A statewide inventory maps the sector
New York ranks second nationally in quantum-related businesses, research groups and patent families, according to a study released by the governor’s office on Friday. The survey, commissioned by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation and prepared by The Quantum Insider, identified 134 operating entities, 219 research groups and 734 patent families connected to quantum technology across the state.
The findings put New York behind California on all three measures. State officials said New York is nevertheless one of only two states with capabilities across the entire quantum value chain, including basic research, component manufacturing and potential commercial applications. The report is intended to give policy makers and industry leaders a clearer view of where expertise is already concentrated and where coordination remains thin.
Investment now shifts toward commercialization
The state has committed $360 million to a pair of initiatives intended to move ideas out of laboratories and toward practical use. That total includes $300 million for a Quantum Research and Innovation Hub at Stony Brook University and $60 million for as many as four regional commercialization hubs. Each regional hub is expected to include an incubator offering startups mentorship, access to quantum computing and other early-stage support.
Officials estimate that the combined commitment could support between $2.3 billion and $5 billion in economic activity through 2036, along with 7,200 to 10,100 job-years. Those figures are projections, not guaranteed jobs or revenue. A job-year represents one full-time job supported for one year, so the estimate should not be read as a permanent head count.
The study found quantum activity in all ten state regions, with universities in Stony Brook, Buffalo, Binghamton and Albany among the public research anchors. It also pointed to New York’s existing strengths in semiconductors, optics and photonics. Those industries supply materials, fabrication tools and specialized components that can matter as quantum systems move from experiments to products.
What quantum technology could change
Quantum technology applies properties of physics that behave differently at atomic and subatomic scales. The field includes computing, sensing and communications. Promised uses range from molecular simulation for drug research to more precise measurements, logistics optimization and new forms of encryption. Many applications remain experimental, and useful commercial systems will depend on improvements in hardware, error correction, software and manufacturing.
That gap between scientific promise and dependable products is why the report emphasizes commercialization. Universities may produce research breakthroughs, while manufacturers and prospective customers need standards, reliable components, trained workers and a reason to adopt unfamiliar tools. The state’s proposed hubs are meant to connect those groups rather than treating research funding as an end in itself.
The next test is measurable delivery
The report gives New York a strong starting position, but rankings do not ensure lasting leadership. The meaningful measures will be whether the new hubs open on schedule, whether startups gain customers and investment, and whether training programs create routes into technical jobs beyond advanced-degree research posts. Regional access will be another important measure of reach.
Officials also will need to publish enough information to distinguish private growth from activity financed chiefly by government awards. For New Yorkers, the practical question is whether the state’s research base can become durable companies, useful technology and broadly accessible employment. The new inventory offers a benchmark against which that progress can be judged.
Source: New York State quantum study announcement. Reporting reviewed October 24, 2026.