Latest news with #Infleqtion
Business Journals
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Journals
The Beat: Chicago's quantum scene strikes multiple deals
Welcome to Chicago Inno's The Beat, a twice-weekly look at the people, companies and ideas that are shaping Chicago's innovation economy. The Big One As local lawmakers and industry leaders continue to pursue their vision for making Illinois a global capital for quantum computing, more corporate partners and tech giants want to get involved. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events IBM is the latest notable tech firm to affirm its commitment to the local quantum scene. Startups going through Duality, the nation's first quantum startup accelerator, will now get access to IBM's quantum network along with additional support and resources from the tech giant. READ MORE: IBM expands support for Chicago's quantum startups More Chicago Inno news to know The University of Chicago is partnering with Alchemist Accelerator — an institution out of California's Bay Area that's raised $4B and supported more than 650 companies — to help bring more local scientific breakthroughs from lab to market. is partnering with — an institution out of California's Bay Area that's raised $4B and supported more than 650 companies — to help bring more local scientific breakthroughs from lab to market. The Department of Labor is expanding the number of small businesses that could see big cuts in their Occupational Health and Safety Administration fines. is expanding the number of small businesses that could see big cuts in their Occupational Health and Safety Administration fines. Bonsai announced an investment of $1.8M to accelerate go-to-market efforts for its marketing intelligence platform. Infleqtion to build advanced quantum computer in Chicago A new public-private partnership will make Illinois home to one of the most advanced quantum platforms in the world, the state announced Wednesday. As part of an expected $50M investment over the next four years, quantum startup Infleqtion plans to build the first utility-scale neutral atom quantum computer at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's South Side. Infleqtion will work in partnership with the quantum park and the National Quantum Algorithms Center. READ MORE: Infleqtion to build advanced quantum computer in Chicago as part of $50M investment Sign up for Inno's free twice-weekly newsletter to receive the latest innovation news impacting Chicago
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago's quantum campus gets another tenant
Quantum company Infleqtion will become a tenant of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park at the former U.S. Steel South Works plant, Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday. The announcement of Infleqtion's project was made as quantum leaders from around the globe gathered in Chicago for the inaugural Global Quantum Forum. 'Infleqtion's decision to expand in Illinois is a powerful validation of our vision for the park, and their investment of more than $14 million and the creation of 36, maybe more, new high-quality jobs brings us a step closer to realizing that vision,' said Harley Johnson, executive director and CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. With support from the state's Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity Act Program, Infleqtion will build a utility-scale quantum computer, Pritzker said. The state's MICRO program provides incentives for companies that manufacture microchips, semiconductors, quantum computers and associated component parts as well as those engaged in research and development. This MICRO agreement with Infleqtion specifies a minimum company investment of $14 million and the creation of at least 36 full-time jobs. Other tenants at the quantum park include PsiQuantum, Diraq, the IL-DARPA Quantum Proving Ground, the National Quantum Algorithm Center and IBM's Quantum System Two.
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Infleqtion to Accelerate Next-Generation Quantum Computing in Illinois
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Infleqtion, a global leader in quantum information technologies, today announced it will build the first utility-scale, neutral atom quantum computer in Illinois. In collaboration with the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) and the National Quantum Algorithms Center (NQAC), the initiative represents an expected $50M public-private partnership over the next four years and will culminate in one of the most advanced quantum platforms in the world. Featuring the next-generation of Infleqtion's Sqale quantum computer, the system will target 100 logical qubits and leverage thousands of neutral atom qubits designed to unlock the era of utility-scale quantum computing. The project represents a major leap forward in Illinois' commitment to quantum leadership and national competitiveness, generating new opportunities for capital investment, catalyzing job creation, research acceleration, and public-private partnerships that center Illinois in the global quantum ecosystem. 'Just a few short years ago, we laid out a vision for making Illinois a global capital for quantum computing. We have worked with partners from across government, business, research institutions, National Laboratories, and academia to build an ecosystem that would attract the most important players in quantum development,' said Governor JB Pritzker. 'I'm excited to announce that Infleqtion will be building their utility-scale, neutral atom quantum computer right here in Chicago, as a tenant of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, doubling down on their commitment to growth and innovation in our state, and creating good jobs and economic opportunity for all.' Chicago Roots, Global Impact Infleqtion has deep and growing ties to the Illinois quantum ecosystem, including a strong R&D and engineering presence in downtown Chicago. This new initiative will support strategic government-funded programs such as ARPA-E, the U.S. Army, private foundations like Wellcome Leap, and other commercial partners. In support of the project, Infleqtion plans to significantly expand its workforce in Illinois, including roles across engineering, commercialization, research, and more. As part of the agreement, Illinois will become Infleqtion's headquarters for quantum computing initiatives, creating a unified quantum research, development, and workforce pipeline that leverages the state's national labs, universities, and industry partners. 'Building a utility-scale quantum computer in Illinois is a pivotal step in turning decades of foundational research into transformative real-world impact,' said Fred Chong, Seymour Goodman Professor of Computer Science, University of Chicago. 'Chicago has long been a cornerstone of quantum innovation, and this project exemplifies how academic, government, and industry collaboration can accelerate progress. Neutral atom systems offer a uniquely promising path to scalability, and Infleqtion's leadership in this space will help push the boundaries of what's possible.' 'Infleqtion is a tremendous partner to Chicago, Illinois, and the broader quantum community, and we are honored to deepen our collaboration,' said Brad Henderson, CEO of P33. 'This underscores the region's growing role as a global quantum leader and reinforces the importance of public-private partnerships in driving innovation, talent development, and economic growth. Infleqtion is helping build a future where the Midwest is synonymous with quantum leadership.' Neutral Atoms: The Foundation of Utility-Scale Quantum Computing Infleqtion holds the commercial records for qubit count with its demonstration of a 1600 atom array and for neutral atom fidelity with its 99.73% user-facing two-qubit fidelity. Unlike solid-state or superconducting approaches, Infleqtion's Sqale platform manipulates individual neutral atoms, the most naturally uniform and scalable qubits available. With laser-controlled architectures and dynamic reconfigurability, neutral atom systems can be easily scaled and reshaped, giving them a level of flexibility that other quantum technologies can't match. The installed Sqale quantum computer will enable cutting-edge AI applications through the Contextual Machine Learning (CML) algorithm debuted by Infleqtion at NVIDIA's GTC conference earlier this year. Sqale will integrate Infleqtion's Superstaq compiler, advanced optical control technologies, and quantum error correction protocols to support utility-scale workloads, with potential applications in materials science, AI, drug discovery, and national security. 'As quantum moves to commercial deployment, capital and capability must align,' said Matthew Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion. 'Illinois is making the right investments to support long-term leadership, and we're proud to expand our quantum computing leadership here as we build toward utility-scale and application-scale performance.' Illinois continues to establish itself as a global leader in quantum technology, introducing new quantum-focused tax incentives as part of a broader business development package. DCEO's MICRO program provides incentives for companies that manufacture microchips, semiconductors, quantum computers, and associated component parts, as well as those engaged in research and development. Under the MICRO agreement, Infleqtion has committed to invest $14 million and create dozens of full-time jobs. The value of Infleqtion's expected tax credit from the State of Illinois exceeds $5 million. Infleqtion's investments and salaries in Illinois, along with incentives from Illinois, are expected to reach a total value of approximately $50 million. A link to the full MICRO agreement is available on the DCEO website at By focusing on utility-scale and neutral atom scalability, Infleqtion's new platform will complement these initiatives, establishing Illinois as home to the most diverse and forward-looking quantum infrastructure in the country. For more information about Infleqtion including its quantum computing initiatives, visit About Infleqtion Infleqtion is a world-leading quantum technology company pioneering transformative solutions that enhance precision and performance across multiple essential industries. With more than 18 years of experience commercializing quantum technology with neutral atoms, Infleqtion specializes in atomic clocks, quantum software, quantum RF, and neutral-atom quantum computing. We deliver state-of-the-art solutions for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), compute, precision timekeeping, and optimization. Our unparalleled expertise makes us the preferred partner for global customers seeking advanced quantum solutions for defense, enterprise, and compute applications. For more information, please visit us at
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Pritzker Lures Another Startup for His Chicago Quantum Campus
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has sealed a deal to bring another company to his Chicago quantum computing campus after investments from PsiQuantum Corp. and International Business Machines Corp. Infleqtion, a Colorado-based startup which recently raised $100 million, said it will build a utility-scale quantum computer as part of a $50 million, four-year public-private partnership with Illinois, according to a statement on Wednesday. The project will be developed at the state's new quantum and microelectronics park in Chicago's South Side.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Building A Smarter Shield: How Quantum Tech Will Fortify America's Missile Defense
Paul Lipman is Chief Strategy Officer at Infleqtion, leading growth and productization efforts at the cutting edge of quantum technology. When President Reagan proposed a 'Star Wars' missile defense system in 1983, as a science-obsessed high school student, I was enthralled at the idea of space-based lasers and particle weapons. Reagan's vision, while clearly technically infeasible at the time, galvanized an entire generation of young minds to pursue careers at the intersection of science, technology and national security. Today, with rising threats from stealthy cruise missiles and maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles, missile defense has taken on a new national urgency. The White House recently launched the 'Golden Dome for America,' an ambitious effort to build a next-generation defense shield for the U.S. homeland. This program sets a bold goal: a layered, high-tech missile defense shield capable of detecting and defeating a wide array of threats before they reach U.S. soil. Yet as modern threats evolve, so must the tools we use to counter them. Quantum technologies, which until quite recently were confined to the laboratory, are now playing a pivotal role in that transformation. Today's missile threats are faster, stealthier and more evasive than ever. They're designed to fly under radar coverage, jam traditional tracking systems, and confuse defense systems and decision-makers through their speed and complexity. The Golden Dome responds to this through a multilayered shield: integrating satellites, radars, interceptors and command centers across space, land, sea and air. But simply stitching these systems together isn't enough. The real breakthrough lies in fusing them into a cohesive, intelligent network that can anticipate, adapt and respond in real time. That's where I expect quantum technologies to make a profound impact. Missile defense depends on precise timing synchronization across hundreds of systems—from satellites to radar to interceptors. However, GPS-based timing is vulnerable to jamming, and even slight timing errors can translate into missed intercepts. Optical atomic clocks deliver timing accuracy at the picosecond level and operate independently of GPS, allowing the defense network to stay precisely in sync, even in congested or contested environments. These clocks are already being tested and deployed in defense settings, recognized for their ability to keep communication, sensing and targeting aligned under pressure. They will also enable advanced radar systems that rely on precisely synchronized nodes to detect fast-moving or stealthy threats. Next-generation missiles typically emit only faint or camouflaged radio signals, making them challenging to detect using conventional receivers—especially in noisy or jammed environments. Quantum radiofrequency sensors use clouds of atoms to detect radio waves with extraordinary sensitivity, capturing signals that traditional antennas miss, including low-power telemetry, stealthy communications or the electronic whispers of a missile in flight. They also enable passive detection—listening without transmitting—providing a stealthy, jam-resistant approach to monitoring adversarial activity. Deployed on satellites, drones or ground stations, these sensors can offer unprecedented spectrum awareness for missile defense. A layered defense system generates immense volumes of data, including infrared and optical imagery, radar feeds, and intercepted communication signals. Making sense of this data in real time is a substantial challenge, especially during an active attack. Quantum-inspired AI is helping to address this. This new class of machine learning models makes use of quantum principles to process time-sensitive, multisource data more efficiently and effectively than traditional AI, resulting in faster, smarter, more reliable decision-making. Such AI systems can correlate radar and infrared inputs, discriminate real threats from decoys and direct optimal interceptor responses in fractions of a second. They're capable of running on edge-deployed GPU hardware, making them ideal for space or mobile deployments where every millisecond counts. Much of the Golden Dome's infrastructure will be in orbit, where resilience is critical. Space-based sensors and systems must thus operate reliably in harsh, maintenance-free conditions. Quantum sensors have already flown aboard the International Space Station and are being prepared for a range of upcoming U.S. satellite missions. These deployments demonstrate that quantum technology can already be ruggedized, miniaturized and adapted for real-world missions far beyond the lab. Autonomous space-based quantum systems—providing precise timing or detecting faint emissions—add a critical source of advantage to a missile defense system that must remain functional even when under electronic or kinetic attack. The strategic implications of quantum-enhanced defense are far-reaching. If the U.S. can reliably detect, track and intercept even the most advanced missiles, the incentive for adversaries to launch such weapons drops dramatically. This 'deterrence by denial' is a cornerstone of modern defense strategy. A quantum-enabled missile shield would be smarter, more adaptive and harder to fool or disable. It could detect threats sooner, track them more precisely and respond more decisively. And by reducing reliance on vulnerable systems like GPS, it would ensure critical national security systems remain online and functional even in the fog of war. Missile defense is at a crossroads. Traditional technologies won't be sufficient to meet the Golden Dome's needs, but quantum technologies, once seen as futuristic, are now proving their worth in the fast-evolving national security landscape. Optical atomic clocks, quantum RF sensors and AI inspired by the rules of quantum physics are no longer on the horizon. They're here, tested and ready to be deployed as part of the Golden Dome and beyond. Just as Reagan's bold vision sparked my fascination with the intersection of science and defense, today's quantum breakthroughs rekindle that same sense of possibility. The dream that once seemed like science fiction is now becoming a national security fact—and this time, we actually have the tools to make it real. 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