The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC), and Silicon Catalyst have announced a new partnership to support early-stage quantum startups and attract them to Illinois. The agreement, facilitated by the Illinois EDC, establishes the IQMP as an In-Kind Partner (IKP) in Silicon Catalyst’s accelerator program.
The partnership is aimed at providing quantum companies with the essential infrastructure needed for scale-up and commercialization. Under the agreement, the IQMP will provide lab space, state-of-the-art equipment, and other resources to quantum companies participating in the Silicon Catalyst accelerator.
Participating companies will gain access to facilities at the IQMP’s National Quantum Facility (NQF), which is designed to be an advanced quantum scale-up center featuring a dedicated cryogenic plant. The NQF will also serve as the home for the Illinois-DARPA Quantum Proving Ground, supporting a diverse ecosystem of quantum technology enterprises.
The infrastructure access is considered crucial for startups developing breakthrough quantum systems. James Lougheed, Silicon Catalyst Managing Partner, noted that the access to advanced scale-up and cryogenic facilities provides the startups with the specific environment they need to build, validate, and commercialize quantum hardware. While the main campus is under development, companies will initially operate out of the IQMP’s On Ramp program.
The partnership aligns the state’s economic development goals with a major accelerator focused on the global semiconductor industry, including quantum technologies. IQMP CEO Dr. Harley Johnson stated that this collaboration is intended to encourage quantum companies, once they access the state’s facilities and ecosystem, to continue to grow their businesses in Illinois. The announcement was made at the Q2B Silicon Valley conference.
Read the full announcement from the IQMP here and the Illinois EDC here.
December 9, 2025
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