Innovate Illinois Chair and Governor JB Pritzker has announced a groundbreaking proposal to allocate $500 million towards advancing beyond silicon quantum technology in the state. This investment, part of the state’s latest budget proposal, is poised to position Illinois as a national leader in advancing the semiconductor industry, quantum computing, and AI.
This proposal includes developing a state-of-the-art campus with a cryogenic facility essential for research and development in next-generation microelectronics and quantum technologies. The creation of this facility and an accompanying quantum campus, receiving $300 million of the total investment, also underscores the state’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge R&D, including designing, testing, and packaging at the intersection of the semiconductor industry and quantum information technology.
This investment is part of a broader strategic move to leverage billions in federal funding available for technology sectors, reinforcing Illinois’ role as a leader in the national and global technological race and aligns with Illinois’ efforts to secure the headquarters of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) under the CHIPS and Science Act.
The state’s history of bringing in federal grants and private investments, notably in quantum technology, further cements the company’s position as a leader in quantum technology. And the Bloch, a proposal aimed at developing future quantum information science and engineering (QISE) industry was named an EDA Regional Technology and Innovation Hub in August, one of two for the state. By 2035, the project is expected to generate an estimated $8.7 billion and create up to 8,000 high paying jobs in the area.
Illinois’ quantum ecosystem – supported by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory – provides a well-established foundation for this ambitious project. The national labs are a part of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, the largest university-led quantum initiative in the country, anchored by the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Northwestern University.
The historic investment is anticipated to fuel innovation, generate employment opportunities, and bolster economic resilience across Illinois and the nation, signifying a major leap forward for the technological sector and securing a prosperous future for Illinois and beyond.
KEY QUOTES:
“We were already solidifying our position as a top hub for quantum development, we’re ready to leap ahead. Ensuring we make timely, strategic investments and demonstrate unwavering commitment builds confidence among private industry and the federal government.”
- Governor JB Pritzker
“Innovate Illinois is at the core of Governor Pritzker’s vision to align the state of Illinois investments with an unmatched network of public-private partnerships to secure CHIPS and Science act funding and build a brighter future for our nation. Illinois has absolutely incredible assets and expertise to advance research and innovation in areas that are critical to our collective prosperity, like the bio-economy, microelectronics, quantum industries, sustainable technologies, manufacturing, and diverse workforce development.”
- Chancellor Robert J. Jones, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Co-Vice-Chair of Innovate Illinois
“Illinois’ capital investments signify a long-term strategy that will unlock new technological frontiers. This can further our relationships with UIUC, the Chicago Quantum Exchange, and the University of Chicago and marks a significant step towards building a robust talent pool for the future of computing and quantum sciences. Together, we aim to empower the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers to propel the industry forward.”
- Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Vice President, IBM Quantum
“The University of Chicago is deeply committed to research in quantum science and technology research and we are enthusiastic about our partnerships with the remarkable research universities and national laboratories as we form the world’s premiere quantum technology community. Governor Pritzker has been fostering the innovation environment in Illinois and this announcement will uplift these efforts. The advancement of quantum technologies with these extraordinary investments will lead to equally extraordinary advances for the state and for the nation as a whole.”
- Paul Alivisatos, President, University of Chicago
“The state’s game-changing investments position our region to lead in quantum and advanced computing. In partnership with so many others, Illinois will also attract federal investments and drive inclusive economic growth in the all-important tech sector.” The Chicago tech industry has an economic impact of $51.2 billion with more than 150,000 people working in tech roles.
- Derek Douglas, President of Civic Committee
“Governor Pritzker’s pivotal announcement signals another significant step forward for Illinois in leading the nation in the advancement of beyond silicon quantum technology. Illinois as a leading hub for quantum technology, semiconductor innovation, and artificial intelligence, propelling us towards progress, driving economic growth, and ensuring a prosperous future for all.”
- Brad Henderson, CEO of P33
“Illinois is at the forefront of this game-changing technology and is uniquely positioned to grow and expand our quantum footprint. Our innovative manufacturers, world-renowned universities, and national laboratories create an ecosystem with boundless opportunities ready to be unleashed. It will help redefine manufacturing and lead to new discoveries and breakthrough developments that will make the world a better place to live. We’re heartened by the Governor’s leadership in this area, and strongly support his $500 million investment to ensure Illinois remains at the forefront by establishing a quantum campus and developing a cryogenics laboratory.”
- Mark Denzler, President & CEO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
“Chicago State University is a national leader in equity in STEM, sitting in the top 3% nationwide for graduating Black students with baccalaureate degrees in physics and the state’s convener for the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM. CSU is poised to dramatically expand our quantum workforce pathway programming that starts pre-college and continues into National Science Foundation-funded research in the areas of semiconductors, microelectronics, and quantum sensing binding with nanoscale biomolecules. We are committed to ensuring the talents of all Illinoisians, including Black and Latinx communities, are fully represented in the quantum ecosystem.”
- Z Scott, President of Chicago State University
“Illinois has a proud history of success with forward-thinking economic ventures like 1871 and the Discovery Partners Institute, as well as a number of public-private partnerships designed to spur economic development and innovation. Thanks to Governor Pritzker’s leadership, investments in quantum development will be no different. Between Illinois’ already-robust tech ecosystem and the governor’s $500 million investment that will allow for potential future federal funding opportunities and support development of a state-of-the-art campus and related equipment, Illinois is well-positioned to become a global leader in what will be one of the most consequential technological developments of the 21st century.”
- Jack Lavin, President & CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
“Illinois Tech’s National Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and the state’s ambitious investment in quantum computing are testament to our shared vision for a future powered by innovation and advanced skills. These initiatives are not just about technological advancement; they are about building a sustainable, skilled workforce capable of leading the next wave of American manufacturing and quantum research and development.”
- Kenneth T. Christensen, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Illinois Tech
“Governor Pritzker’s leadership in quantum is being noticed by the entire industry. In Illinois, there’s now a tremendous opportunity to leverage this state funding with additional federal and private funding to continue to grow the quantum community, creating the types of public-private-partnerships that we need to scale the quantum computing industry.”
- Josh Richman, SVP of Corporate Development at PsiQuantum
