Quantum Economy

The Bloch Quantum Tech Hub

The US Economic Development Administration designated the Chicago metro area as a central driver of US leadership in quantum technologies.

The Bloch is the nation’s only quantum innovation team rallying entire sectors around society’s most urgent challenges—to combat financial fraud, secure the energy grid, and accelerate the development of life-saving drugs. By bringing critical industries and quantum technologists together to build large-scale solutions to global problems, The Bloch is leading the US to a sustainable and inclusive quantum economy.

With a coalition of Fortune 500 companies, quantum startups, world-leading universities, state and city governments, community colleges, and economic and workforce development nonprofits, The Bloch is leveraging $625M in public and private investments as a catalyst for innovation and job creation. It received $500,000 from the EDA in July 2024 to strengthen the coalition and attract additional capital.

In the next decade, The Bloch will:

The Bloch's Advantage

The Chicago region Tech Hub will drive US global quantum leadership. The Bloch is fueled by:

EXPERTISE	The greatest regional concentration of world-leading scientists and four of 10 National Quantum Initiative Act research centers.
STATE INVESTMENTS	Illinois government support, including a $200M joint research building and a $500M FY2025 budget proposal, including $15M directly for The Bloch Quantum.
STARTUPS	Duality, the nation’s first quantum startup accelerator, and an ecosystem that is second in the nation for quantum startup deals.
BROAD INDUSTRY BASE	A breadth of sectors ripe for quantum technology adoption, including 35 Fortune 500 companies, and tech companies that are first in the nation for quantum contracts.
TALENT	One of the country’s largest quantum-ready talent pipelines, awarding almost 60,000 degrees and certificates annually in quantum-relevant skills.
INFRASTRUCTURE	State-of-the-art facilities, including one of the longest quantum networks in the nation, and incentives to grow technologies and companies.