PsiQuantum Invests $250,000 in South Chicago STEM and Quantum Workforce Development (Chicago, IL) – PsiQuantum announced Tuesday that it is investing $250,000 in South Chicago schools, colleges and community organizations to help prepare students for careers in the growing quantum technology industry.
The philanthropic investment will support STEM education, teacher training and workforce development programs in communities surrounding the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), where PsiQuantum is serving as the anchor tenant.
The funding will benefit local high schools, including George Washington High School and St. Francis De Sales High School, by expanding STEM curriculum, classroom technology and educator training. It will also support higher education initiatives at Olive-Harvey College and Chicago State University through the university’s Quantum Education, Science, and Technology Center (CQuEST), STEM Explorations Camp and Quantum Teacher Training programs.
Community organizations Project SYNCERE and Phalanx Family Services will also receive grants to expand STEM learning opportunities for local students.
The announcement builds on PsiQuantum’s previous investments in South Chicago. The company previously donated $10,000 to Bowen High School, allowing the school to purchase virtual reality equipment, robotics kits, cameras, rockets, drones and electronic circuits to enhance hands-on STEM instruction. PsiQuantum has also supported Chicago State University’s summer STEM programming.
PsiQuantum Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Pete Shadbolt said the investment reflects the company’s commitment to ensuring nearby communities benefit from the emerging quantum ecosystem.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate in my own life to have access to computers, workshops, software, tools, and encouragement to get involved in science and technology, and learn for myself what’s possible,” Shadbolt said. “This investment reflects our conviction that the communities surrounding the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park should have every opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, the quantum ecosystem that is taking shape here in Chicago.”
Local education leaders welcomed the investment, saying it will help expand access to careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology sectors.
“For far too long, communities like ours have watched innovation happen somewhere else. IQMP and PsiQuantum are helping change that narrative by investing in talent, education, and opportunity right here in Southeast Chicago,” said Dr. Roni Facen, principal and chief executive officer of St. Francis De Sales High School. “This partnership isn’t just advancing quantum technology—it’s proving that the future can and should include every community.”
City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado said the investment will strengthen workforce development efforts at Olive-Harvey College.
“At City Colleges of Chicago, we believe the future workforce should not simply witness innovation, but should help create it,” Salgado said. “This program at Olive-Harvey College will prepare learners for careers where supply chains, data analytics, and quantum technologies converge.”
Chicago State University President Z Scott said the partnership will expand access to quantum education while helping prepare students for careers in a rapidly evolving industry.
“PsiQuantum’s investment in Chicago State University is an investment in the future of quantum innovation—and in the talented students who will help shape it,” Scott said. “Together, we are creating pathways that prepare students from every background to lead in one of the world’s most transformative industries.”
The workforce development announcement comes nearly one year after construction began on PsiQuantum’s facility at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park following its groundbreaking in September 2025. The company said it aims to build what it describes as America’s largest quantum computing project while developing a local talent pipeline to support the industry’s long-term growth in South Chicago.
PsiQuantum, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, is developing fault-tolerant quantum computing systems using photonic technology that leverages existing semiconductor manufacturing and cryogenic infrastructure.
PsiQuantum Invests $250,000 in South Chicago STEM and Quantum Workforce Development
