Episode 27: Wrangling Qubits in the Colorado Quantum Ecosystem

Colorado has a full-stack quantum hardware ecosystem: home to companies making all the components that go into a quantum computer as well as companies making the computers. Vescent CEO Scott Davis and his team are right in the middle of this vibrant ecosystem. In the latest episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, host Veronica Combs talks with Scott about how his company helps scientists and engineers control qubits to build better atomic clocks and other precision equipment. They also discuss the contributions NIST and other government research institutions “turn on money” for the US economy.00:00 Introduction to Quantum Spin Season Four00:29 Interview with Scott Davis: Vescent's Journey01:11 Challenges and Successes in Photonic Integration03:20 Quantum Technology and Business Insights07:03 The Importance of Precise Clocks in Quantum Systems09:40 Quantum Systems and Real-World Applications11:24 The Vulnerability and Future of GPS14:32 The Quantum Ecosystem in Colorado16:46 Colorado's Quantum Ecosystem17:26 Aerospace and Manufacturing in Colorado18:23 Elevate Quantum: Building a Quantum Consortium20:47 The Three-Legged Stool of Company Success25:16 Trends in Quantum Technology30:40 Conclusion and Future OutlookScott R. Davis, Ph. D., CEO and co-founder VescentDr. Davis is a physicist entrepreneur with an emphasis on new technology transition from the laboratory to manufacturing.  He has spent his career inventing, developing, and commercializing a wide variety of technologies.  As a co-founder and VP of technology at Vescent he led the development of non-mechanical beam steerers and oversaw the asset sale of that technology to Analog Devices for the autonomous vehicles market. He spent three years working at Analog Devices before returning to Vescent as CEO in 2020. Since then, he has been leading the development of technologies and products, such as compact laser systems for trapping and cooling atoms, compact and deployable frequency combs, miniature spectroscopic standards, and other tools aimed at furthering the development and deployment of quantum systems.  He has over 30 papers published, has co-authored two book chapters, and has twenty-seven patents pending and/or issued. Host Veronica Combs is a quantum tech editor, writer and PR professional. She manages public relations for quantum computing clients as an account manager with HKA Marketing Communications, the #1 agency in quantum tech PR. Veronica joined HKA from TechRepublic and has covered technology, healthcare and business strategy for more than 10 years.Connect with Veronica on LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicacombs/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HKA Marketing Communications⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://hkamarcom.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HKA on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hka-inc--public-relations/