A company is planning to build the largest quantum computing facility in the U.S. PsiQuantum is partnering with the state of Illinois, Cook County, and the city of Chicago to build the facility. The fault-tolerant quantum computing facility will be built on the site of the former U.S. Steel South Works in Chicago.
It is widely accepted that a practical-scale quantum computer would require one million qubits, the number needed to reach the critical threshold for quantum error correction.
By implementing such systems, it will be possible to produce extremely accurate answers to computational problems that could never be solved by conventional computers.
Quantum computing facilities bring benefits to industry
According to PsiQuantum, Illinois’ key industries, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, financial services and manufacturing, all stand to benefit greatly from these quantum computing capabilities.
“Quantum computing has shown theoretical promise for decades, but it takes infrastructure projects like the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park to develop the technology and turn the hype into reality,” said Professor Jeremy O’Brien, CEO and co-founder of PsiQuantum.
“Governor Pritzker and the State of Illinois understand what it will take to unlock the potential of quantum computing, and we are thrilled to partner with them to anchor the state’s quantum strategy with the nation’s first utility-scale quantum computer at this iconic location.”
The company has chosen not to build a small-scale quantum computer (such as IBM’s Condor, which uses just over 1,100 qubits).
Large-scale systems
Instead, the company aims to build and test what it calls “intermediate systems,” which could include chips, cabinets, superconducting photon detectors, etc. PsiQuantum says it’s targeting these larger systems because smaller devices can’t properly correct errors or operate at a viable price, according to MIT Technology Review.
“Given the limitless possibilities that quantum computing technology holds, it is critical that we engage in quantum partnerships, research and infrastructure across the nation,” said Governor JB Pritzker.
“With this first-of-its-kind quantum park in Illinois, we are leading the way in connecting stakeholders, experts and future generations of quantum leaders. We are pleased to have PsiQuantum as our anchor tenant as we launch this exciting collaboration to create the jobs of the future, and PsiQuantum’s choice of Chicago solidifies our position as a global hub for quantum computing.”
PsiQuantum’s job creation business
To strengthen Quantum Park and help build an even stronger quantum ecosystem, PsiQuantum will partner with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Northwestern University to explore opportunities to collaborate on research projects and develop educational programs for quantum applications.
PsiQuantum’s Chicago operation will create at least 150 jobs over the next five years and will be critical to developing a strong workforce that will include PhDs in quantum physics as well as careers in mechanical engineering, optical engineering, electrical engineering, software development and technology lab work.
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Prabhat Ranjan Mishra Prabhat is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication and a technology and defence journalist. He likes writing about modern weapons and emerging technologies but also covers global politics and business. He has previously worked with reputed media houses like International Business Times (Singapore edition) and ANI.
