Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park
Governor JB Pritzker and IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna declared a “quantum leap” in cooperation on 2026, benefiting the local economy. A new FutureNow Chicago delivery facility at the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park is the partnership’s goal. South Side Chicago will gain 750 full-time employment from this initiative over five years.
Following years of industrial disinvestment, Olive-Harvey College’s decision transforms the city’s economy. The global innovation hub will focus on AI, cybersecurity, data science, and quantum computing. IBM intends to help clients solve difficult business problems and generate jobs in Illinois by focusing on the South Side.
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A New Model for Inclusive Workforce Development
The “Chicago Moonshot” a revolutionary apprenticeship program created to guarantee that the advantages of the quantum revolution extend beyond the conventional tech elite is at the center of the announcement. Over the next five years, IBM will work with City Colleges of Chicago to create a program that will prepare 500 apprentices for careers in advanced technology.
Importantly, IBM has promised to hire one-third of the eligible program graduates for full-time jobs, opening up a pipeline for about 180 South Side and surrounding community alumni. The Chicago Community Trust and the Chicagoland Workforce Funders Alliance are two of the generous partners supporting this effort, which aims to promote South Side families’ long-term economic health and upward mobility.
At the occasion, Governor Pritzker said, “IBM’s investment in Illinois is a powerful vote of confidence in our state’s growing technology and quantum ecosystem.” He underlined that the project’s goal is “enabling communities on Chicago’s South Side to benefit from the economic opportunity this project brings” rather than merely focusing on technology.
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Anchoring the “Quantum Works” Hub
When the IQMP’s new Quantum Works facility opens in 2028, IBM will be one of its key tenants. Quantum Works, which is funded by funding from the Discovery Partners Institute, is intended to serve as the park’s “front door” and link locals to housing and employment options offered by the National Quantum Algorithm Center and the University of Illinois System.
The state’s commitment to this project is strengthened by an EDGE agreement. IBM will invest considerable cash and create 750 jobs as part of this arrangement, adding to a 2.5 billion dollar program in Illinois until 2026. The IQMP is expected to generate up to €20 billion in economic impact and thousands of new employment as additional businesses move to the site.
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A Global Leader in Next-Generation Tech
Illinois’s position as a global leader in technology has been significantly accelerated by the alliance. It expands on the National Quantum Algorithm Center, which was founded in 2024 and makes use of IBM’s Quantum System Two, a next-generation modular quantum computer. PhD student Arvind Krishna of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign predicts a “profound difference” in business and daily life from quantum computing in a few years.
Krishna further stated, “This is the moment to intensify our investment and collaboration.” IBM and the government have been partners for one hundred years.
Mayor Brandon Johnson applauded IBM’s “equitable and inclusive economy.” He stated his government will deliver these technological breakthroughs to all 77 city areas, especially those neglected for decades.
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Community and Academic Support
Many city governments and academic institutions applauded the announcement. CCB President Toni Preckwinkle referred to the positions as “pathways to wealth,” while J. Salgado views the apprenticeship program as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
Chicago State University, the University of Chicago, and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville will provide internships, cooperative education, and new curriculum to generate additional employment opportunities. By teaching Black and Brown quantum and microelectronics, Senator Robert Peters said the state is creating a more inclusive future.
Leaders in the private sector including UL Solutions, ComEd, Hyatt, and Northern Trust also expressed their support, portraying the IQMP as a significant catalyst for community development. The South Side is currently seeing the development of a tech-job paradigm “without parallel,” where innovation is matched by inclusivity, according to Brad Henderson, CEO of P33.
The foundation established today at the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park promises to transform the Southeast Side for decades to come when researchers and engineers start relocating to temporary locations throughout Chicago to create the first commercially viable quantum computers.
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