$250K PsiQuantum Investment Boosts South Chicago Quantum Workforce

PsiQuantum is directing a $250,000 investment toward training and education programs in South Chicago, demonstrating a commitment that extends beyond the construction of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. The funding will directly support expanded STEM curriculum at George Washington High School and St. Francis De Sales High School, with the goal of cultivating a quantum-ready workforce starting at the high school level. Chicago State University’s Quantum Education, Science, and Technology Center (CQuEST) will also receive investment, as will the STEM Explorations Camp and Quantum Teacher Training programs. “I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my own life to have access to computers, workshops, software, tools, and encouragement to get involved in science and technology, and learn for myself what’s possible,” says Pete Shadbolt, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at PsiQuantum. “This investment reflects our conviction that the communities surrounding the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park should have every opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, the quantum ecosystem that is taking shape here in Chicago.”

This investment encompasses not only higher education but also proactive development of future STEM professionals and educators, as shown by programs like the STEM Explorations Camp and Quantum Teacher Training. Dr. Roni Facen, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of St. Francis De Sales High School, emphasized the importance of local investment, stating that PsiQuantum’s support for local high schools, including George Washington High School and St. Francis De Sales High School, focuses on expanding STEM curriculum and providing classroom technology. A $10,000 donation to Bowen High School previously facilitated the purchase of virtual reality equipment and robotics tools. Juan Salgado, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, highlighted the college’s commitment to workforce creation, noting, “At City Colleges of Chicago, we believe the future workforce should not simply witness innovation, but should help create it.” PsiQuantum’s continued investments, beginning before the September 2025 IQMP groundbreaking, demonstrate a holistic approach to building both technological infrastructure and a skilled workforce to power the quantum future.

This commitment extends beyond simply establishing a facility; it signals a deliberate strategy to integrate surrounding communities into the developing quantum ecosystem. Specifically, support will be provided to local high schools, including George Washington High School and St. Francis De Sales High School, to expand STEM curriculum, classroom technology, and educator training, indicating a focus on building a quantum-ready talent pool starting at the secondary level. Dr. Facen of St. Francis De Sales High School emphasized that “This partnership isn’t just advancing quantum technology—it’s proving that the future can and should include every community.”

This philanthropic effort signals a deliberate strategy to cultivate local talent capable of contributing to the developing quantum industry, rather than relying solely on attracting expertise from elsewhere. The company’s approach to scalable quantum computing, utilizing photonics, is designed to integrate with existing semiconductor manufacturing processes, a key factor in their rapid scaling ambitions. Direct financial support is being allocated to expand STEM curriculum and provide updated classroom technology. PsiQuantum’s investments began with a $10,000 donation to Bowen High School before the September 2025 IQMP groundbreaking, and include support for Chicago State University’s STEM Explorations Camp and Quantum Teacher Training programs alongside CQuEST. Dr.