ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | JANUARY 2026 12 EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TECH INCUBATOR SUPPORTS QUANTUM APPLICATIONS The University of Connecticut’s (UConn) Technology Incubation Program (TIP) is a prime example of the technological diversity stemming from quantum computing applications—and a new home to six quantum-related startups. For example, Access Quantum uses quantum principles to develop alloys and materials with more desirable properties, particularly for the aerospace industry where extreme environments require new and better fatigue-resistant materials. Other TIP start-ups include Plasmonic Reactor Systems, a company entering the nuclear power industry with a pioneering technology for small and micro nuclear reactors capable of delivering nuclear power without the nuclear risk. Another, called We-Sensing, focuses on development of next-generation AI and quantum-powered monitoring sensors. According to the researchers, these advanced sensors provide real-time insights that improve resource efficiency, reduce operational costs, and support sustainable management of water, soil, and industrial systems. Another startup is QuaSIM, a company developing classical and quantum algorithms that significantly accelerate the simulation of granular and molecular-scale materials offering dramatically improved insight into complex biological and pharmaceutical systems. QueHOT is a startup developing a hybrid quantum processor that uses pulses of light and advanced photonic architectures to achieve scalable, high-speed quantum information processing. AlgorithmicPro AI is developing low-cost, high-speed data- linking solutions to assist AI-driven computational techniques to solve large-scale information integration challenges for businesses and govern- ment. The promise of TIP is that it brings UConn quantum researchers from a multitude of disciplines together under one roof in a way that helps them commoditize their work and take it to market, according to the UConn team. uconn.edu. LIFT SUPPORTS THREE NEW PROGRAMS LIFT, the national advanced materials manufacturing innovation institute located in Detroit, announced three new initiatives as part of the Advanced Materials Challenge. First is “Enabling Robust Cross-Platform Printing of Structural High-Strength Aluminums and Aluminum Matrix Composites” with Elementum 3D. The project will develop a new approach to produce Elementum 3D’s Reactive Additive Manufacturing (RAM) aluminum AM feedstocks to enhance print quality and uniformity across machine makes. Next is “Development of Ti-Cu-X Alloy with Refined Microstructure and Enhanced Mechanical Properties Using Wire-Based Additive Manufacturing Processes” with Raytheon Technologies Research Center. The project aims to develop a unique Ti-Cu-X alloy tailored for wire-based AM processes, with a focus on achieving a refined micro- structure. The third initiative is “Virtual Qualification and Certification of an Advanced Structural Material Leveraging Advanced Data-Driven Approaches” with EOS North America. The project aims to revolutionize qualification and certification of advanced materials of interest to the Department of War by leveraging AI and machine learning. https://lift.technology. A new Aerospace Engineering Complex at Georgia Tech, Atlanta, will house the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, a state-of-the-art aircraft prototyping lab, and the newly launched Space Research Institute. Now in the design phase, the 225,000-sq-ft facility will include advanced laboratories to support work in aerodynamics, robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, propulsion, and space exploration. gatech.edu. BRIEF UConn’s TIP brings the teams from six startup technologies together in one space. LIFT’s Detroit headquarters. Courtesy of LIFT.
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