[Randomguy34]

Illinois lands federal partnership to further develop quantum projects

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, will take residency on the state’s quantum campus to establish a program where quantum computing prototypes will be tested. The location of the campus is expected to be announced soon.

According to DARPA, the goal of the “Quantum Benchmarking Initaitive,” or QBI, will be to evaluate and test quantum computing claims and “separate hype from reality.”
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Pritzker’s 2025 budget allocated $500 million in state investment to help fund quantum research and build a campus, with $300 million going toward the campus. DARPA plans to put out a request for proposals for quantum companies and said it will spend “up to $140 million.” The state plans to match that amount, with the pot of money coming from this year’s budget allocation.
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Both the U.S. Steel South Works site in the South Chicago neighborhood and a former Texaco refinery in Lockport are being floated as potential sites for the campus. But the governor said no final decisions have been made. The location is being decided in partnership with quantum companies that plan to be part of the campus. Pritzker said he’s also seeking a “large enough space” that has access to quantum resources that already exist in northern Illinois.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/technol...pa-jb-pritzker