Partners & Facilities

Centers

Chicago Quantum Exchange

The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub and community of researchers with the common goal of advancing academic and industrial efforts in the science and engineering of quantum information across CQE members, partners, and our region.

Q-NEXT

Q-NEXT is a collaboration involving the world's leading minds from the national laboratories, universities and the private sector, is one of five National Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers awarded by the Department of Energy (DOE) in August 2020.

HQAN

HQAN features three quantum testbeds that will collaboratively develop the technology needed to assemble a hybrid quantum processor and network. Each laboratory is designed with multiple kinds of quantum hardware, which will be used to demonstrate distributed quantum processing and communication protocols.

NSF QuBBE

Biology and quantum science are convergent fields. NSF QuBBE will dramatically accelerate this convergence by driving use-inspired development of quantum sensing modalities and novel correlative imaging approaches.

EPiQC

The multi-institutional Enabling Practical-scale Quantum Computing (EPiQC) Expedition will help bring the great potential of quantum computing into reality by reducing the current gap between existing theoretical algorithms and practical quantum computing architectures.

SQMS

SQMS is a DOE-funded center headquartered at Fermilab, managed by the University of Chicago. SQMS is focused on building and deploying a beyond-state-of-the-art quantum computer based on superconducting technologies.

Berggren Center for Quantum Biology and Medicine

The Berggren Center is housed within the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and draws on the University’s renowned strengths in quantum science, biomedical research and clinical care. The center is focused on a bold scientific field that merges quantum technology with biology to transform the future of medicine.

Duality

Duality is a first-of-its-kind accelerator program for next-generation startups focused on quantum and enabling technologies. The 12-month program provides world-class business and entrepreneurship training from its partner institutions and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The program draws on its founding partners and the Chicago region’s deep well of scientific, corporate, and industry expertise to develop practical applications of quantum technology.

Facilities

Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility

The Pritzker Nanofabrication Facility (PNF) is an ISO Class 5 cleanroom that specializes in advanced lithographic processing of hard and soft materials. The PNF is located in the Eckhardt Research Center at the University of Chicago. The PNF is also proud to partner with Northwestern University in the NSF-supported Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) resource.

Argonne National User Facilities

Argonne National Laboratory is home to five national user facilities, which enable scientific users from universities, national laboratories, industry and federal agencies to carry out experiments and pursue ground-breaking discoveries that would otherwise not be possible.

Argonne Quantum Loop

The Argonne Quantum Loop consists of a pair of connected 26-mile fiber-optic cables that wind circuitously between Argonne to the Illinois tollway near Bolingbrook, IL, and back. At 52 total miles, it is currently among the longest ground-based quantum communication channels in the country. The loop will serve as a testbed for researchers interested in leveraging the principles of quantum physics to send secure information across long distances.

Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The University of Chicago's Polsky Center is a 60-person professional staff responsible for advancing all University of Chicago entrepreneurship and research commercialization innovation activities through the creation of new ventures and partnerships. By igniting a spirit of innovation and fostering connections that extend across the University, city, region and world, the Polsky Center enables more ideas to have a meaningful impact on society.

Partners

Argonne National Laboratory

The partnership with Argonne National Laboratory dates back to the founding of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, creating world-class opportunities for students and faculty. Argonne boasts leading scientists, technology, and facilities like the Advanced Photon Source, the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, and the Center for Nanoscale Materials. UChicago PME faculty, many with joint appointments at Argonne, collaborate with the lab’s researchers.

IBM

IBM and the University of Chicago offer Duality startups resources and support to develop quantum software and explore algorithms and applications that could help unlock the potential of quantum computers. This includes access to the IBM Quantum System Two planned to be deployed at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP). Selected startups will be provided with funding from IBM, as well as access to IBM’s quantum computers over the cloud and technical expertise.

Google

A strategic partnership between the University of Chicago, the University of Tokyo, and Google includes Google investing up to $50 million over 10 years to accelerate the development of a fault-tolerant quantum computer and to help train the quantum workforce of the future.

Tohoku University

Japan’s Tohoku University and the University of Chicago partner to fuel quantum research and grow the international quantum workforce. The Chicago-Tohoku Quantum Alliance focuses on research in quantum sensing, quantum communication, and new materials development, and work to promote student exchange, industry partnerships and start-ups.

Seoul National University

The University of Chicago partners with Seoul National University to pursue collaboration in the field of quantum science and engineering, advancing field-defining research and education in this pivotal area. This partnership helps bring together scientists from all over the world to unlock the profound potential of quantum technology.

Indian Institute of Technology

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and the University of Chicago announced a science and technology partnership to promote cooperation in fields such as quantum information science, climate and energy, advanced microelectronics, artificial intelligence and data science. IIT Bombay also has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) as an international partner.

University of Tokyo

The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME) has an academic and research partnership with the University of Tokyo, particularly focused on quantum information science and engineering. This collaboration involves joint research efforts, including projects aimed at advancing quantum computing.