Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announces historic $500 million investment
Innovate Illinois Chair and Governor JB Pritzker has announced a groundbreaking proposal to allocate $500 million towards the advancement of beyond silicon quantum technology in the state.
This substantial investment, part of the state's latest budget proposal, is poised to position Illinois as a national leader in advancement of the semiconductor industry, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence. The proposal includes developing a state-of-the-art campus with a cryogenic facility essential for research and development in next-generation microelectronics and quantum technologies. The creation of this facility and an accompanying quantum campus, receiving $300 million of the total investment, underscores the state's commitment to fostering cutting-edge R&D, including designing, testing, and packaging at the intersection of the semiconductor industry and quantum information technology.
“The state’s game-changing investments position our region to lead in quantum and advanced computing. In partnership with so many others, Illinois will also attract federal investments and drive inclusive economic growth in the all-important tech sector.”
"We were already solidifying our position as a top hub for quantum development, we're ready to leap ahead. Ensuring we make timely, strategic investments and demonstrate unwavering commitment builds confidence among private industry and the federal government," said Governor JB Pritzker.
The investment is part of a broader strategic move to leverage billions in federal funding available for technology sectors, reinforcing Illinois' role as a leader in the national and global technological race and aligns with Illinois' efforts to secure the headquarters of the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) under the CHIPS and Science Act.
"Innovate Illinois is at the core of Governor Pritzker’s vision to align the state of Illinois investments with an unmatched network of public-private partnerships to secure CHIPS and Science act funding and build a brighter future for our nation,” said Chancellor Robert J. Jones, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Co-Vice-Chair of Innovate Illinois. "Illinois has absolutely incredible assets and expertise to advance research and innovation in areas that are critical to our collective prosperity, like the bio-economy, microelectronics, quantum industries, sustainable technologies, manufacturing, and diverse workforce development.”
The state's history of attracting federal grants and private investments, notably in quantum technology, further cements its position as a leader in quantum technology. The Bloch, a proposal aimed at developing future quantum information science and engineering (QISE) industry was named an EDA Regional Technology and Innovation Hub in August, one of two for the state. By 2035, the project is expected to generate an estimated $8.7 billion and create up to 8,000 high paying jobs in the area.
Illinois' quantum ecosystem, supported by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, provides a well-established foundation for this ambitious project. The national labs are a part of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, the largest university-led quantum initiative in the country, anchored by the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Northwestern University.
This historic investment is anticipated to fuel innovation, generate employment opportunities, and bolster economic resilience across Illinois and the nation, signifying a major leap forward for the technological sector and securing a prosperous future for Illinois and beyond.
