HOLYOKE — A nearly $5 million award from the Healey-Driscoll administration will establish a Quantum Computing Complex at the Massachusetts Green High-Performance Computing Center in Holyoke, an intercollegiate joint venture of the University of Massachusetts system, Boston University, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern and Yale.

At the 100 Bigelow St. site will be a two-year project, working with industry partner QuEra Computing Inc., to install and deploy a state-of-the-art neutral atom quantum computer. The complex will facilitate open access research and application development across Massachusetts, allow for quantum hardware innovation, and provide hands on training and internship opportunities for students.

During an announcement of the funding from the Innovation Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Thursday at the Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center in Brighton, Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao said Massachusetts is breaking new ground as the first state in the nation to fund and install this novel quantum computing complex at a high-performance computing center

“This project will catalyze the growth of a local quantum industry in western Massachusetts, create new career paths in the industry and drive innovation across several sectors, including biomedical research and financial services,” Hao said.

The Innovation Institute has previously made major investments in quantum facilities at colleges and universities, including Western New England University, the University of Massachusetts Boston and Northeastern University.

Innovation Institute Director Pat Larkin said researchers from the the universities will gain access and leverage the power of quantum for work on algorithms and the application advances that will propel quantum computing. “Not only can we expect breakthrough applications that have the potential to transform industries, but this user-driven innovation on the software side will drive change and innovation on the hardware systems necessary to scale quantum computing,” Larkin said.

The full cost of the two-year project is $16 million, funded in part by $11 million in matching funds from QuEra. The Holyoke center is positioned to manage access to the QuEra System based on its experience as a contributor to national computing infrastructure initiatives such as ACCESS, the National Research Platform, and the Open OnDemand platform. The New England Research Cloud, a classical computing system that operates within the MassOpen Cloud Alliance, will make the quantum computer accessible to academic researchers in the open-source community.

U.S. Congressman Richard Neal, D-Springfield, called the announcement a significant day for Holyoke and western Massachusetts. “Massachusetts has always led the nation in creativity and innovation, and that legacy continues as we become the first state to fund and install a novel quantum computing complex,” Neal said.

Neal also credited the investments in core quantum research programs as a focal point of the CHIPS and Science Act, legislation drafted when he was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee

“We are excited about bringing this new asset to the robust university quantum research ecosystem,” said John Goodhue, executive director at the Holyoke site. “The state continues to be a great partner in supporting technology innovation.”