The leaders behind the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) are trailblazers in science, engineering, industry and academia, working together to uncover practical quantum applications and their infinite possibilities.
The IQMP’s new Chief Operating Officer Lauren Wilson may not be a quantum scientist, but she is an expert in overseeing the completion of significant public-private collaborations like this one. As COO, she is charged with bringing all of the IQMP’s moving parts together, ensuring the space is malleable for the needs of future innovation. Wilson specializes in guiding complex initiatives from idea to reality, accounting for everything from real estate and financing to transportation, organizational infrastructure, partnerships, and economic development. At the IQMP, she’ll use that experience to drive a strategic vision for the Park’s facilities, shape operations and make sure tenants are set up to thrive.
IQMP Chief Operating Officer Lauren Wilson
What inspired you to pursue the work you’re doing?
I got into infrastructure and economic development out of college. My undergraduate degree is in international relations and economics. I started my career at the World Bank, working on infrastructure policy and attracting private sector investment in emerging markets. That gave me an opportunity to understand not only how economic development happens and the role of critical infrastructure, but also how it impacts people’s daily lives. I did similar work at KPMG but there, I had a chance to work more on real estate development, bringing together transportation with transit-oriented development and working with folks in education as well.
How would you explain your role at the IQMP?
My role focuses on building the organization and working closely with our partners, including Related Midwest and the overall development team, to oversee construction of the IQMP. I’m also collaborating with our business development team and the Park tenants to make sure we are collectively thinking about how we grow the quantum ecosystem.
How can infrastructure be designed to attract tenants and ensure they have an optimal experience at the IQMP?
In addition to anchor tenant PsiQuantum’s state-of-the-art buildings, we’re currently developing two additional facilities at the Park. One is Quantum Works, where we’ll engage with the community and focus on workforce and economic development. Then there’s the National Quantum Facility, which is an advanced research laboratory with cryogenic infrastructure designed to support the diverse needs of quantum companies. Access to specialized equipment, including cryo, is prohibitively expensive for many individual companies, so the IQMP’s shared model will allow them to access the resources that enable them to continue their research and development.
How is the Park being designed to meet the diverse needs of tenants and partners?
This is a critical moment for the Park as we define the organization and work through the design of the facilities. The question at the front of our minds is: ‘How do you build infrastructure that’s flexible to the future needs of our tenants and adaptable to the science itself?’ The IQMP is meant to be an innovative space; when we’re thinking about design, we have to consider that there are questions about where the science will go and what it will need in the future.
How is the IQMP different from other development projects you’ve led?
Both the scale and the innovative science components are new for me. I’ve worked on a lot of projects that were a public-private collaboration, but the scale of this collaboration—with the number of higher ed institutions, levels of government and number of agencies, corporate partners and developers involved—is definitely unique.
What excites you most about your new role?
I’m excited to revitalize a site that’s been vacant for a long time and for the impact the Park can make to drive economic growth that benefits the community. It’s also an amazing opportunity to work with such a great team. Everyone is passionate about the IQMP’s success and having so many different types of skills and backgrounds—academic, architecture, technology, corporate, and real estate—pulling in the same direction toward a common goal is incredible!
How do you see the IQMP making an impact beyond Illinois?
The IQMP is exciting for Illinois as a state, but more than that, it’s making a global impact. The quantum field is evolving at an extraordinary pace, with new breakthroughs happening every week. The fact that these life-changing developments are happening in our own backyard means that Illinois is in a position to lead innovation on a global scale – that’s a big deal for our people now and in the future.
LAUREN’S INSTANT INSIGHTS:
- Deep dish or tavern style: Tavern
- Early bird or night owl: Early bird
- Favorite class in college: International law
- If you could have dinner with any one person, living or historical, who would it be: Robert Caro, author of “The Power Broker.” The depths he goes to in research and writing is phenomenal!
- If you had to describe the IQMP’s potential in one word, what would it be: Revitalization
