IQUIST’s mission is to explore applied quantum information science, thereby bringing world-changing technologies, a cutting-edge workforce, and new industries to the state and to the world.

The Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST) brings together physicists, electrical engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, and other experts to accelerate growing efforts in quantum information science (QIS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Launched in 2018 with an initial $15 million investment, the IQUIST team encompasses the development of quantum computing, simulation, and sensing from the exploration of fundamental science while implementing novel quantum algorithms and state-of-the-art equipment for the fabrication of quantum materials and devices. The Urbana campus is primed to take a leadership role in the coming quantum information revolution as IQUIST develops QIS-focused educational programs for the next-generation quantum workforce.

The IQUIST team continues the University’s long history of groundbreaking contributions to the development of technologies that have shaped society over the past century, including the quantum-well laser that is at the heart of fiber-optic communications, the first supercomputer at an academic institution, and the first modern web browser. IQUIST collaborators are pursuing promising lines of fundamental research and engineering, including a multi-node quantum testbed that enables researchers to explore and implement new ideas for distributed quantum processing and quantum networks.

IQUIST seeks to build partnerships with research institutions and tech-industry firms beyond the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a core partner in the Chicago Quantum Exchange along with the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.