Our home state’s not just a playground for nature-lovers and a hotspot for craft beer; it’s also an epicenter for quantum technology.
But what is “quantum,” anyway? And how did it become such a big deal for Colorado and—zooming in—for us at Vermilion?
Quantum who?
Without getting too technical, quantum mechanics describes the physics of nature’s tiniest particles. These particles go a little crazy: they’ve got characteristics of both matter and energetic waves, which, among many other things, gives them the unique ability to power quantum computers that process information at never-before-seen speeds.
Harnessed by the right people with the right resources, quantum technology is creating solutions to some of humanity’s trickiest problems, like global warming and cancer.
So how do we make sure it’s harnessed by the right people with the right resources? Like a lot of things at Vermilion, it starts with a solid brand.
Introducing Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI)
To fill the gap between “what if” and “we’ve done it,” the need for research, innovation, and collaboration in this field is imperative. That’s why CU Boulder’s CUbit Quantum Initiative, a cross-disciplinary hub pulling together talent and ideas for the next wave of quantum progress, established COQI.
And our client, Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI), gave us a front-row seat to the possibilities of Colorado’s quantum future when they tapped us to help develop their brand.
Formed in partnership with Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, and Elevate Quantum (a coalition of 120 quantum organizations), COQI’s translates Colorado’s transformative quantum research into real-world innovations and businesses.
Because while the promise of quantum tech is huge, so is the price of entry. The cost of hardware in this field is extraordinary (imagine: dilution refrigerators for cooling quantum computers to near absolute zero), and sharing resources is critical for meaningful progress.
COQI closes these gaps, enabling quantum researchers to access both the hardware and the shared knowledge they need to break through. COQI’s 13,000 sq. ft. facility is now up and running in BioMed Realty’s Flatiron Park in Boulder.
To unleash the full potential of a space that makes transformative quantum technologies possible, they needed one more essential tool: a brand to build their reputation, communicate their legitimacy, and make the COQI name memorable.
The public face of a world-changing technology
The first step of our work with COQI was for everyone at Vermilion to get honorary PhDs in quantum physics.
Okay, not quite. But we did learn a lot about the field, through stakeholder interviews and plenty of research, so we could step into this work with our science hats on. Our charge? Develop a brand that communicates COQI’s future-defining position in a way that’s both tangible and inviting, without shying away from the massive scale of their potential impact.
We started internally, with a strategic brand foundation that defines COQI’s positioning and personality, and their Purpose, Mission, Vision, and Values.
For a company so uniquely poised to shape the future, this wasn’t the place to go small. We imagined guiding principles for COQI around big concepts like taking care with humanity’s next chapter and believing in the limitless potential of their work.
Then we looked externally. How should a brand identity system that plays such a unique role in Colorado show up?
The team at COQI was clear that they wanted this brand to communicate not only their technological prowess but also their dedication to community and to advancing this field for the collective good.
We arrived at a logo and visual brand identity system that’s strengthened by the collective energy of many and unafraid of pushing the next frontier. Under the tagline Human Driven. Quantum Powered, COQI’s new brand invites the right people to come and use the right resources to move our quantum future forward.
It’s been a creative joy and a rewarding learning experience to develop COQI’s brand as they rise to their critical role in Colorado’s quantum marketplace. And we’re already busy extending that brand into the world through extensions like interior building design, a website, and more.
With their brand in place, COQI has hit the ground running: their space already hosts innovators like Quantum Rings, experts in quantum software, and OEwaves, who craft full-scale laser suites for quantum science. Startups here get what they need to turn quantum dreams into reality.
Colorado’s quantum history
Although the first of its caliber, COQI represents not the first (or second, or even third) time Colorado has played a starring role in the growing quantum sector.
Let’s roll back to the 1950s: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) established a quantum laboratory in Boulder. That laid the groundwork for NIST’s 1962 partnership with the University of Colorado, launching the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA).
Between 2011 and 2012, the discoveries made at CU Boulder over the years and other Colorado institutes earned four scientists Nobel Prizes in quantum science (roughly half of all Nobel Prizes in quantum), solidifying Boulder as a hub for quantum technology.
Fast forward to 2023: The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) designated COQI partner Elevate Quantum as an official TechHub for quantum technology and invested more than $120 million in funding.
And then 2024 delivered back-to-back wins:
- The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $20 million National Quantum Nanofab (NQN) facility to be constructed on the CU Boulder campus. Once complete in mid-2028, NQN will serve as an open-access national facility for academic, government, and industrial users to accelerate game-changing quantum devices for labs and industry alike.
- The state legislature passed House Bill 1325 to encourage economic growth in the quantum sector. The law is projected to create over 10,000 quantum-related jobs in Colorado within the next decade.
- Colorado was awarded a $40.5 million federal quantum technology grant to become a worldwide hub, unlocking $74 million in state tax credits.
Whew! Still with us? Given all that, it’s unsurprising that Colorado leads the U.S. in the number of quantum organizations, companies, and jobs.
But there’s one quantum organization that, in our (totally unbiased) hearts, rises above the rest. One with a new brand to give it the best face as it looks to the future.
We’re so proud to have helped COQI, a cornerstone of Colorado’s vibrant quantum ecosystem, open its doors for game-changing breakthroughs.
