2025: A Groundbreaking Year for the IQMP

The United Nations celebrated 100 years since the development of quantum mechanics by declaring 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. They challenged leaders across the quantum ecosystem to raise awareness of quantum computing’s real-world potential, promote collaboration, and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Over the past year, the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) rose to that challenge. With the Park’s groundbreaking, we reached a critical milestone that was barely imaginable just a few years ago, further establishing Illinois as a global destination for quantum technology and innovation.

Watch highlights and celebrate the amazing work we did in 2025 in our end-of-year video here:

A Growing Quantum Ecosystem

Building upon existing partnerships with anchor tenant PsiQantum and IBM, in 2025, the IQMP ecosystem expanded significantly with the addition of three new tenants – Diraq, Infleqtion and Pasqal – and a partnership with Silicon Catalyst.

Australian company Diraq will initially join the IQMP On-Ramp program, which is designed to allow future tenants to leverage the IQMP’s ecosystem while the Park is under construction. This Spring, Diraq was awarded one of 16 Stage A contracts for the DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. Powered by Nobel Prize-winning technology, Infleqtion and Pasqal are not only expected to create a total of more than 80 new jobs, they are making significant investments in the state’s economic landscape. For instance, Infleqtion announced a $50 million investment to develop a utility-scale neutral atom quantum computer and to establish its global headquarters in Illinois as a tenant of the IQMP. Pasqal, a French quantum technology leader, committed more than $65 million to open its first U.S. location at the IQMP. 

The partnership between the IQMP, Illinois Economic Development Corporation and Silicon Catalyst will help attract quantum startups to Illinois and offer resources – like lab space, infrastructure and advanced scale-up and cryogenic facilities – upon arrival. Silicon Catalyst is the world’s only accelerator focused exclusively on the semiconductor industry, and they’ve already engaged 1,500 startup companies globally.

Inspiring the Next Generation

A range of IQMP partners, including Fermilab and Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), introduced quantum concepts to local students throughout the year. 

More than 40 Chicago Public Schools high school students participated in Fermilab’s 10-week Saturday Morning Quantum* program, which culminated in a graduation ceremony at Olive Harvey College’s South Chicago Training Center. Students interacted with mobile exhibits and were able to speak directly with Fermilab scientists behind the research during two separate visits to the lab’s Batavia campus. This incredible opportunity will be available for a new cohort of students during the first quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, DPI introduced quantum computing to more than 150 first-year college students through its Digital Scholars Program, which introduces computing skills and supports college and career readiness. Speakers from PsiQuantum, IBM, the University of Illinois and Argonne National Laboratory shared their personal career paths and highlighted the diverse opportunities within the quantum workforce.

We were also fortunate to collaborate with industry leaders who share our commitment to educating future leaders. Anchor tenant PsiQuantum invested $10,000 in Bowen High School on Chicago’s Southeast Side, helping equip students with resources and tools to prepare them for quantum careers.

Momentum Through the Summer

Our pace certainly didn’t slow down during the summer months. We launched the National Quantum Algorithm Center (NQAC), a membership organization dedicated to developing the algorithms and applications that run on quantum computers.

The NQAC announcement came during TechChicago Week 2025, when P33, Illinois EDC and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs hosted Chicago’s inaugural Global Quantum Forum. The event brought together quantum CEOs, researchers and technology journalists for two full days of conversation, networking and discovery. Governor JB Pritzker opened the forum, which featured 13 expert-led panels, including one moderated by IQMP CEO Harley Johnson.

A Milestone Moment

September came and with it, a defining milestone for the IQMP: groundbreaking! Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local officials, PsiQuantum, developer Related Midwest, business and community leaders and IQMP partners to pick up a shovel and celebrate the official beginning of a new chapter for Chicago’s South Side. The first state-of-the-art facility to appear on the former U.S. Steel South Works site will belong to PsiQuantum, where they will build the first utility-scale, fault-tolerant, million-qubit quantum computer.  While physical construction ramps up, research teams have already begun deploying talent and hardware to Illinois, and the NQAC will have spaces available across Chicago where computational scientists and industry end users can kickstart their collaboration on the development of algorithms.

Looking Ahead

There’s no doubt that 2026 will be an innovative and exciting year – already, our calendar is filling up with major events, new announcements and pivotal construction projects.

As the IQMP marches forward, we will continue to prove why Illinois is uniquely positioned to catalyze the innovation needed in the quantum and semiconductor industries. Through it all, we’ll continue to deepen our relationship with the community surrounding the Park and ensure that our presence uplifts everyone around us.

2025 was a groundbreaking year (literally), and we’re just getting started!