Board hears update on Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park; delegates predevelopment authority for National Quantum Facility

A University of Illinois Board of Trustees meeting on March 25, 2025 heard an update on the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), including project scale, private partners and next steps; trustees unanimously delegated authority for a public–private predevelopment process to construct the park’s planned National Quantum Facility.

The IQMP update came from Harley Johnson, director and CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park LLC, who described the project as “a massive public private partnership dedicated to the scale up of quantum computing.” He told trustees the park will occupy 128 acres on the south portion of the former U.S. Steel South Works site on Chicago’s South Side and noted a FY2025 state appropriation of $500 million to support construction and early operations.

Johnson said the park will host multiple facilities including a National Quantum Facility — “a shared experimental facility with an industrial scale cryo plant” — and a National Quantum Algorithm Center focused on software and algorithms to run at scale. He named industry partners already committed or in advanced talks, including PsiQuantum and IBM, and said the development team is coordinating with federal programs such as DARPA’s Illinois Quantum Proving Ground. He also said the IQMP LLC is working with research institutions across Illinois and with Argonne and Fermilab.

Why it matters: trustees and university leaders framed IQMP as a statewide economic and research initiative that could anchor private investment, workforce development and federal research programs in Illinois. The board approved a motion to delegate authority to the comptroller to initiate a public–private predevelopment process and enter related agreements to construct the National Quantum Facility (roll call agenda Item 23), allowing the system to move from planning toward contracting and deal-making.

Details and next steps

- Site and partners: Johnson said the overall U.S. Steel South Works site is about 440 acres; IQMP will occupy the 128-acre southern portion bounded by the Calumet River. He identified early partners by name and said more than 20 companies were in active discussions.

- Facilities: The National Quantum Facility will provide cryogenic infrastructure necessary for many quantum platforms; the National Quantum Algorithm Center is intended to develop algorithms and software for end users.

- Community engagement: Johnson described ongoing community meetings with residents, environmental groups and local education leaders, and said the project team is addressing questions about legacy environmental conditions from the site’s industrial past and emphasizing that quantum development itself is “clean technology.”

- State support: The presenter noted the state’s $500 million set‑aside in FY2025 to help build the park and that the IQMP LLC is governed by a URO owned by the Board of Trustees.

Board action and vote

The Board of Trustees voted by roll call to delegate authority for a public–private predevelopment process and related agreements for the National Quantum Facility (Item 23). Trustees present recorded “yes to all” on the roll call agenda; the board’s clerk conducted the vote and the chair announced the motion carries.

Quotation

“The IQMP is a massive public private partnership dedicated to the scale up of quantum computing,” Harley Johnson said, summarizing the project’s goals.

What the board approved earlier in the day

Before the system meeting convened, the Board of Trustees acting as the sole member of the IQMP LLC met and approved two items (approval of IQMP LLC minutes and appointment of an external audit firm). Those items were moved and approved unanimously by trustees present.

What remains open

Johnson and trustees noted active negotiations with additional tenants and ongoing environmental and community work; no construction contracts for the National Quantum Facility were executed at the meeting — the approved delegation authorizes the initiation of a P3 predevelopment process so those agreements can be pursued.

Provenance

Harley Johnson presentation – transcript excerpt: “The IQMP is a massive public private partnership dedicated to the scale up of quantum computing. It's located at a 128 acre site on the South Side Of Chicago on the former U.S. Steel South Works site.” (transcript s=2466.30 to e=2564.65)

Board roll call for Item 23 – transcript excerpt: “Item 23, delegate authority to the Comptroller to initiate a public private partnership pre development process and to enter into related agreements to construct the National Quantum Facility” followed by recorded roll call responses of “Yes to all.” (transcript s=5655.02 to e=5686.38 and s=5795.78 to e=5800.20)