Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is pushing for a $20 billion, 150-acre quantum computing campus in Chicago, anchored by Silicon Valley startup PsiQuantum. The company aims to build the world’s first industrial-scale quantum computer, which could revolutionize fields from healthcare to climate science, as Crain’s Chicago Business reported. The project could create 1,000 construction jobs and 500 direct jobs and attract other companies to the state. PsiQuantum is considering two locations for the campus, and a decision is expected soon. The state hopes the project will help it secure federal funding and establish Illinois as a hub for quantum computing.
Quantum Computing: A New Frontier in Illinois
Illinois is on the brink of a significant technological venture: a $20 billion, 150-acre campus dedicated to quantum computing. This project, potentially the largest of its kind in state history, is spearheaded by PsiQuantum, a Silicon Valley startup. The company is currently evaluating two locations in the Chicago area for the construction of the world’s first industrial-scale quantum computer.
Quantum computing, a field that applies the principles of quantum mechanics to computing, promises an exponential leap in computing capability. This technology could model complex systems, from cancer to climate change. While strides have been made in creating demonstration machines, no one has yet created a commercially viable, fault-tolerant quantum computer. This is the goal of PsiQuantum, and the likes of rivals such as QuEra. PsiQuantum recently announced plans to build a quantum computer in Australia and is now looking to establish another in the United States.
The Quantum Computing Campus: A Magnet for Innovation
The proposed quantum computing campus is expected to bring about 1,000 construction jobs and up to 500 direct jobs, including hardware and software engineers. More than half of these jobs would be held by workers with associate’s degrees and specialized technical training, similar to those in semiconductor or battery manufacturing.
As reported by Crains, Illinois envisions using PsiQuantum as a magnet to attract companies and highly skilled workers who will develop and supply the equipment necessary for quantum computing. A vital component of the project is a cryogenic facility needed to cool sensors to detect particles. This facility, likely to cost between $300 million and $500 million, would provide facilities to other quantum researchers and companies.
The Quantum Computing Ecosystem: A Hub for Quantum Technology
The state’s bet is that building such infrastructure will enable it to attract various players that will form a broad ecosystem, making Illinois the hub for quantum computing. This could mirror the way Silicon Valley emerged as the center of the traditional computing industry. The campus could potentially bring $20 billion in investment from private companies and government research programs, as well as several thousand jobs over five to ten years.
However, the evolution of the campus is still unclear, as is the nature of the incentive package the state is offering PsiQuantum. While PsiQuantum is a prominent player in the field, there is no guarantee that its approach will work, or when or if quantum computing will deliver on its potential.
Quantum Computing: A Strategic Investment for Illinois
Governor J.B. Pritzker is seeking to secure an additional $500 million for quantum investment from the state Legislature. This follows his earlier investment in quantum-computing initiatives at the University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the state’s two national laboratories, which helped Illinois secure $275 million in federal funding for quantum research projects.
The state hopes that the quantum campus will help convince the federal government to select Illinois over Colorado as a quantum hub, which carries up to $70 million in funding. State and city economic development leaders see quantum as an opportunity for Chicago and Illinois to become one of the nation’s premier technology centers.
Illinois: A Potential Leader in Quantum Computing
Illinois is already home to some of the top experts in quantum computing, such as David Awschalom at the University of Chicago and Brian DeMarco at the University of Illinois. The University of Chicago has attracted several startups to its quantum incubator. The construction of the first large-scale quantum computer would add another crucial building block to Illinois’ burgeoning quantum computing ecosystem.
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