The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park will soon become a hub for quantum research in the state, and two of its key members are already focusing on their collaboration and what it will mean for future innovations.  

The Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology (IQUIST) Center and The Grainger College of Engineering welcomed PsiQuantum, the Park's first anchor tenant, to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on July 26th. One day after the Park's announcement, the day-long visit included research presentations, as well as facility tours and discussions with faculty.

PsiQuantum Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder Pete Shadbolt presented the company's work to Illinois leadership, IQUIST faculty, staff and students, and answered questions. The company plans to launch construction of the world’s first utility scale fault tolerant quantum computer at the site. He said they're looking forward to collaborating with the university to complete it. 

“It’s an absolute privilege to be able to partner with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and work alongside a group of professors, researchers and students who continue to set the standard in university efforts in quantum computing," said Shadbolt. "We know that unlocking this technology’s promise will require a monumental effort across academia and private industry, which is why partnering with Illinois to develop programming and collaborating research opportunities will be critical as we scale our efforts in the state.”   

The university is home to half of the state’s quantum faculty and has more than 170 graduate students and 40 postdocs in quantum research. Brian DeMarco, IQUIST Director and the park's lead administrator of the Illinois DARPA Quantum Proving Ground project, said this is beneficial to all parties.  

"This is exciting because just a two-hour drive away, there will be quantum companies to, collaborate with, provide internships, and hire our students when they graduate," he said. "For the last decade, I’ve been thinking about the need for a high-tech sector in Illinois, so that our fantastic talent has more opportunities to stay in the state and contribute to our economy. Because of Governor Pritzker’s vision and the state support, we can now establish the quantum Silicon Valley here in Illinois to harness that talent pipeline." 

The site for the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park has 128 acres of land for immediate development and another 300 acres for future development. Besides PsiQuantum's production site, the park will include an industrial scale cryoplant, a shared user facility, centers for workforce development and quantum algorithms, and will be the home of the DARPA Quantum Proving Ground.  

"We're at a moment in time where the whole state is working together," said DeMarco. "When we bring people together, we all win."