When hundreds convene on Nov. 3-4 for the 2025 Chicago Quantum Summit, they will hear from the quantum researchers advancing cutting-edge discoveries and the innovators translating these breakthroughs into real-world benefit.
They’ll also hear from the leaders whose facilities, investments and support are shaping a full ecosystem capable of bringing quantum solutions to bear on the world’s most urgent challenges.
That they can do this in one place is the defining strength of the summit. Hosted annually by the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), over eight years the event has become known as one of the world’s key forums exploring quantum economy needs.
“The global quantum effort works when we align strengths,” said summit keynote speaker Cathy Foley, the former chief scientist of Australia. “Australia brings deep expertise in theory, materials, devices and sensing—Chicago and the broader United States network bring scale, testbeds and supply-chain depth. The CQE shows how to stitch these pieces together.”
Foley said her priority is “responsible, interoperable growth that includes standards, benchmarking and workforce development, so industry can invest with confidence and society can trust the outcomes.”
That comprehensive approach matches the CQE mission that drives the summit, which this year features keynotes by Foley; Paul Dabbar, the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce; and Darío Gil, undersecretary for science in the U.S. Department of Energy.
The summit will also include three tracks of content. These are themed around Frontiers, which features cutting-edge research; Innovations, which focuses on commercialization and the development of real-world applications; and Futures, which examines the societal impacts of quantum technologies.
From discovery to impact
The event comes at a time of consistent and numerous advances across the field of quantum information science, several of which will be represented at the summit.
Earlier this month, a team from MIT and Harvard University announced the development of a 3,000-qubit quantum computing system that can run continuously for two hours. Harvard Prof. Mikhail Lukin, co-director of the university’s Quantum Science and Engineering Initiative and senior author of the Nature paper detailing the breakthrough, is among this year’s summit speakers.
So is Jay Lowell, principal senior technical fellow at Boeing, which last year completed the world’s first recorded flight using multiple quantum navigation systems instead of GPS. Purdue University President Mung Chiang will engage in a fireside chat with Chetan Nayak, a technical fellow at Microsoft, which earlier this year announced a quantum chip that leverages breakthrough materials developed at Purdue.
“This is a truly exciting time to be working in the quantum technology sector, with advances happening more rapidly than anyone predicted,” said David Awschalom, the Liew Family Professor of Molecular Engineering and Physics at the University of Chicago and CQE founding director.
“Companies, educators, and the general public are increasingly engaged and curious about the work happening at the quantum frontier. The summit is the premier opportunity to showcase this concrete progress while connecting global partners to bring these innovations into the real world and shape our quantum future.”
The summit will also show the frontiers of quantum with 12 rising stars in the field, who will receive the 2025 Boeing Quantum Creators Prize and present their work throughout the Summit. On Monday, participants in the summit’s annual poster session will also share their work at a reception presented by the Consulate General of Canada in Chicago.
This past year has also seen continued progress in quantum’s industry sector.
Quantinuum, for instance, announced a significant capital raise; Toshiba partnered with Purdue’s School of Nuclear Engineering and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to demonstrate quantum secure communications in a nuclear reactor; and IBM announced the development of a National Quantum Algorithm Center in Chicago. Rajeeb Hazra, the CEO of Quantinuum; Taro Shimado, CEO of Toshiba; and Hanhee Paik, the director of quantum algorithms at IBM, will also speak at the summit.
Speakers will be looking toward the future, sharing insights on the responsible development of quantum technologies, workforce development needs, how quantum technology could impact the finance and insurance industries and more.
Several sessions will also focus on developments in the Illinois-Wisconsin-Indiana region, including the recent groundbreaking at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP).
IQMP CEO Harley Johnson will discuss the park with Preeti Chalsani, senior vice president and chief quantum officer for the Illinois Economic Development Corporation, during a fireside chat.
Terry Rudolph, co-founder and chief architect of the park’s anchor tenant PsiQuantum, will also speak.
“Quantum holds immense potential to transform everything from healthcare to national security, and Illinois is proud to be at the forefront of this next frontier,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said. “The 2025 Chicago Quantum Summit brings together the brightest minds in research, industry and government to ensure the U.S. leads the way in responsible quantum innovation. Illinois is where collaboration meets ambition, and I look forward to the ideas and progress that will emerge from this summit.”
The Chicago Quantum Summit is supported by lead sponsors Boeing and Illinois EDC; presenting sponsors Barnes & Thornburg, IBM and PsiQuantum; general sponsors Applied Materials, Clayco, EY, World Business Chicago; and coffee break sponsors Dirac Labs, One Region and Unisys.
—Adapted from an article first posted by the Chicago Quantum Exchange.
