US Invests $140 Million in Illinois Quantum Proving Ground.

The US Department of Defense is investing up to $140 million in a national proving ground for quantum technologies in Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker announced Tuesday. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the State of Illinois are partnering on the project, which will be based at a soon-to-be-built quantum campus in the Chicago region.

The initiative aims to strengthen national security, drive economic growth, and attract leading quantum technology companies to the state. DARPA plans to request proposals from quantum companies through its new Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, with up to $140 million in funding available. Illinois will match this amount from its $500 million FY2025 budget allocation.

The project is expected to generate up to $60 billion in economic impact and create thousands of jobs. Key partners include the University of Chicago, IBM, Google, and the FBI’s Chicago office, with David Awschalom, director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, praising the region’s ideal location for the initiative due to its top talent, cross-sector collaboration, and government support for quantum technologies.

Quantum Proving Ground: A National Security Initiative

The US Department of Defense has announced a multimillion-dollar investment in a national proving ground for quantum technologies in the Chicago region, Illinois. This groundbreaking initiative, known as the DARPA-Illinois Quantum Proving Ground (QPG), aims to strengthen national security and drive economic growth by testing quantum technology prototypes on the state’s soon-to-be-built quantum campus.

The QPG is a partnership between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the State of Illinois, with DARPA investing up to $140 million in the project. The State of Illinois will match this amount from its $500 million FY2025 budget allocation for quantum initiatives. The campus is projected to generate up to $60 billion in economic impact and create thousands of jobs.

Strengthening National Security through Quantum Innovation

The QPG initiative is driven by the need to strengthen national security through innovation in quantum technologies. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emphasized that “the future of quantum is here, and it’s in Illinois.” The state’s recent $500 million quantum budget outlay and its deep bench of world-leading scientists make it an ideal location for this initiative.

DARPA plans to request proposals from quantum companies through its new Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. Dr. Joe Altepeter, the DARPA program manager, stated that “Illinois has long held the spirit of invention, innovation, and influence. The quantum computing campus further establishes Illinois as a global hub for technology and innovation.”

Chicago’s Quantum Ecosystem

The Chicago region has already attracted more than $1 billion in government investment in recent years, including the half-billion-dollar FY2025 Illinois budget allocation and a previously announced $200 million for quantum technology facilities. The region is home to the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), which includes seven member institutions and about 50 corporate, international, nonprofit, and regional partners.

The CQE has fostered deep partnerships among academia, government, and industry in the region, making it an ideal location for the QPG initiative. David Awschalom, the director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, stated that “our collection of top talent, long history of cross-sector collaboration, and unparalleled levels of government support for quantum technologies make the Chicago region an ideal location for an initiative of this magnitude.”

Securing National Assets through Quantum Technology

The QPG initiative is not only about driving economic growth but also about securing national assets through quantum technology. The FBI’s Chicago office and The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub have partnered to secure the region’s quantum technology assets, holding a first-of-its-kind symposium in May to build communication channels between law enforcement and technology developers.

The Bloch community is also rallying quantum technologists and the financial sector to develop quantum technology solutions to financial fraud, a pressing challenge with national security implications. The State of Illinois invites stakeholders, industry leaders, and researchers to express interest in the QPG and provide insights to this initiative by participating in a seven-minute survey.

A National Model for Quantum Innovation

The QPG initiative has the potential to establish a national model for quantum innovation, driving economic growth and strengthening national security. The partnership between DARPA and the State of Illinois demonstrates the power of collaboration between government agencies, academia, and industry in advancing quantum technologies.

As Senator Dick Durbin stated, “through the combined efforts of Illinois’ national labs, world-class universities, industry leaders, and now our growing partnership with the Department of Defense with this Quantum Proving Ground, our state will continue to champion technologies and industries of the future.” The QPG initiative is a significant step forward in establishing the United States as a global leader in quantum innovation.