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IBM to Join Planned Quantum Computing Campus on Chicago’s South Side
The National Quantum Algorithm Center in the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park will house IBM’s next-generation quantum computer, IBM Quantum System Two (pictured), which the company plans to deploy in Chicago in the coming year. (Christopher Tirrell for IBM)
Sometime in 2025, IBM will put a “next generation” computer at labs in Hyde Park — marking the first participation of a Fortune 500 company in Illinois’ bid to become the quantum computing capital of the nation, or even the world.
“We’re not leaving it as a vague time period,” said IBM President and CEO Arvind Krishna.
It’ll be the centerpiece of IBM’s National Quantum Algorithm Center, which Krishna announced Thursday alongside officials including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and business and university leaders.
IBM’s investment could reach tens of millions of dollars, Krishna said, and comes with an initial commitment of 50 permanent jobs that he expects will be paired with fellowships, internships and partnerships with other local firms.
“We’re putting in a system that we don’t really put a commercial value on,” Krishna said. “It’s got an incredible amount of R&D and early manufacturing that’s going to go into it.”
Initially, IBM’s new quantum center will operate out of Discovery Partners Institute and the University of Chicago, but IBM plans to move its supercomputer to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, or IQMP, once the park is finished.
“It’s really humbling that they (IBM) believe in our vision for creating a first-of-its-kind, global hub for quantum scale-up and related quantum and microelectronics R&D and that they want to be a part of it,” said IQMP CEO Harley Johnson.
At Pritzker’s urging, Illinois will invest half a billion dollars to support making Chicago a quantum hub, with the IQMP at its heart.
The governor on Thursday estimated it’ll take at least a couple of years for tenants to be able to move into the IQMP, to be located on the former U.S. Steel South Works site.
Despite reservations from some residents on the Southeast Side, the Chicago City Council on Wednesday approved the necessary zoning for the IQMP.
“I’m pleased with the amount of communication that’s happening, and that there is a real commitment on the part of people — who are some of the folks standing behind me — and on my part to try to meet some of the concerns, and overcome some of the concerns,” Pritzker said. “The amount of concern and focus is, I think, heartening.”
The governor said environmental remediation will be done on the park’s site.
IBM’s futuristic computer’s name, IBM Quantum System Two, belies its possibilities.
“We need lighter-weight materials so that we can leverage electrification better,” Krishna said. “We need better batteries. We need to worry about food safety. We need to worry about financial risk. All of these are problems that we believe are going to be within the reach of quantum computing in this decade.”
Contact Amanda Vinicky: @AmandaVinicky | [email protected]
