Pritzker Says Illinois Has 'A Right To Win' Quantum Computing Race, Builds Chicago Hub With PsiQuantum

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said the state has “a right to win” in the quantum computing race and is betting on the technology’s future with a $500 million initiative. Speaking via a Fast Company report, Pritzker argued that Illinois previously lost major tech momentum in the 1990s when alumni associated with companies like Netscape and YouTube left for Silicon Valley instead of building in-state. The report says the IQMP project’s anchor tenant, Palo Alto startup PsiQuantum, is nearing completion of a 65,000-square-foot warehouse to host what could become the world’s first utility-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer. The park has six tenants, including IBM. Pritzker linked the effort to job creation for quantum software developers, cryogenic systems engineers, and fabrication technicians, while PsiQuantum interim CEO Victor Peng said hardware moves to Chicago next year.