Gillibrand Tours Innovare Advancement Center Ahead Of Quantam Lab Ribbon Cutting; Innovare Opening Puts New York At The Epicenter Of Quantum Research

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited the Innovare Advancement Center ahead of the ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Colonel Timothy J. Lawrence Quantum Laboratory. Senator Gillibrand has been especially supportive of Rome Lab's quantum computing research in recent years, helping secure millions of dollars that helped fund the Quantum Information Science Innovation Center, also known as the Innovare Advancement Center, which opened in 2020. Innovare is an "open campus" where researchers from the Air Force, Department of Defense (DOD), government, industry, small business community, and academia collaborate to solve different computing problems using quantum-computing technology, making it a leader in this emerging field.

This visit comes shortly after Gillibrand announced the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) recent designation as the Quantum Information Science Research Center for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. In addition to the designation, Rome Lab was awarded $8 million to conduct research and development in quantum information science at Innovare. Together, these two institutions mark a new frontier in quantum research and will solidify New York as a leader in cutting-edge cybersecurity research, cyber-defense, quantum, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

"This groundbreaking lab at the Innovare Advancement Center is a true success story and it was an honor visiting the innovators who represent the best of New York ingenuity," said Senator Gillibrand. "For years I have fought for this community and industry as part of my steadfast commitment to making America a worldwide leader in technological innovation and cybersecurity infrastructure. The opening of this lab will bring competitive jobs to the Mohawk Valley and solidify New York's legacy as an epicenter of quantum research."

Gillibrand has also long supported and pushed for significant federal investments in both Innovare and Rome Lab. In 2020, Gillibrand helped secure $10 million in funding to support Innovare's mission of building a magnetic ecosystem in which the world's leading scientific and entrepreneurial talent can tackle the nation's greatest challenges to national security and economic competitiveness.

Gillibrand helped secure an additional $268 million in funding for the AFRL in Rome for FY21, amounting to more than $37 million above President Trump's budget request. The AFRL in Rome is the DoD's premier research organization for discovery, development and delivery of warfighting technologies for air, space and cyberspace forces. Its recent designation will keep the lab at the forefront of the military's quantum, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and cutting-edge cybersecurity research. Rome Lab is also a source of growth for the regional economy and a major source of employment. According to the U.S. Air Force's 2020 economic impact analysis, Rome Lab employed over 1,200 workers with an annual payroll of $150 million and generated over $500 million in regional economic activity.

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