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The Cook County Board of Commissioners has approved a $20 million grant to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. The funds will support the purchase and installation of a cryogenic facility at PsiQuantum, which is set to be the anchor tenant at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP).
Cook County plays a significant role as a partner in IQMP, which aims to become a major center for quantum technologies and microelectronics. The park will bring together industry leaders such as PsiQuantum, IBM, and Infleqtion, along with academic researchers, startups, suppliers, and workforce training initiatives.
"PsiQuantum and IQMP will drive innovation, job creation and economic growth and will position Cook County at the forefront of the global quantum economy," said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “In addition to transforming the long-dormant U.S. Steel South Works site into a hub of innovation, this effort will create opportunities in historically disinvested communities, like the south suburbs.”
In November 2024, commissioners approved a property tax incentive called Class 8 MICRO to encourage sustained investment in IQMP and similar emerging sectors. The $20 million grant was allocated during that same period as part of Cook County’s FY2025 budget.
Estimates suggest that IQMP could generate tens of billions in economic impact for the region. Thousands of jobs are expected during construction alone. In its first phase at IQMP, PsiQuantum anticipates creating at least 150 jobs initially with more roles added as expansion continues. These positions will include both high-tech roles and jobs supporting other functions across the ecosystem. The project is also expected to attract further investment into Cook County.
The development will include both the National Quantum Facility and National Quantum Algorithm Center on campus. Central to these plans is new cryoplant infrastructure; Cryoplant A was ordered from Linde Kryo Technic (LKT) in November 2024 with delivery scheduled over 18 months. Additional facilities are planned as development progresses.
Separately, the State of Illinois has provided a $99 million grant through its Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for equipment design, engineering, purchase, and installation required for establishing cryoplant infrastructure at IQMP.
Cryoplants are large-scale systems using helium-based cooling technology capable of reaching temperatures just above absolute zero—a requirement for many quantum computing applications.
