Preeti Chalsani
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.
Preeti Chalsani, Business Development Lead for the IQMP and the state’s inaugural Chief Quantum Officer with the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (ILEDC), is a trained physicist who stepped away from the lab to work in intellectual property, technology commercialization and academic-industry partnerships, focusing the last several years on bringing opportunities in quantum to the real-world. In 2020, she helped launch Duality, the first quantum startup accelerator in the U.S. at the University of Chicago.
Preeti was born and raised in Jamshedpur, India, famously known as “The Steel City.” Growing up in an area shaped by industry has informed how Preeti views the transformation of the former U.S. Steel South Works site on Chicago’s South Side and how projects like the IQMP can impact communities for generations.
How would you describe your role with the IQMP?
I’m constantly working to elevate the Park’s profile and help attract companies and organizations that align with our long-term vision. In practice, this means building relationships across the quantum, microelectronics and advanced technology sectors, defining the IQMP as a destination for innovation and taking every opportunity to engage potential partners.
I’m also deeply involved in shaping the Park’s broader tenant and growth strategy to strengthen the ecosystem we are building in Illinois. That looks like understanding the relevant industry trends, evaluating what types of companies might fit within our specific environment and prioritizing the types of research, development and commercialization efforts the Park is uniquely designed to support.
As a physicist, how did you transition to the work you’re doing now?
I had an opportunity to come to Chicago just as the University of Chicago was expanding its quantum efforts. I took a position as Assistant Director of Technology Commercialization at UChicago and worked with faculty in physical sciences and engineering to identify the commercial potential of their research. In 2020, I joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) and led industry partnerships with researchers while also helping launch and grow Duality. As such, I had a courtside seat to the growth of this industry and many of the relevant players. When the Illinois Economic Development Corporation was looking to hire a Chief Quantum Officer, I was in the right place at the right time.
How is the IQMP different from other development projects you’ve worked on?
The IQMP is different because it’s not only about supporting technology companies and elite universities. It’s also about the community and Illinois’ ambition to lead and generate innovation. We’re intentionally building a much broader coalition and creating opportunities for more people and institutions to be part of this ecosystem.
Quantum and microelectronics can feel like abstract topics. Why should people care about them?
While the topic of quantum itself is deeply scientific, this project is really an opportunity to think about what it takes to bring an emerging technology into the public, which is as much about engineering, business, entrepreneurship and human resources as it is science.
Different people see different possibilities. Community members may think about the potential for economic revitalization. Educators may see opportunities to inspire students to explore the science, economics, law and policy behind building an entirely new industry. When you think about workforce development, it becomes clear there’s a role for everyone — not just scientists and engineers, but also lawyers, accountants, HR professionals and others. Opportunities to help shape something entirely new like this don’t come around often.
What potential application of quantum technology excites or interests you the most?
What’s exciting about a transformative technology like this is that we don’t actually know how it will change things 10 years from now. We’ll probably end up using it in ways we can’t even imagine today. It’s similar to when cell phones started becoming popular in the late ’80s and ’90s — I never would have imagined I’d one day use my phone to order cabs and cookies or as a credit card. Quantum has implications for computing, communications and sensing, and will impact so many other areas we’re only beginning to explore.
Tell us about the IQMP leadership team. How are you working together to bring the IQMP to life?
It’s a closely knit team. Anyone who has ever worked at a startup understands that everyone pitches in to make it successful. We’re truly relying on teamwork from every organization and every single person who is involved in it. It is a unique partnership with many organizations such as the ILEDC, P33, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of Chicago, our universities and national labs, and so many others.
How does Illinois’ history and culture of innovation inspire you and the work you’re leading?
I didn’t know a whole lot about Illinois before I moved here in 2017. Only then did I realize how special it is to be in a place with such a deep history of innovative, groundbreaking work. I also came to understand just how broad and established the manufacturing base is in Illinois. The IQMP builds on all of that. Some of the pioneers behind technologies like superconductivity and transistors lived and worked here — concepts I studied as a graduate student. So being here now and able to take part in this next wave of technological innovation that builds on Illinois’ history is really exciting.
PREETI’S INSTANT INSIGHTS:
- Deep dish or tavern style: Tavern.
- Early bird or night owl: Early bird.
- Favorite class in college: Italian language class.
- If you could have dinner with any one person, living or historical, who would it be? Architect Jeanne Gang.
- If you had to describe quantum’s potential in one word, what would it be? Transformative—in ways we currently cannot imagine.
