-focused discussions on a quantum-enabled economy, while offering opportunities to contribute to planning the state’s quantum future. Hosted by UConn in partnership with industry, university, and community organizations.
The Quantum UP! Challenge is open to all graduate and undergraduate university students. Students must register on a team of three or more to participate. Each team member must register individually and list the names of their teammates at the time of registration.
As Connecticut prepares to spotlight its growing role in the quantum economy, Dr. Christine Broadbridge helps listeners understand how the science of the very small is shaping very real opportunities for the state.
Appearing on Connecticut Public Radio’s “Where We Live” on Feb. 10, Broadbridge — professor of physics and executive director of research and innovation at Southern Connecticut State University and founding director of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology — described how “Quantum 2.0” is moving from theory to application.
The Talcott Mountain Research Institute (TMRI) Summer Program is a four-week immersion for high school students who are deeply curious about STEM and how ideas become knowledge — and how questions turn into discovery.
Set on the wooded mountain campus of Talcott Mountain Science Center, Academy, & Research Institute in Avon, Connecticut, the Summer Program brings together a small cohort of motivated students and exceptional Faculty Research Mentors: scientists, mathematicians, and engineers from colleges, universities, and research institutions who are
actively engaged in research.
TMRI seeks students ready for intellectual adventure. Those who leave do so with new skills, sharpened confidence, and a clear feeling of belonging within a STEM community of like-minded thinkers and explorers.
Localizing Impact: Communities and The Future
The all-day symposium brings together students, practitioners, policymakers, and private-sector leaders to discuss how localized action can drive national progress.
Spotlight Fireside Chat: QuantumCT
February 20, 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM
Join us for a discussion on Connecticut’s NSF-supported QuantumCT initiative and how state-level innovation ecosystems connect applied research, workforce development, and commercialization through strong university–government–industry collaboration.
Albert Green, President & CEO, QuantumCT
Garrett Sheehan, President, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce; Executive Director, Regional Leadership Council
An energizing conversation on how quantum technologies and AI are shaping new opportunities.
Connecticut’s innovation community is stepping into a new era of technological possibility — and quantum is rapidly becoming a defining part of that future. Join the Connecticut Entrepreneurs Forum and QuantumCT for an energizing conversation on how quantum technologies and AI are shaping new opportunities for startups, corporate innovation, and economic growth in our state.
Taking place at Connecticut Innovations in New Haven, this session brings together two leaders at the forefront of Connecticut’s emerging quantum economy:
Together, they will explore how quantum and AI are converging, what this means for entrepreneurs, and where the next investable opportunities are emerging.
5:00 PM – Reception and Networking
5:30 PM – Presentation
7:00 PM – Networking
Connecticut Innovations
District New Haven
470 James Street, Suite 8
New Haven, CT 06513
With over 50 years of experience, the United Nations International Computing Centre (UNICC) supports the digital transformation and future of international organizations, delivering scalable and innovative solutions through a shared services model. This approach empowers partners and clients to accelerate the adoption of required technologies to better serve global needs.
Join Yale University partners and global experts for the second session of the UNICC Quantum Webinar Series, highlighting the evolution and future of quantum technologies and their implications for the United Nations and international organizations.
Monday, January 12, 2026
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM EST
Agenda
Albert Green, President & CEO of QuantumCT, and Jodie Gillon, President & CEO of BioCT, explain how the sectors are growing side by side in Connecticut. Their shared message is clear: Innovation works best when ecosystems collide — academia, startups, government, talent, and industry moving together.
UConn’s Graduate Certificate in Quantum Science and Technology gives professionals a direct pathway to build the skills that will define this next era of innovation. 100% online, flexible, and faculty-connected. No prior quantum background required. Learn at your own pace with asynchronous lessons designed for busy STEM professionals.
Start Date: January 12, 2026
Program Fee: $2,000 total (pay-as-you-go)
Duration: 4 courses / 6 weeks each / ~3 hours per week
For Immediate Release
July 14, 2026 —
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced today that
Connecticut is one of twelve regions selected to receive an NSF Regional Innovation
Engines (NSF Engines) award, joining a portfolio of regional technology clusters that are
accelerating the development of critical technologies and building a durable U.S.
technology advantage.
The NSF Quantum Technologies Engine in Connecticut, led by the University of
Connecticut in partnership with Yale University, Southern CT State University, Connecticut
State Community College, ConnCORP, CT Innovations, and the State of Connecticut, aims
to advance American quantum innovation and secure the domestic quantum supply chain
by accelerating the commercialization of quantum technologies for national defense,
biotechnology, and financial services. Through innovation, applied research leading to new
technologies, support for inventors and entrepreneurs, and workforce development, the
NSF Quantum Technologies Engine will advance quantum sensing, secured
communications, computing, and materials through shared testbed, deep-tech incubator
and translation pathways.
“NSF Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform
America’s innovation infrastructure for decades to come,” says Brian Stone, performing the
duties of the NSF director. “The NSF Quantum Technologies Engine will advance the
Nation’s quantum innovation by accelerating the commercialization of quantum
technologies for national defense, biotechnology and financial services.”
The NSF Quantum Technologies Engine in Connecticut (the QuantumCT Engine) team will
initially receive a two-year, $15 million award. The funds will support the Engine’s
technology translation, workforce development, and incubator operations. The funds will
also facilitate industry and community engagement to deliver broad societal benefits. By
demonstrating sufficient progress, the QuantumCT Engine has the potential to receive
$160 million from NSF over the next decade.
The QuantumCT Engine will leverage world-leading research and innovation expertise from
UConn and Yale to pursue translational research to benefit industry, generate technology
ventures, and train the region’s workforce to enter a high-growth field. It will also deliver
technology acceleration and startup support services to drive public-private partnerships
and create a quantum ecosystem that generates economic growth.
Quantum technology industries are expected to grow to $200 billion by 2040, with the
potential to reshape sectors important to Connecticut and the country, including
aerospace, defense, drug development, manufacturing, and finance and insurance.
Connecticut companies that are adopting quantum technologies support over 270,000
jobs, accounting for 38% of wages in the state. They also are responsible for millions of
jobs and over $28.7 billion in GDP nationwide.
“Connecticut is the nation’s leading state for quantum technology adoption,” says Pamir
Alpay, UConn’s provost and the principal investigator on the NSF-funded proposal. “The
award recognizes our team’s success in establishing partnerships with industry to
accelerate quantum technologies and build a quantum-ready workforce.”
“This award application process was highly competitive, and it’s a huge win for
Connecticut,” says Gov. Ned Lamont. “Our pioneering research and advanced application
pipeline helped set us apart from the competition. Whereas other states may be theorizing
about quantum, we’re already applying it together with corporate partners across the state.
These federal funds, combined with state investment, will accelerate Connecticut’s
progress in quantum technology and help establish our state as a national and global
leader in this field—and we’re grateful for NSF’s support in getting us here. This investment
will help create good jobs and new opportunities for workers across the economy as
quantum’s impact grows.”
The NSF Engines program invests in regional ecosystems with the potential to drive
economic growth through technological innovation. The QuantumCT Engine proposal was
chosen for funding from a field of 15 finalists following a highly competitive national
selection process.
“As Connecticut’s flagship public university and the state’s land-grant institution, UConn
takes pride in its leadership role within the QuantumCT Engine. Our university is home to
more than 60 esteemed faculty members who are experts in the field of quantum science
and will collaborate with Yale researchers to drive innovative advancements and
groundbreaking discoveries in quantum research,” UConn President Radenka Maric says.
“Over the past three years, we have been working hand-in-hand with our academic, state,
industry, and community partners to position quantum technologies as a catalyst for
economic development that will fuel prosperity in our state and nation. It is crucial that
America take the lead in the global quantum race to safeguard national security, secure our
digital economy, and drive future economic growth. Furthermore, we must excel
internationally in quantum healthcare to deliver life-saving therapeutics and diagnostics. I
am grateful to Governor Lamont and Dan O’Keefe, the commissioner of the Department of
Economic and Community Development, for their grand vision for our state.”
The State of Connecticut has pledged $121 million to the QuantumCT Engine, comprising
$60 million already invested and an additional $60 million upon receiving the NSF award.
This state support will build a quantum incubator in New Haven, the Engine’s hub, among
other initiatives.
In 2023, NSF awarded the QuantumCT Engine team a $1 million NSF Engines Development
Award through UConn, which established the operational structure and built the
partnerships to drive the ecosystem. QuantumCT, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was
founded by UConn and Yale as part of the NSF Engine Development Award to support
applied research, help companies explore quantum applications, generate startups, and
prepare a skilled workforce.
Industry partners are key to the QuantumCT Engine’s success. Quantinuum and D-Wave
are partnering to develop quantum computing testbeds with QuantumCT that will be used
for experimentation and technology translation activities.
Quantum technology adopters – including RTX, Travelers, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer,
Amphenol, and Microsoft – have been working with the QuantumCT Engine team over the
past several years on applied research projects that bring quantum capabilities directly to
their product lines.
“With this transformative award, NSF has recognized the scale of the QuantumCT Engine’s
ambition and its potential to accelerate the quantum revolution for our state, region, and
the United States as a whole,” Yale University President Maurie McInnis says.
“I am so proud of this effort to develop real-world solutions that enrich our communities
and of the spirit of collaboration that it represents,” she adds. “Together with our partners at
UConn and across the state, we have been able to drive innovation and unleash economic
growth, while fulfilling Yale’s vital mission of research and education.”
Alongside industry partnerships and state support, sustained investments by UConn and
Yale have helped build the quantum ecosystem that this award will accelerate.
At Yale, this includes startups such as Quantum Circuits, co-founded by Robert Schoelkopf
and Michel Devoret — whose pioneering work in quantum computing earned him the 2025
Nobel Prize in Physics — and recently acquired by tech innovator D-Wave with plans to
double its workforce in New Haven.
Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) also plays a critical role as the QuantumCT
Engine’s workforce lead, with its QNT (CSCU Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology)
serving as the optimal coordinator based on its successes in leading educational initiatives
and strong alliances with industry, community stakeholders, and IHEs throughout
Connecticut.
Through longstanding technical and education collaborations with Yale, UConn, and the CT
State Community College System, the QNT is a conduit to all academic institutions in the
state and to small and medium businesses including those in advanced manufacturing,
biotech, photonics, and other supply chain sectors.
“Southern Connecticut State University is more than ready to take the lead on workforce
development in Connecticut’s quantum ecosystem,” says Sandra Bulmer, interim
president of the university. “We are proud to be part of Connecticut’s ‘research triangle,’
along with Yale and UConn, serving as the support for the talent pipeline. Our mission is
grounded in access and opportunity, and the workforce piece of this effort enables us to
open up new frontiers in research and innovation to countless students across
Connecticut.”
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