Montana Photonics & Quantum Alliance

Rigetti Computing has raised $100 million through its equity offering. The funds will support working capital, capital expenditures, and innovation in improving 2-qubit gate fidelity and scaling qubit count. CEO Dr. Subodh Kulkarni emphasized the rising demand for on-premises quantum systems from national labs and academia, with industry adoption expected to grow alongside evolving applications. With gate speeds of 60-80ns—among the fastest in the field—Rigetti is positioned to lead quantum breakthroughs, with funding to sustain operations through 2026. https://lnkd.in/eC8vwGdE #QuantumComputing #Innovation #DeepTech #SuperconductingQubits

October 30, we will be in Butte on the campus of Montana Technological University to discuss funding technology innovation through America's Seed Fund the #SBIR and #STTR programs. Space is limited so save your spot today: https://lnkd.in/gNQQpYMW #Montana #Innovation #Partnership #seedfunding #startup

?? Myth: "Manufacturing jobs are boring and repetitive." ?? ?? Fact: Today’s advanced manufacturing careers are anything but! These roles combine problem-solving, creativity, and high-tech tools like 3D printers, AI, and robotics. Each day brings new challenges and collaborative opportunities, where critical thinking and innovation are key. ???? As technology drives manufacturing forward, modern roles demand hands-on creativity and cutting-edge skills. Manufacturing careers offer dynamic environments where you’re not just working on projects – you're shaping the future. #MythBustingTuesday #InnovationAtWork #AdvancedManufacturing #CreativeCareers #ManufacturingMonth #SPFstem

Recently, analytical chemists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory were the first to simultaneously detect fluorine and uranium isotopes in a single particle. Fluorine is essential for converting uranium into a form suitable for enrichment. The first technique to spot the fluorine is with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, or LIBS. The LIBS systems are produced by MPQA member Elemental Scientific Lasers, located in Bozeman, Montana. If you would like to read more about LIBS and the findings from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, please refer to the link below. https://lnkd.in/euBYeBQe

?? Exciting News! ?? I'm proud to share that Lumibird has signed an agreement to acquire the Continuum product range from the Amplitude Laser Group! This strategic acquisition is a significant step forward in aligning our product portfolio synergies and enhancing our market presence. By integrating Continuum’s renowned laser technology with Lumibird’s existing offerings, we’re poised to deliver even more innovative solutions to our customers. This acquisition allows us to: ?? Expand our market reach into new sectors and regions. ?? Strengthen our product portfolio with complementary technologies, maximizing performance across applications. ?? Enhance the customer experience by offering a broader range of laser solutions. ?? Drive growth through innovation, providing exciting opportunities for development in both established and emerging markets. I’m excited about the growth potential this acquisition represents, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for our team, customers, and the industry at large. #Innovation #Growth #Acquisition #Lumibird #LaserTechnology #CustomerExcellence

This afternoon, Montana State Workforce Innovation Board (SWIB) Chair Paul Hopfauf and fellow board member Jason Yager will be speaking with a group of government officials and higher education professionals from Vietnam in the Montana State Capital Building. This is a wonderful opportunity for Montana to discuss their collaborative efforts with industry leaders, labor representatives, the public sector, and other partners to promote ongoing economic success throughout Montana with this group of government officials and higher education professionals from Vietnam. This opportunity was made possible through the U.S. Department of State’s Community College Administrator Program, the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, and The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana. #Mtbiz,#workforce, #innovation, #advancemanufacuting, #semiconductors

On Monday, we had a fantastic visit with VACOM; throughout this visit, all participants had the opportunity to learn something new. Strong working relationships within the quantum and photonics community are a key advantage for Montana, and Monday was an excellent example of this with Quantum Coax, Montana Instruments, PHIX Photonics Assembly, the Innovation Campus, MSU QCORE, and the Montana Microfabrication Facility all being a part of this visit. Thank you for everyone that joined.

PHIX is proud to provide free packaging and assembly services to the winner of PhotonDelta's Global Photonics Engineering Contest and take a seat in the jury. We're eager to support your breakthrough #innovation that pushes the boundaries of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology to tackle complex engineering and societal challenges! ? How to enter: https://lnkd.in/eAbsu4EV #engineeringchallenge #photonics #chiptechnology

Earlier this month, Jason Yager, the executive director of MPQA, helped organize a panel of speakers for the Montana Afterschool Alliance Statewide Call, which focused on the advanced manufacturing and computing workforce. The panel featured Dani Buehler from Accelerate Montana, who shared exciting news about the new Rapid Development Electro-Optic Assembly Technician program, set to launch this November. Suzi Taylor from Montana State University-Bozeman discussed the importance of STEM education and the development of the Montana Quantum community. Tim VanReken celebrated the recent $41 million award from the EDA through the Tech Hub Program, which is focused on advanced photonics sensors used in real-world applications such as forestry and agriculture. Thank you to the Montana Afterschool Alliance for the opportunity to discuss the promising STEM careers that are paving the way for the future of Montana. In case you missed it, here is the link to the YouTube video, where you can learn more about Photonics and Quantum! https://lnkd.in/g3adtt5y

Floating Island International, Inc., a client of the eidotech project and based out of Shepard, MT, published an article in The Hill. This article discussed the urgency of addressing aquatic methane emissions from aquatic sources. The floating island solutions that they specialize in works to help this impact. The floating islands simultaneously clean waterways and improve water quality. Cutting methane emissions, particularly from aquatic sources, could lead to a significant drop in atmospheric methane within a decade, helping prevent climate tipping points, and the floating islands from Floating Island can help do that. Methane detection and measurement presents a new, disruptive market for LiDAR and other remote sensing solutions.?