The University of Chicago has announced a partnership with IonQ, a global quantum technology company, to advance research and innovation in quantum science and engineering. The initiative aims to develop new technologies such as advanced quantum computers, secure communication networks, and applications that could impact various industries.
As part of the collaboration, UChicago will support faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and students at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME). A sponsored research program between the university and IonQ will be established. Additionally, a new science and engineering building is planned for construction at 56th Street and Ellis Avenue. This facility will house PME and other research areas and will be named the IonQ Center for Engineering and Science.
“At the University of Chicago, our leadership in quantum science is built on groundbreaking research and powerful collaborations,” said President Paul Alivisatos. “This new partnership with IonQ reflects our conviction that foundational discovery and industry can advance the field together. With this support, our faculty and students will be able to reach further—to test bold ideas, accelerate new scientific discoveries and innovation, and help shape the future of the strongest quantum technology ecosystem in the world, right here in Chicago.”
IonQ specializes in trapped ion quantum technologies, entanglement-based networking, high-performance quantum clocks, and inertial sensors. UChicago hosts one of the largest groups of quantum scientists globally and offers an early Ph.D. program in quantum science. The university also leads initiatives like the Chicago Quantum Institute at PME and is home to the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), which partners with academic institutions, government agencies, and industry.
“This collaboration recognizes both the transformative potential of quantum science and engineering and the University of Chicago’s investments and leadership in this area,” said Nadya Mason, dean of UChicago PME and interim vice president for Science, Innovation and Partnerships at UChicago. “Our partnership with IonQ will accelerate quantum discovery and translation, advancing technologies that power a more secure, sustainable and connected world while creating new opportunities for the next generation of researchers.”
IonQ is set to become CQE’s third core partner alongside Boeing and IBM. The arrangement includes expanding a fiber-optic testbed connecting UChicago with Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory—already one of the longest such networks in the country at 124 miles—which supports applications like encrypted communications, distributed computing, and precise sensing.
The state of Illinois has provided significant support for these efforts since 2019 through public investment aimed at developing technology infrastructure for emerging fields like quantum science. Collaborative spaces within the upcoming IonQ Center are expected to benefit over 60 CQE partners from corporate, academic, university, or international backgrounds.
“When Illinois invested $175 million in 2019 to support emerging technology infrastructure like quantum at the University of Chicago, I knew we were making a strong commitment to Illinois’ future,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “Today that investment continues to pay dividends as Illinois cements its place as a global hub for quantum. Partnerships like this one between the University of Chicago and IonQ show how visionary public investment can spark breakthroughs that create jobs, attract industry and keep Illinois at the forefront of the technologies like quantum that are shaping our future.”
The initiative may result in more than 140 research projects involving national laboratories or industry partners. The installation of IonQ’s production-grade trapped ion technology could enable new uses for simulators or computers—including simulating materials or calculating molecular reaction rates beyond current classical methods—and connect these systems into larger networks benefiting health care or energy sectors.
Quantum engineering has been central to PME’s mission since its founding; earlier this year Nature ranked UChicago first among U.S. universities for its work in this field due to strengths across both PME’s engineering focus as well as fundamental sciences within its Physical Sciences Division.
Other recent developments include breaking ground on facilities dedicated to scaling up microelectronics research—such as Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park—and strengthening ties among affiliated organizations including Argonne National Laboratory or Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
“This landmark agreement with the University of Chicago will fuel IonQ’s innovation engine, marking the first time IonQ’s production-grade quantum computing system and entanglement distribution quantum network will be hosted directly on a university campus,” said Niccolo de Masi, chairman and CEO of IonQ. “We’re combining our commercial-grade quantum computing systems with some of the world’s leading academic talent to generate innovations with valuable real-world applications. That research will directly benefit IonQ’s product roadmap and strengthen our competitive advantage in enterprise and government markets.”
“IonQ and the University of Chicago are bringing the world’s top minds in quantum technology together to innovate on cutting-edge applications and propel Chicago’s local quantum ecosystem, with roots at the IonQ Center for Engineering and Science on campus,” said Jordan Shapiro, president & general manager of Quantum Networking Sensing & Security at IonQ. “Our delivery of a quantum network & computer enables us to explore intersections across devices; we look forward to collaborating broadly as a core CQE partner.”
The timing comes amid growing interest in using advances from academia-industry-government partnerships not only for technological progress but also economic growth or security purposes—similar models having led past breakthroughs such as those underpinning modern computing or biotechnology.
“Partnerships between industry & academia are crucial… because it brings strengths together… transforms discoveries into real-world applications… creates valuable connections between students & companies crucial for scaling workforce,” said David Awschalom Liew Family Professor Molecular Engineering UChicago PME professor Department Physics director CQE.