Quantum Research Sciences (QRS), a Lafayette, Indiana, company that specializes in operational quantum software, has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) as a corporate partner. The partnership unites one of the first companies to deliver production-grade quantum software with the Midwest’s globally recognized full-spectrum quantum ecosystem.
One of the biggest advantages quantum computing has over classical computing is its ability to identify optimal solutions within complex environments. QRS, a Veteran Owned Small Business, specializes in quantum technologies, specifically for complex supply chain and logistical challenges. The company, affiliated with the Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, in 2024 received a $2.5 million, three-year Phase III Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract from the US Air Force to deliver operational, production-level quantum computing software.
“The Chicago Quantum Exchange community is a key driver of the nation’s quantum transition from theory to practice,” said David Awschalom, the University of Chicago’s Liew Family professor of molecular engineering and physics, senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, and the director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange. “Quantum Research Sciences brings a unique perspective on how to apply quantum optimization to some of our most complex real-world challenges, from global supply chains to national security. We are excited to welcome them to our growing ecosystem.”
As a CQE partner, QRS will collaborate with researchers to refine quantum algorithms and accelerate the adoption of quantum-ready software. QRS provides expertise at leveraging today’s noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices for immediate problem-solving.
“Joining the Chicago Quantum Exchange places us at the center of a world-class ecosystem where academic rigor, industrial support, and national security priorities converge to accelerate practical quantum applications,” said Ethan Krimins, CEO of Quantum Research Sciences. “We look forward to contributing to the Midwest’s growing reputation as a global leader in quantum innovation.”
The CQE is based at the University of Chicago and is anchored by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University. The CQE also includes more than 50 corporate, international, nonprofit, and regional partners.