The Bloch Tech Hub

Lead Agency: Chicago Quantum Exchange

State Served: Illinois

Applicant-Defined Region: Chicago MSA

Core Technology Area: quantum computing and communications

Contact: Meera Raja ([email protected])

Media Contact: Becky Beaupre Gillespie ([email protected])

Organizational Link: https://chicagoquantum.org/bloch

The Bloch: End-to-end Quantum Solutions at Scale (The Bloch Tech Hub), led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange, seeks to transform the Greater Chicago area into a global leader in quantum information science and technology (QIST) that will provide new ways of processing, measuring, and transmitting information, with the potential to solve global challenges beyond the reach of current paradigms. Leveraging Chicago’s research universities, national labs, and industry partners, this Tech Hub will increase access to shared-use quantum facilities and hardware to meet industry needs and generate good-paying jobs. In doing so, The Bloch Tech Hub seeks to advance quantum computing, enabling new solutions for sectors such as finance (e.g. fraud protection), energy (e.g. grid resilience), biotechnology (e.g. drug discovery), and manufacturing (e.g. process optimization).

The Bloch Tech Hub seeks to create an ecosystem where industries can identify, pilot and provide feedback about QIST technology insertion points to accelerate commercialization and adoption of the technology.

This consortium’s proposal includes plans to:

• Foster collaboration between the QIST and financial sectors to improve and commercialize tools for financial fraud detection;
• Develop a framework for industry adoption of quantum technologies refined through key use cases, starting with the energy industry;
• Build an innovation-focused office and lab space that provides QIST startups access to critical hardware and business development programming;
• Create a publicly-usable commercial-grade quantum network testbed to develop quantum key distribution (QKD) and long-distance quantum communication technologies;
• Seed the development of the first U.S. commercial data center-based quantum computing resource, which will provide access to 15+ quantum simulators, emulators, and remote access to quantum computers;
• Create a multi-state community college-based QIST program with industry-led curricula, training, and employment pathways; and
• Create a governance structure to provide leadership and project coordination.

To ensure that the impacts of the Tech Hub projects benefit the entire region, the consortium is committed to locating facilities and programming in all communities; providing training and job opportunities for individuals in these areas; and supporting early-stage QIST innovation entrepreneurs.

This summary is based on information submitted by the applicants.

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