Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined IBM and university officials Friday to unveil a new quantum computer in Chicago, a project backed by $25 million in state taxpayer funding. Pritzker said the computer would bring jobs to Illinois.
The IBM Quantum System Two was unveiled at Hyde Park Labs, with officials from the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign also in attendance. Pritzker said scientific innovation and its results are hugely important, as is an economic boom for the state.
The $25 million grant came from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Officials said the system would relocate to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on Chicago's Southeast Side when that facility opens. State, county and city governments have provided hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives for companies to operate at the park.
Pritzker's administration has invested at least $700 million in taxpayer funds in quantum computing, and federal taxpayers are chipping in $280 million for the IQMP through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Earlier this year, Pritzker and IBM announced a new IBM FutureNow Chicago delivery center at the IQMP, expected to create 750 new full-time jobs in partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago.
Brad Henderson, CEO of the tech innovation catalyst company P33, said the System Two represents opportunities for people. "We forecasted by 2035 in Chicago, in the region, there will be 177,000 quantum jobs," Henderson said. He added that IBM would be hiring at an upcoming career fair at Olive-Harvey College.
Pritzker said large employers such as insurance companies and banks need quantum teams. He said the technology being developed here would bring direct and indirect job creation.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Illinois taxpayers are funding a major quantum computing project, with state investments exceeding $700 million, potentially positioning Chicago as a hub for the emerging technology.
- Officials forecast tens of thousands of quantum-related jobs in the region by 2035, which could reshape the local economy and workforce.
- The project involves public, private and federal funds, making it a test case for large-scale public investment in next-generation computing.
Background
Illinois has been aggressively investing in quantum computing under Governor Pritzker, committing hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and tax incentives. The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's Southeast Side is the centerpiece of this strategy, designed to attract companies like IBM and their partners. The IBM Quantum System Two is a commercial quantum computer that will eventually operate from the park.
Key Perspectives
- Gov. J.B. Pritzker: called the project an economic boom for Illinois, saying it will bring direct and indirect job creation as companies invest billions and hire quantum teams.
- Brad Henderson, CEO of P33: forecasted 177,000 quantum jobs in the Chicago region by 2035 and said IBM will be hiring at a career fair on the city's South Side.
What to Watch
- The upcoming career fair at Olive-Harvey College, where IBM plans to recruit for quantum positions.
- The opening of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, which will host the System Two and other quantum operations.
- Whether the job forecasts materialize and attract additional private investment.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedPritzker and IBM unveiled a quantum computer backed by a $25 million state grant.The Center Square Illinois: “The public-private project includes a $25 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.”
- SupportedPritzker said quantum means companies investing billions of dollars and creating thousands of jobs.The Center Square Illinois: “Pritzker said quantum means companies investing billions of dollars and creating thousands of jobs.”
- SupportedPritzker joined IBM and university officials Friday to unveil the IBM Quantum System Two in Chicago.The Center Square Illinois: “State and local officials joined administrators from the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at the unveiling of the IBM Quantum System Two at Hyde Park Labs in Chicago on Friday.”
- SupportedPritzker said the new computer would bring jobs to Illinois.The Center Square Illinois: “Gov. J.B. Pritzker says a new quantum computer in Chicago will bring jobs to Illinois”
- SupportedPritzker said scientific innovation and its results are important, as is an economic boom for Illinois.The Center Square Illinois: ““Scientific innovation is hugely important and the results of it are as well. It’s also really important that this is an economic boom for the state of Illinois,” the governor said.”
- SupportedThe System Two will relocate to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park when it opens on Chicago’s Southeast Side.The Center Square Illinois: “Officials said the System Two would relocate to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park when the facility opens on Chicago’s Southeast Side.”
- SupportedIllinois, Cook County and Chicago governments have provided hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives for companies at the park.The Center Square Illinois: “Illinois, Cook County and Chicago governments have provided hundreds of millions of dollars in tax incentives for companies to operate at the IQMP.”
- SupportedPritzker’s administration has invested at least $700 million in taxpayer funds in quantum computing.The Center Square Illinois: “Pritzker’s administration has invested at least $700 million of taxpayer funds in quantum computing.”
- SupportedThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is providing $280 million for the IQMP.The Center Square Illinois: “Federal taxpayers are also chipping in for the IQMP, with $280 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.”
- SupportedThe FutureNow Chicago delivery center is expected to create 750 full-time jobs in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago.The Center Square Illinois: “The program is expected to create 750 new full-time jobs in partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago.”
- SupportedHenderson said, “We forecasted by 2035 in Chicago, in the region, there will be 177,000 quantum jobs.”The Center Square Illinois: ““We forecasted by 2035 in Chicago, in the region, there will be 177,000 quantum jobs,” Henderson said.”
- SupportedIBM would hire at an upcoming career fair at Olive-Harvey College.The Center Square Illinois: “Henderson said IBM would be hiring people at an upcoming career fair at Olive-Harvey College on Chicago’s South Side.”
