--- title: Colorado Selected for IBM Impact Accelerator Program, Governor's Office Says canonical: https://denfeed.com/colorado-selected-for-ibm-impact-accelerator-program-governors-office-says/ published: '2026-11-10T10:06:55-07:00' updated: '2026-11-10T10:06:55-07:00' author: DENFeed Staff section: State tags: - Governor - Schools source: Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis source_url: https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/colorado-selected-participate-ibm-impact-accelerator-advancing-ai-and-quantum-readiness publisher: DENFeed attribution: Copyright DENFeed. Quote with credit to DENFeed and a link to the canonical URL above. --- # Colorado Selected for IBM Impact Accelerator Program, Governor's Office Says The two-year program will focus on education and workforce development, aiming to advance AI and quantum readiness across the state. The collaboration will involve partners such as Elevate Quantum and Colorado BOCES Association, working with IBM to develop an AI-enhanced tool to transform the quantum ecosystem. --- ### Press Release: Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis *Reproduced in full from the [Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis](https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/colorado-selected-participate-ibm-impact-accelerator-advancing-ai-and-quantum-readiness).* #### Colorado Selected to Participate in IBM Impact Accelerator, Advancing AI and Quantum Readiness DENVER, Today, Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that Colorado has been selected to participate in the IBM Impact Accelerator, a two-year program that will focus on education and workforce development. OEDIT and partners such as Elevate Quantum and Colorado BOCES Association will work with IBM to develop an AI-enhanced tool to transform the quantum ecosystem and advance AI and quantum readiness across Colorado. **“Colorado leads the nation in quantum innovation and advanced technologies. By joining the IBM Impact Accelerator, we are leading by example and utilizing new technologies to drive long-term economic growth in Colorado, supporting jobs, and innovative businesses. We are thrilled to partner with IBM on this transformative effort,”** said Governor Polis. Launched in 2022, the IBM Impact Accelerator is a pro bono social innovation program that offers IBM resources, including AI technology, hybrid cloud and an ecosystem of experts, to enhance and scale nonprofit and government initiatives. The State of Colorado and Elevate Quantum responded to a February 2026 request for proposals and was selected for participation because of the state’s national and global leadership in quantum. **“Colorado has doubled down on the quantum revolution, ensuring that our quantum companies and workers have the skills and resources they need to grow. This collaboration with IBM will help us break down barriers between education and employment, bringing world-class AI and quantum readiness directly to communities across Colorado,”** said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director. Throughout the program, IBM experts will help Colorado develop AI-enabled analytics and decision-support capabilities to inform talent and economic development strategies. The collaboration will also expand access to quantum tools and resources, including IBM Qiskit, while supporting AI and quantum education and talent development initiatives in support of economic development and Colorado's quantum competitiveness. The partners will focus on three phases of work: 1. **Ecosystem Mapping and Forecasting:** In partnership with Elevate Quantum, use AI and IBM technologies to map the current quantum ecosystem and forecast growth to identify strategies that support growth and ensure continued global competitiveness. 2. **Education and Workforce Development:** In partnership with Colorado BOCES Association, develop new strategies to introduce K-12 students to quantum and integrate the field into science education to support the growth of a long-term workforce 3. **Modernizing Support Systems:** Identify ways to modernize government support systems to create greater efficiency. **“The Mountain West quantum ecosystem is growing at an unprecedented pace, with new companies, facilities, and jobs emerging across the region. To accelerate that momentum, Elevate Quantum needs to be increasingly agile and targeted in how we invest in supply chains, commercialization infrastructure, and workforce development. That starts with better data and better tools to understand where the ecosystem is strong, where gaps remain, and what it will take to ensure the U.S. continues to lead in this critical technology. With IBM, we’ll use AI to map the ecosystem today and anticipate where we need to invest next,”** said Jessi Olsen, CEO of Elevate Quantum. **“Students in rural Colorado should have opportunities to explore emerging careers and see themselves as part of our state’s quantum future. The Colorado BOCES Association will work with our member BOCES across the state to extend this opportunity to rural school systems, connecting educators and students with quantum learning resources and career pathways. This partnership brings together regional relationships and industry expertise to help make those opportunities accessible to communities across Colorado,”** said Dr. Ken Haptonstall, Executive Director, Colorado BOCES Association. The work completed through the IBM Impact Accelerator will build on the strong foundation already in place in Colorado. Colorado’s quantum ecosystem is anchored by over 120 organizations, more than 30 specialized companies, and over 3,000 quantum professionals, reinforced by strong aerospace, defense, cleantech, semiconductor, and photonics industries. The quantum sector is projected to add more than 11,000 quantum jobs, half of which will not require a four-year degree, supported from the ground up by this foundational work with IBM, which includes K-12 STEM curricula and Rural Quantum Learning Labs. **About Elevate Quantum** Elevate Quantum is a federally designated Tech Hub working across Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming to dramatically accelerate the commercialization of quantum technologies. Elevate Quantum develops shared infrastructure, workforce programs and industry partnerships designed to help quantum companies overcome the barriers between breakthrough science and scalable commercial products. Learn more at [www.elevatequantum.org.](https://www.elevatequantum.org/) **About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade** The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire, and make it accessible to everyone. [Learn more about OEDIT.](https://oedit.colorado.gov/) Source: [Office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis](https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/colorado-selected-participate-ibm-impact-accelerator-advancing-ai-and-quantum-readiness)