Pritzker, Foster cut ribbon for Fermilab's new quantum research lab

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois leaders cut the ribbon on one of the world's largest quantum research labs Monday morning in Batavia. Gov. JB Pritzker hopes the Fermilab Superconducting Quantum Materials and System Centers Garage will help the state stand out as a quantum hub.

Quantum research is constantly used to better understand biology, chemistry and artificial intelligence. Fermilab has been a national leader in particle research since the 1960s, paving the way for superconducting quantum research in 2023.

"Fermilab has been persistent in the delivery of excellence and it often makes success feel like a given," Pritzker said. "Indeed, time and time again, researchers here show the world what it means to be humbly extraordinary."

The company's new quantum garage is one of five research centers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Pritzker and Congressman Bill Foster (D-Naperville) said the facility will advance quantum technology and help solve many challenges in science.

After working 24 years as a physicist at Fermilab, Foster said he is beyond excited to see this expansion.

"After all the years I was at Fermilab, Fermilab held the record for the highest energy accelerator because we had the courage to develop a superconducting accelerator," Foster explained. "Which frankly, everyone laughed at us. Labs around the world tried to make superconducting accelerators and failed in various ways. Fermilab succeeded."

The Pritzker administration said the new research lab will bring together hundreds of quantum experts from four different nations. The SQMSC Garage will be led by Fermilab senior scientist Anna Grasselino.

"QIS is an interdisciplinary field and bringing quantum to full maturity and fruition is a task that simply cannot be solved by a single individual, by a single institution, and possibly not even by a single nation," Grasselino said.

Fermilab has been a national leader in particle research since the 1960s, paving the way for superconducting quantum research in 2023.

Illinois was previously named the top recipient for federal quantum research grants in the country when Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab received $115 million grants from the U.S. Department of Energy. The University of Illinois and University of Chicago have also received $25 million grants from the National Science Foundation's quantum leap challenge.

$200 million from the Rebuild Illinois capital spending plan was invested in the Chicago Quantum Exchange. Pritzker said he is optimistic that the multiple investments across the state can help create science and engineering jobs for the next century.

"I'm thrilled to see our state attract the best in quantum science and I'm committed to making Illinois the hub of quantum development and collaboration with experts and institutions from across the globe," Pritzker said.