From Telecom to Quantum: Back In Springfield Where I Started

Who says you can't go back? Who says you can't go home?

- Richie Sambora, Jon Bon Jovi, John Shanks

The Economic Development Administration has designated Western Massachusetts as a Tech Hub and awarded $1 million to launch the Quantum Supply ChainAcceler (QSCA). This designation places Springfield alongside 31 other regions nationwide recognized for potential in emerging technologies. The funding supports initial development of infrastructure, partnerships, and workforce programs needed to establish the region as a quantum technology manufacturing center. Western Massachusetts joins clusters focused on semiconductors, biotechnology, and advanced materials, but stands alone in targeting quantum supply chain coordination. The award positions Springfield at the center of quantum technology infrastructure development, building on existing advanced manufacturing capabilities and educational institutions in the Pioneer Valley.

The QSCA will tackle a critical bottleneck: sourcing components for quantum computers, sensors, and networks. Right now, no coordinated supply chain exists. Companies building quantum systems struggle to find reliable suppliers for specialized parts. QSCA aims to fix that by connecting manufacturers, standardizing components, and building regional capacity.

The project involves industry partners, research institutions, and educational programs. It will create jobs in advanced manufacturing and position Massachusetts as a hub for quantum technology production, not just research.

I'm consulting on this with the Mass Tech Collaborative and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) This takes me back to my younger days at the NSF funded National Center of Excellence – the National Center for Telecommunications Technologies at STCC from 1998 to 2014. Twenty-eight years later, I'm back working on emerging tech in Western Massachusetts and that is soooo cool. What goes around comes around.

That earlier work focused on telecommunications and emerging technologies with partners like Cisco, Microsoft and Verizon. This feels similar: building infrastructure and workforce pipelines for emerging market technologies.

The quantum industry needs workforce across the spectrum: two-year degree technicians handling equipment operation and maintenance, engineers designing systems, and PhDs advancing the science. Community colleges train the technicians. Universities provide the engineers and researchers. All are critical. You can't scale and advance quantum technology without all three.

That $1 million is seed funding. Success depends on building partnerships, developing training programs, and proving the concept works. It's early stage work with real potential impact.

Let’s Go!