TechChicago Day 2024: Quantum Takes a Leap from Silicon Valley to Chicago

 

During TechChicago Week 2024’s flagship TechChicago Day, the focus on emerging technologies took a significant leap — pun intended! — forward, especially during the well-attended discussion moderated by P33’s Brad Henderson: Quantum Leap: Exploring the Future of Quantum Technology. The panel featured Meera Raja, senior vice president of deep tech at P33, and Pete Shadbolt, chief scientific officer and co-founder of PsiQuantum.

PsiQuantum is a leading quantum computing company focused on building the first useful error-corrected quantum computer. Not only was the content of the panel itself exciting, but there was an energy buzzing in the room; earlier that same day, Governor JB Pritzker announced plans for the new Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on the South Side, with PsiQuantum serving as anchor tenant to house their first US-based quantum computer.

Highlighting a path forward for quantum computing, the panelists shared ideas for application of the technology, and explained how Illinois is leading the quantum charge to solve “real-world, real-people problems.”

Why Chicago?

For both Raja and Shadbolt, Illinois’ unique ecosystem was a key topic of discussion. Raja noted that Illinois’ advantages for quantum companies include:

1. Multiple stakeholders with lots of experience (individually and collectively), such as national labs Argonne and Fermilab, the Chicago Quantum Exchange, regional academic institutions like the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and many other pioneering organizations, both emerging and established
2. Significant federal funding; Illinois is home to 2 out of 5 federally funded National Quantum Information Science (QIS) research centers: Q-Next and SQMS; the Department of Defense’s DARPA recently partnered with the State on the Quantum Proving Ground for research and development of quantum technologies
3. A quantum-ready workforce due to Illinois’ commitment to raising the next generation of quantum experts via programs like Northwestern University’s Initiative for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE), an interdisciplinary and collaborative effort to develop a transdisciplinary quantum pipeline; the state awards 60,000 degrees and certificates annually in quantum-related fields

“Our special sauce is that our people talk,” Raja emphasized, adding, “We’re asking ourselves: How do we move that vision and bring everyone along with us?” 

Shadbolt followed with his own insights from PsiQuantum’s perspective. As the Silicon Valley-based company sought to find the perfect site to build their first US-based quantum computer, they prioritized three things:

• The logistics and technical requirements for building the sophisticated machine (“a bunch of power and a bunch of water,” according to Shadbolt); as Chicago sits beside the world’s largest freshwater lake, Illinois looked bright from the start. 
• A dynamic history and robust ecosystem; U.S. Steel — which once called the South Side Chicago site home — was the world’s first $1 billion company. It forged steel for Chicago’s Sears (Willis) Tower, the San-Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and New York City’s United Nations Headquarters. Unoccupied for the last 30 years, the site is symbolic of Illinois’ transformative approach to solving the world’s problems — in both traditional industries and those of the future.
• Good people and rich culture; Illinoisans have long cultivated a spirit of innovation, demonstrated by historical feats like reversing the flow of the Chicago River and relocating massive buildings from one block to another. Specifically, Shadbolt said, the PsiQuantum team was most impressed to find in Illinois people who are “coordinated, fun, kind, and optimistic about the future,” coupled with deep, specialized expertise.

The panel also touched on the broader implications and use cases for quantum technology, including drug discovery, cancer research, and financial fraud prevention. As Raja put it: “We are at an inflection point. We know the promise, but how do we take that leap to the other side of potential? The science is important but even more so is the application, and that’s where Chicago stands above the rest.” 

What’s Next?

Today, Illinois is ready to lead the way. The state is unified in its goal: find solutions by getting everyone involved. Only then, with unmatched innovation that produces technology that is both accessible and beneficial, will we each understand on a personal level why quantum computing is important. 

What’s most exciting about the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, the panelists explained, will be its capacity for collaboration and communication among teams. In the worldwide race toward total implementation of this, as Henderson explained it, “existential technology,” the U.S. is on the right track in Illinois. The state has established itself as a global leader in quantum — bringing jobs, economic development, and advancements we can only imagine with it. 

Recap the full panel, courtesy P33, below. 

Stay in the Know

Keep up with the latest in Illinois’ quantum computing scene. Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified of exciting events, new initiatives, and more. 

Interested in learning more about what Illinois can do for your quantum company? Get in touch with our team today, and let’s talk growth for your business.