A new announcement from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker could expand the University of Illinois Granger Institute of Technology's world-class leadership in quantum and microelectronics.
Pritzker, who chairs Innovate Illinois, announced a proposal to allocate $500 million to advance quantum technology beyond silicon. This significant investment is part of the state's latest budget proposal.
The proposal promises to expand Illinois' leadership in the semiconductor industry, quantum computing, artificial intelligence and efforts beyond silicon.
The proposal includes the development of a state-of-the-art quantum campus with cryogenic facilities essential for research and development of next-generation microelectronics and quantum technologies. $300 million of the total investment will go toward building a cryogenic facility and quantum campus, highlighting the state's commitment to design, testing, and packaging at the intersection of the semiconductor industry and quantum information technology. .
“We are already solidifying our position as a top hub for quantum development, and we are poised to take another leap forward. By ensuring timely and strategic investments and demonstrating unwavering commitment, we will continue to support private industry and the federal It increases trust between governments,” said Governor JB Pritzker. .
“Innovate Illinois secures CHIPS and Science Act funding and builds on the core of Governor Pritzker’s vision to align investment in Illinois with an unparalleled network of public-private partnerships to build a brighter future for our nation. “We will do what we do,” said Prime Minister Robert J. Jones. “Illinois has the power to drive research and innovation in areas critical to our collective prosperity, including the bioeconomy, microelectronics, and quantum industries,” said Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and co-vice chair of Innovate Illinois. We have absolutely incredible assets and expertise to advance “sustainable technology, manufacturing, and the development of a diverse workforce.'' ”
This investment is consistent with Illinois' efforts to secure a headquarters for the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) under the CHIPS and Science Act.
Illinois' history of attracting federal grants and private investment, particularly in quantum technology, further demonstrates Illinois' leadership in quantum technology.
Additionally, UIUC is leading the Department of Defense's recently announced quantum advancement of the Silicon Crossroads Microelectronics Commons Hub. The hub is an innovation ecosystem aimed at accelerating the expansion of America's semiconductor base to achieve national microelectronics excellence.
“For years, we have been advancing the frontiers of quantum information science. Just last fall, researchers at Granger Engineering predicted that these nodes would one day be able to connect to other networks around the world. It is with this hope that we launched the first public quantum network,” said Rashid Bashir, dean of the Granger School of Engineering. “Illinois has a very diverse talent pool in the fields of quantum computing, networking, and sensing. Our research, education, and outreach efforts, managed by the Illinois Center for Quantum Information Science and Technology (IQUIST), and the workforce we expect to move our company beyond silicon.”
Illinois' quantum ecosystem provides a well-established foundation for this ambitious project. Chicago Quantum Exchange is the nation's largest university-led quantum initiative led by the University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Northwestern University.
This historic investment is a major step forward for the technology sector and ensures further leadership for Illinois.
About Innovate Illinois
Innovate Illinois is a strong, coordinated effort to secure unprecedented levels of federal funding made available through landmark legislation such as the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. This is a public-private alliance established to promote this. By securing more federal funding for key technologies, the state will be encouraged to attract more companies and investors to grow Illinois' vibrant technology ecosystem.
Grainger Institute of Technology contributed to this report.
