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* Press release…
Governor JB Pritzker today announced Illinois was chosen to host two of the five new National Quantum Information Science Research Centers led by Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in affiliation with the University of Chicago. Each project is projected to received $115 million in federal funding to support breakthroughs in quantum information and science. As part of the state’s historic Rebuild Illinois capital program, Gov. Pritzker made sure the state invested $200 million in the Quantum Exchange to put Illinois at the forefront of creating jobs for the next century. The Quantum Exchange is hub for researchers, both academic and industrial, oriented around the goal of advancing efforts in the science and engineering of quantum information.
Today’s announcement builds on the progress Illinois has made to create an ecosystem to support groundbreaking advances in science and innovation. In addition, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will receive federal funding for two research institutes focused on artificial intelligence. Seven AI institutes will receive federal funding in partnership with existing academic research groups. With the new investments, Illinois is the only state nationwide to receive funding for two hubs.
“This is one of the most exciting developments for the economic vitality and prestige of our state. I could not be more delighted that Illinois will be home to not one, but two of the five quantum research centers in the U.S.— opening the newest chapter in the storied history of scientific and technological innovation in the state of Illinois,” said Governor J.B. Pritzker. “I’m also proud to see one of our world class public universities, the University of Illinois, recognized for their groundbreaking research on artificial intelligence that will revolutionize industry. Our outstanding ecosystem of world-class academic institutions, national labs, Fortune 500 companies and tech startups has changed the world before, and it is poised to do so again. With our state’s investment in science and technology alongside the university and the Department of Energy, we lay the groundwork for scientific achievements that will shape Illinois, the nation—and the globe—for decades to come.”
* I wrote about the governor’s interest in this topic last year…
In 2017, the University of Chicago invested $100 million and partnered with Argonne and Fermilab on a project called the Chicago Quantum Exchange.
While the University of Illinois may be better known for its supercomputing and internet breakthroughs, which led to pretty much everything digital that we take for granted today, the institution has been studying quantum physics since the early 1950s. It joined the exchange in October. […]
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been involved with high-tech development for years in the private sector, and he says he’s familiar with quantum physics. He also knew about U of C’s $100 million investment and its search for more partners. So he decided to commit $100 million from his $45 billion infrastructure bill to the U of I in hopes of not only bringing some of the best minds in the world to Illinois, but also possibly creating an economic boom along the lines of Silicon Valley, the Boston area’s Biomedical Corridor and Boulder, Colo.’s gigantic data storage industry.
“If you catch the wave of a technology as it’s being commercialized, there is really endless opportunity,” Pritzker tells me.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:15 pm
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I do not believe in endless opportunity…better get it while you can.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:24 pm
Great job.
Oh by the way CERN’s Large Hadron Collider is getting a bit long in the tooth and they want to build a larger one. Wouldn’t it be nice if they built it in Illinois?
I think this would be a good thing for a US president to pursue. USA isn’t a member of CERN yet but we could be.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:27 pm
I don’t know, its a little bit of a Leap.
Comment by Ok Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:30 pm
Makes sense. JB comes from the venture capital/private capital world. Lots of opportunities for firms like the Pritzker group to monetize the research started at national labs and universities.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:32 pm
Amazing what can happen when you have a governor working for the good of the state
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:34 pm
Florida resident Bruce Rauner wanted to close universities.
Governors not only open universities, they tout major announcements and show how our universities can be major engines in innovation.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:38 pm
One step closer to sending Scott Bakula back to fix all our problems.
Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:49 pm
== Governors not only open universities, they tout major announcements and show how our universities can be major engines in innovation ==
The catch is making sure university administrators don’t just spend the money on hiring more administrators, giving themselves raises, and refurbishing their own offices.
Comment by Homebody Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 1:50 pm
Humans are strange creatures indeed…We seek the ultimate answer while simultaneously seeking to profit from that unified knowledge…duality may be more than two dimensions…again…strangely.
Sometimes we can’t see the forest…as anything more than lumber.
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 2:12 pm
The amount of stuff this will enable and the amount of stuff this will break if it works out is mind-numbing.
THe way it might (and likely will) enable really good data security and completely hose existing security alone. A big part of SSL (the padlock when you browse) could be broken when this gets figured out (on the quantum computer side).
As for AI, the security considerations of the current administration are going to have an impact on there research in the US.
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 2:34 pm
Kudos to them. I have had a few dealings with Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator. Top notch people.
Comment by pool boy Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 2:44 pm
We have Rivian and Natures Fynd.
Comment by Not a Billionaire Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 2:45 pm
Wonder when Darren Bailey will file a lawsuit against this?
Comment by Big Mike Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 3:02 pm
This is a HUGE deal for the state and our economic future. Great job by both the gov and the legislature to put this $$$ in the capital bill and land this enormous fish.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 3:10 pm
Will AI believe Human Lives Matter?
Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 3:16 pm
hopefully this spurs serious interest in replacing FERMI with a larger Particle Accelerator. Plenty of flat land in Central Illinois that could be used. The LHC is scheduled to get an upgrade to a 60km rin in a few decades. Maybe we could beat them to the punch
Comment by Tweed Jacket Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 5:52 pm
== hopefully this spurs serious interest in replacing FERMI with a larger Particle Accelerator. Plenty of flat land in Central Illinois that could be used. The LHC is scheduled to get an upgrade to a 60km rin in a few decades. Maybe we could beat them to the punch.==
CERN doesn’t have the cash. It’s estimated cost is 24 billion. The Americans could probably help them out if they put it here. It would take some federal help, I can’t see Pritzker landing such a big fish without some help. It would take a president with vision and a respect for science.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 6:00 pm
For the love of dog, open up a black hole and put us out of our misery. #Blackhole2020
Comment by Commisar Gritty Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 6:43 pm
== open up a black hole and put us out of our misery.==
It’s gonna happen. What’s your hurry?
Comment by All this Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 8:05 pm
Awesome. Really good stuff. Nice to see Jay Bob get something right for a change.
Comment by Captain Obvious Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 8:09 pm
“I can’t see Pritzker landing such a big fish without some help”.
There already is a site in Waxahatchie, Texas for the never-built Superconducting Super Collider.
Comment by Old Illini Wednesday, Aug 26, 20 @ 8:21 pm
University of Illinois has an unbelievable physics department. Several Nobel prizes. I don’t get the U of Chicago lead.
Comment by just curious Thursday, Aug 27, 20 @ 8:34 am
I would rather see tax dollars spent on public universities.
Comment by just curious Thursday, Aug 27, 20 @ 8:36 am