Bluefors, a global manufacturer of cryogenic cooling systems, has officially joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) as a corporate partner. The Helsinki-based company’s entry into the consortium follows the recent expansion of its operational footprint in the Midwest, including the establishment of its first U.S. facility, Bluefors Lab Chicago, at the mHUB innovation center. This partnership aims to integrate Bluefors’ cryogenic expertise into the “Quantum Prairie” supply chain, supporting the Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region’s efforts to scale domestic quantum manufacturing and workforce development.
To further increase regional research capacity, Bluefors will open a second Bluefors Lab Service facility on May 12, 2026. Located within the UChicago Science Incubator at Hyde Park Labs, the 580-square-foot facility will provide early-stage startups and academic researchers with flexible access to an LD400He Measurement System and dedicated technical support. This infrastructure is designed to facilitate hands-on experimentation in quantum sensing, communications, and computing, all of which require the stable milli-Kelvin environments provided by dilution refrigeration.
The LD400He system at the new Hyde Park location is a high-performance cryogenic platform capable of reaching base temperatures below 1 K or 0.5 K, depending on the helium isotope configuration (Helium-4 or Helium-3). The system features large experimental space with a 303 mm evaporator flange and extensive capabilities for DC and RF experimental wiring, making it compatible with superconducting qubit characterization and magneto-transport measurements. By providing shared access to these capital-intensive systems, Bluefors and the CQE aim to lower the barrier for hardware innovation and accelerate the transition of quantum technologies from laboratory prototypes to industrial-scale deployment.
You can find the official announcement regarding Bluefors joining the Chicago Quantum Exchange here and on the Bluefors news site here.
May 6, 2026
