A $2 billion investment is transforming the site of the former U.S. Steel South Works in South Chicago into the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, attracting quantum-focused companies from established tech centers. The park has already secured commitments from 10 tenants, each promising significant hiring, and relies on a unique partnership between the city of Chicago, Cook County, the federal government and the state of Illinois, with the state providing the largest share of public funding.
“This is a project that shows off the thought leadership of the region’s universities,” says CEO Harley Johnson, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, “and demonstrates their commitment to doing something innovative, creating public good and helping the state create jobs and opportunities.”
IQMP Forges Public-Private Partnerships for Quantum Development
The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) is supporting direct links between university research and industry employment, with companies already committing to hire at least 1,000 people. This multi-governmental partnership is intentionally designed to translate academic discoveries into societal benefit, a process Johnson describes as “creating new knowledge and transferring that for the good of society.” Beyond financial support, the IQMP is facilitating research partnerships between universities and incoming companies, providing researchers access to industry expertise and resources.
This access extends to infrastructure; the park anticipates faculty researchers will use equipment built on-site, reducing the need for costly individual labs on university campuses. He added that the IQMP’s focus on industry-academic partnerships predates recent disruptions in federal funding, positioning the park as proactive in diversifying research portfolios.
The park’s structure responds to a growing need for universities to broaden their funding sources, and Johnson believes this approach will be essential for sustained innovation, Chicago says. The IQMP is building a fully integrated campus environment designed to attract and retain talent, with projections of at least 1,000 people employed at the park within five years. This emphasis on practical application and workforce development is central to the IQMP’s long-term vision.
Johnson envisions a thriving campus within a decade, offering a dynamic environment for collaboration and innovation. The park’s success, he suggests, lies in its ability to bridge the gap between theoretical research and real-world applications, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to contribute to the growing quantum and microelectronics industries.
University of Illinois Anchors IQMP Operations & Investment
Ten companies already committed as tenants are not only investing capital but also promising substantial hiring numbers, creating a demand for skilled personnel that regional universities are now addressing with new programs. Harley Johnson, CEO of the park and a University of Illinois professor, emphasized the park’s role in providing opportunities within an industry previously unavailable locally.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign currently provides the largest share of operating expenses for the park, a commitment Johnson frames as a strategic investment of a few million dollars given the scale of the capital project. This financial support is facilitating a surge in relevant academic programs; Chicago State University recently launched a quantum certificate program allowing students to supplement their degrees, while the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign initiated a master’s degree program in applied physics focused on instrumentation.
This new instrumentation focus directly addresses a projected need for cryogenics specialists at the park, a demand that Fermilab is prepared to meet by expanding its existing co-op program, according to the company. The University of Chicago’s prior establishment of the nation’s first quantum Ph. D. program demonstrates a pre-existing commitment to quantum education, a foundation that the IQMP is now building upon. Johnson, reflecting on his 25 years as a faculty member at the University of Illinois, highlighted the universities as the fundamental source of the technology and basic science driving the park’s development.
Beyond domestic enrollment, the park is also attracting a significant influx of international students, providing them with access to a burgeoning industry. The collaborative structure extends beyond the University of Illinois, with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University contributing staff and resources.
This multi-institutional approach, alongside support from national laboratories, is designed to create a fully integrated ecosystem for quantum research and development, the firm reports. Johnson emphasized the park’s commitment to encouraging innovation and attracting talent. The park’s structure is intentionally lean, maximizing the impact of operational expenses on a large-scale capital project and demonstrating the region’s universities’ commitment to creating jobs and public good.
Quantum Programs Expand at Illinois Universities & Colleges
CEO Harley Johnson explained that this commitment demonstrates a reciprocal benefit. Companies are drawn to the region specifically because of the quality and preparation of students emerging from Illinois’ quantum programs. These firms recognize sustained growth depends on access to a skilled workforce, and the park is designed to provide that access. The influx of positions will also establish clear career pathways for current students and those newly entering relevant programs.
These collaborations will allow researchers to share resources and expertise beyond what individual institutions could provide independently. The park’s structure is facilitating a shift in how university research infrastructure is developed, with researchers gaining access to equipment and facilities built within the IQMP itself. This model, Johnson noted, is not new, but it offers a cost-effective alternative to each university independently funding and maintaining expensive, specialized laboratories.
IQMP Attracts Quantum Companies with Skilled Student Pipeline
The park’s success in attracting industry is a long-term strategy of diversifying research portfolios through industry partnerships. Johnson notes that Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park was actively encouraging these connections even before the current funding landscape shifted, anticipating the need for alternative revenue streams and collaborative opportunities. This proactive approach has positioned the park as an attractive destination for new faculty members, offering a viable career path focused on applied research in partnership with private companies, rather than solely relying on grants from organizations like the National Science Foundation.
The anticipated physical campus, currently under construction, is envisioned as a vibrant hub for collaboration and innovation, designed to accommodate a growing workforce and support a dynamic research environment. Johnson predicts that in ten years, the park will be a fully realized campus, attracting further investment and solidifying its position as a leading center for quantum technology.
The park’s focus on translational research and industry partnerships is a deliberate strategy to create a sustainable ecosystem for quantum innovation and workforce development, ensuring a continuous supply of skilled professionals to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving field.
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