On Monday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand toured the Innovare Advancement Center ahead of a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Colonel Timothy J. Lawrence Quantum Laboratory. 

“...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 said in a statement.

Gillibrand’s visit comes shortly after the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (also known as Rome Lab) recent designation as the Quantum Information Science Research Center for the U.S. Air Force and Space Force. Rome Lab is now the only AFRL directorate currently conducting quantum research and serves as the DoD’s premier research organization for discovery, development, and delivery of warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces.

Rome Lab and related institutions have benefited from recent support to further national security research and development work.

Rome Lab was awarded $8 million to conduct research and development in quantum information science at Innovare. Together, officials hope these two institutions will solidify New York as a leader in cybersecurity research, cyber-defense, quantum, and unmanned aircraft systems, according to information from Gillibrand’s office.

In addition, due to a $10 million investment in 2020 for the Quantum Information Science Innovation Center the mission of continued development of national security work can further be supported, said Heather Hage, president and CEO of the Griffiss Institute.

Gillibrand also helped secure $278 million in funding for the Rome Lab for fiscal year 2021.