Partners & Facilities

Centers

Chicago Quantum Exchange

The Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) is an intellectual hub in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana that advances the science and engineering of quantum information, prepares the quantum workforce, and drives the quantum economy in collaboration with leading universities, national labs, and industry partners. The recipient of millions of dollars in government and corporate investment and home to some of the world’s top experts in the field, the CQE community is a central driver of US leadership in quantum technologies.

Q-NEXT

Q-NEXT is establishing the science and technology for the networked quantum information processing of the future. Led by Argonne National Laboratory in partnership with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Q-NEXT is a U.S. Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Center that unites leaders at two national laboratories, 11 universities and six technology companies. Leveraging its partners’ respective strengths and capabilities, Q-NEXT is building entanglement-enabled technologies to connect the world through quantum information. The University of Chicago is a strong partner organization with a faculty member serving as chief science officer.

HQAN

The NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute HQAN is led by the University of Illinois' IQUIST, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin, the University of Chicago, and Stanford University. In addition to these three Midwest research powerhouses, which are members of the Chicago Quantum Exchange, the HQAN program integrates industry and government labs. Launched in September 2020, it is one of five QLCI programs in the US and is aligned with the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act under NSF #2016136.

NSF QuBBE

Based at the University of Chicago (Physical Sciences Division), the Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Quantum Sensing for Biophysics and Bioengineering (NSF QuBBE) brings together researchers from medicine, physics, biology, chemistry, and engineering to create new quantum sensors tailored for biomedical applications. The goals of their center are: to create quantum measurements and imaging systems that exceed classical limits to extract novel information from biology while they create and train the quantum technology workforce of tomorrow.

EPiQC

The multi-institutional Enabling Practical-scale Quantum Computing (EPiQC) Expedition is a multi-disciplinary collaboration across 5 universities, led by the University of Chicago (Physical Sciences Division), that spans algorithms, software, and physical machines.

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 in close partnership with the University of Chicago Medicine and Physical Sciences Division. It 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 program provides world-class business and entrepreneurship training from its partner institutions and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Duality is led by the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago and the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), along with founding partners, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Argonne National Laboratory, and P33.

STAGE Center

The Scientists, Technologists and Artists Generating Exploration (STAGE) Center, founded and directed by Prof. Nancy Kawalek, is a full-scale laboratory embedded within the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, focused on creating and developing new theatre, film, games, and other artistic endeavors inspired by science and 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

Below is a list of the organizations with whom we have formalized research partnerships.

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.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Fermilab has worked to answer fundamental questions and enhance our understanding of everything we see around us. As the United States' premier particle physics laboratory, they work on the world's most advanced particle accelerators and dig down to the smallest building blocks of matter. They also probe the farthest reaches of the universe, seeking out the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The University of Chicago and Universities Research Association (URA), along with industrial partners, owns a management and operating contract for Fermilab.

IonQ

In November 2025, IonQ and UChicago announced a landmark agreement to establish IonQ Center for Engineering and Science on campus and deploy a dedicated next-generation quantum computer and IonQ entanglement distribution quantum network. The agreement includes a major research initiative to accelerate the development of novel quantum technology by University of Chicago researchers, ultimately strengthening quantum computing, quantum networking, quantum sensing, and quantum security technology. Research areas include quantum hardware for computing, networking, sensing, and security, and quantum applications for chemistry, materials science, optimization, security, and advanced communication protocols.

IBM

The University of Chicago and IBM Quantum entered a 10-year partnership in 2023 to pursue quantum-centric supercomputing. IBM Quantum has committed to supporting research at the University to help accelerate this development. IBM also offers Duality startups access to the IBM Quantum System Two as well as select funding. In addition, the University of Chicago is collaborating closely on a new initiative by the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronic Park’s new National Quantum Algorithm Center to locate IBM quantum algorithm researchers in Chicago, reinforcing Illinois’ status as a leader in emerging technology and a global quantum capital.

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.