Quantum Economy
Startup Opportunities
With a highly skilled talent base emerging from its world-class universities and state-of-the-art research and lab facilities, the region has the infrastructure to drive the future of quantum information science and engineering. The Midwest has seen tremendous quantum investment in recent years, local, national, and global quantum startups are invited to join the ecosystem.
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Duality Quantum Accelerator
Duality is the first accelerator program in the nation exclusively dedicated to supporting quantum startups. This 12-month accelerator supports and advances companies that build quantum technologies, products, applications, and related enabling technologies. Duality is led by the UChicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the CQE, along with founding partners the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Argonne National Laboratory, and P33. The accelerator offers innovative quantum startups a comprehensive set of resources including:
- Entrepreneurial training
- World-class business expertise and mentorship
- Technical expertise and the opportunity to access state-of-the-art facilities
- CQE workspace and Corporate Partnership
- Industry exposure, including with the CQE community
- $50,000 in unrestricted funding
Chain Reaction Innovations (CRI) is a two-year fellowship program for innovators focused on clean energy and science technologies.
The CQE’s Founder Platform provides proactive and on-call supports to accelerate the growth of quantum startups in the Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region. It serves as a complement to critical programs such as Duality and Chain Reaction Innovations, ensuring that all regional startups have ecosystem supports that enable them to grow and thrive.
State-of-the-art facilities and equipment in the region advance quantum information science and help catalyze new technologies. Duality startups and CQE corporate partners access these facilities and technical expertise.