Senate Democrats celebrate first tenant of quantum campus announcement, bringing economic boost for Chicago’s South Side

CHICAGO-Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus are proud to have been part of the announcement of the site for the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park at USX on the South Side of Chicago. and its first tenant was announced to be leading quantum company PsiQuantum.

" Illinois plants a flag and reminds the world of the leadership role we play in technology," said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). "I can't think of a better location to send that message. This site connects the power of our past with the promise for our future."

Quantum computing is rapidly-emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers. The quantum campus, also known as the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, will include shared cryo facilities, equipment labs, and spaces for both private companies and Illinois' research universities to collaborate and research. The Chicago site has 128 acres ready for immediate development and an additional 312 acres available for expansion. Its strategic location near Lake Michigan and the Calumet River will provide the water sources needed for cooling, and the site can accommodate the 200MW of power needed.

PsiQuantum, the first tenant of the campus, is the leading quantum computing company working on building the first useful, error-corrected quantum computer. While at IQMP, they will be hiring for at least 150 new PsiQuantum jobs including system maintenance engineers, mechanical engineers, cryogenic plant technicians, test and assembly managers, and non-technical roles in finance, sales, supply chain, human resources, and more.

"The southeast side of Chicago - with its wide range of talented people, valuable resources, and expertise - has a history of working-class leadership that has helped build our country's middle class," said State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago). "The Quantum and Microelectronics Park fits within that history and will support innovation within our state. I anticipate widespread benefits, including accelerated progress, job creation, and increased investments at both state and national levels."

The campus will allow for more commercialization opportunities for Illinois entrepreneurs, make Illinois an even more desirable destination for federal research grants, and attract leading global technology companies. IQMP is projected to generate up to $20 billion in economic impact and create thousands of jobs, with additional tenants will be announced in the coming months. These successes are thanks to the advocacy of Senate Democrats to allocate $500 million in the FY25 budget to help fund quantum research and build this campus that will have a tremendous economic impact and establish Illinois as a national leader in quantum research.