Quantum Funding: New York Puts $300 Million into Stony Brook
Statewide study places New York second nationally in quantum metrics, supporting a new hub at Stony Brook and four regional centers.
By Kevin Iyer ·
New York State has committed $300 million to build a quantum research hub at Stony Brook University. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding plan on October 23, citing a new study that ranks the state second in the nation for quantum activity. The investment anchors a statewide strategy to expand research, commercialization, and job creation in the sector.
The study, commissioned by Empire State Development, maps the state’s quantum infrastructure. It identified 134 operating entities, 219 research groups, and 734 patent families across ten regions. These figures place New York behind only California in all three categories. The report also notes that New York is one of just two states with capabilities spanning the entire value chain, from fundamental research to commercial applications.
The total state investment in this initiative is $360 million. Beyond the $300 million allocated to Stony Brook’s Quantum Research and Innovation Hub, $60 million will establish up to four Regional Quantum Technology Commercialization Hubs. Governor Hochul said the state’s manufacturing capabilities and research institutions provide the tools to lead this industry. She stated that the funding aims to bring new technologies to market and attract private investment.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said the university is moving the state forward with support from state leaders. He noted that Stony Brook, along with SUNY centers at Buffalo, Binghamton, and Albany, is leading in quantum research. The hub at Stony Brook will connect academic researchers, startups, established companies, and government partners. It builds on the university’s existing expertise in quantum information science and networking, with applications in secure communications and health care.
The study projects that the $360 million investment could generate between $2.3 billion and $5 billion in economic activity by 2036. It estimates the initiative will support between 7,200 and 10,100 job-years during that period. Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation, known as NYSTAR, partners with Stony Brook to fund key research centers. NYSTAR programs at the university already include the Center for Biotechnology and the Center for Grid Innovation Development and Deployment.
