Colorado Quantum Incubator to launch nation’s first open-access quantum timing testbed
The Colorado Quantum Incubator (COQI) is launching the nation’s first open-access, commercially available quantum timing testbed, marking a major infrastructure milestone aimed at accelerating quantum technologies from laboratory research to field-ready systems.
COQI developed the testbed in partnership with Stout Street Capital, Xairos Systems and BioMed Realty. The facility will operate as a neutral, third‑party proving ground where startups, researchers, enterprises and government organizations can validate next‑generation quantum timing technologies under real‑world conditions. Located at BioMed Realty’s Flatiron Park in Boulder, the testbed fills a critical gap in the U.S. quantum commercialization pipeline by offering an accessible environment to rigorously test and demonstrate timing systems beyond the prototype stage.
“Precision timing underpins virtually every piece of modern digital infrastructure, from financial trading platforms and data centers to power grids and telecommunications networks,” said Chris Muldrow, executive director of COQI. “Yet the U.S. has lacked a third‑party facility to validate the next generation of quantum timing solutions. COQI is closing that gap.”
A collaborative approach to closing the “missing middle”
Quantum startups often encounter the “missing middle,” the difficult transition from breakthrough physics to dependable, deployable technology. Without shared validation infrastructure, companies must test systems in ad hoc environments, which slows development cycles and increases risk.
COQI designed the testbed to shorten those cycles and lower barriers to entry by bringing together partners in investment, real estate and quantum technology. The facility will use Xairos Systems’ Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) technology to support live demonstrations of enterprise‑grade synchronization. These demonstrations will transmit entangled photons across both fiber and free‑space optical links.
“COQI is focused on closing the missing middle between breakthrough physics and reliable, field‑ready systems,” Muldrow said. “This testbed gives Xairos and similar organizations the infrastructure they need to move from lab‑bench prototypes to real‑world products. It also reflects Boulder’s long legacy of quantum leadership.”
Partnership as a catalyst for innovation and security
The testbed also addresses growing concerns about the resilience and security of global timing and positioning systems, which affect national security, telecommunications, finance and energy infrastructure.
“The vulnerability of global timing and data networks is a silent threat,” said David Mitlyng, CEO of Xairos Systems. “By launching this facility, we are moving from theory to reality. This platform makes quantum timing security a commercial utility rather than just a research concept.”
Industry engagement is already strong. Xairos’ platform has drawn participation from more than 10 U.S. and international government agencies, including the U.S. Space Force’s SpaceWERX, as well as major industry players and leading research institutions. COQI’s open‑access model aims to expand that participation, enable broad experimentation and strengthen the domestic quantum supply chain.
From an investment perspective, the collaboration reflects a shared belief that ecosystem‑level infrastructure is essential to scaling frontier technologies.
“We look for next‑generation technology platforms, and quantum technologies drive dramatic performance gains across industry,” said John Francis, managing director at Stout Street Capital. “This center creates new opportunities for startups, industry and researchers to engage while accelerating adoption and attracting global talent and capital to the Mountain West.”
Purpose-built infrastructure for quantum commercialization
BioMed Realty’s involvement highlights the importance of physical infrastructure for advanced technologies that cannot develop in conventional office environments.
“Frontier technologies need reliable space where teams can test performance under real‑world conditions,” said Jon Bergschneider, president of West Coast Markets at BioMed Realty. “This testbed provides purpose‑built infrastructure that helps bridge the gap between prototype and production.”
As global competition for quantum leadership intensifies, COQI’s timing testbed positions Colorado—and the United States—to advance commercialization through collaboration rather than silos. By aligning partners across technology, capital and infrastructure, the initiative underscores a growing recognition that innovation at scale depends on shared investment, interoperability and trust.
For COQI, the testbed represents more than a facility. It serves as a blueprint for how partnerships can unlock the next phase of quantum innovation.
See full Business Wire press release here...
Ready to validate your timing technology? Apply to engage with the Quantum Timing Testbed and explore how open‑access, third‑party validation can accelerate your path from prototype to deployment. Complete a 5-minute form.
This open-access quantum timing testbed advances Colorado’s economic development and innovation goals by aligning closely with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s (OEDIT) focus on commercialization, shared infrastructure, and industry–research collaboration. By providing a neutral proving ground for next-generation quantum timing technologies, the testbed helps bridge the gap between lab research and market readiness while strengthening Colorado’s nationally recognized quantum ecosystem. It reinforces the state’s collaborative model; bringing together startups, universities, national labs, and partners to accelerate innovation and scale impact statewide and beyond.