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* This excerpt is from one of the most difficult columns I ever wrote because I had to try to understand and then explain something that often defies both. From 2019…
Some of the finest minds in the state recently explained to me the importance of a mostly unnoticed line in the state of Illinois’ new capital projects plan.
University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer, Argonne National Laboratory Director Paul Kearns and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Provost Andreas Cangellaris touted new state government funding for a program that could be “even bigger than supercomputing” (Zimmer) and a “paradigm shift” in technology (Cangellaris).
What is this marvel? Quantum physics. It’s the study of subatomic particles that don’t behave in the way we understand “normal” physics. The particles do things like exist in two places simultaneously, move through what we would consider solid objects and change their form when observed. Google it. It’ll blow your mind.
The idea is to try to harness these tiny particles to do stuff like create vastly improved computing systems or design totally new types of pharmaceuticals or unbreakable encryption.
* Gov. Pritzker sat down for a one-hour Q&A today during the Crain’s Fast 50 Business Luncheon in Chicago, and he told the interviewer that he wanted to talk about quantum…
Q: Why are you so bullish on quantum and Illinois?
A: Well, I think all of you know that we have some of the best institutions of higher learning in our state. These are research institutions, the University of Illinois, University of Chicago, Northwestern, and others. And that is recognized by the rest of the nation. University of Chicago, in particular has the Chicago Quantum Exchange. And, you know, just to back up, quantum is going to change everything about our lives, and it’s going to change everything about our businesses. And if we don’t lead in the world, forget about just Illinois, if the United States doesn’t lead in quantum in the world, we will no longer be a superpower. And that could happen in relatively short order.
So the federal government understands that and is putting money into Quantum. And a couple of years ago, the federal government had major Department of Energy grants that they were offering to those who would bid on them, who could really make major leaps forward in quantum computing, quantum development. So Illinois, University of Chicago, the University of Illinois, and the state of Illinois with a $200 million grant, put together a consortium to go after those grants. And you know, what, Illinois won more of those grants than any other state. That’s really a big deal. That is something that I hope people will pay more and more attention to, because our major universities and research institutions, don’t forget, we have Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi lab, all of them involved in this, you know, all the things that you see in a documentary, or if you’re around for it, you know, that happened in Silicon Valley, with silicon chips, is happening in Illinois now with the development of quantum. And so if we keep investing in it, we keep stoking those fires, really, we’re going to lead the nation in Illinois, and we’re going to lead our nation to success in the world. So long term, but
Q: It’s a long-term bet, but how long does it take to see tangible results from that? Is that something that’s going to happen over 15, 20, 25 years or sooner?
Pritzker: Well, let’s say we’re going to have 50 years of success. As a result, if we succeed, that we’ll have 50 years of major economic success for our state, our city. In the short run, we’ve already attracted a whole bunch of very talented scientists, and people who want to commercialize the development of the technology that’s coming out of the laboratories. So that’s already happening. We have people moving here to our labs, to the Chicago Quantum Exchange, to our universities to be part of this burgeoning industry and research. And so that’s already a success.
But if you’re asking the question like, ‘Gee, when are you going to be able to announce the 10,000 jobs?’ you know, I want to just make it clear that I get it that I’m only in this job for so long, right. But that Illinois is going to be here forever. And that my job as governor is to make the kinds of investments that will give us the best possible future 10 and 20 and 30 years, long after I’m governor. So I’ve done that. I mean our $45 billion infrastructure bill, investing in our roads and bridges and airports, and, you know, all of our infrastructure, building new buildings, including new university labs and so on. That’s not about the next two years or three years, that’s about the next 20 years.
Please pardon all transcription errors.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 2:49 pm
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=== I’m only in this job for so long, right. But that Illinois is going to be here forever===
Just about the most succinct description of the job that I’ve heard. All politicians should think like this. Compare to the former guy. Wonder why people like him?
Comment by Jibba Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 2:53 pm
Woof. Bit beyond me.
Maybe candidate Bailey could walk me through it.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 2:53 pm
=== one of the most difficult columns I ever wrote because I had to try to understand and then explain something that often defies both ===
Thank God we won’t be losing you to Argonne anytime soon, Rich.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 2:57 pm
So JB is going to explain this to a body that has trouble understanding how TIF’s work. The only guy that gets this isn’t in the General Assembly anymore, Daniel Biss. But I love the big thinking.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 2:58 pm
It’s so refreshing with the minute by minute caterwauling about CRT and transgendered people to see a politician tackling a complex issue for the future good of the state and country. Kudos, Governor.
Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 2:59 pm
=== Q: Why are you so bullish on quantum and Illinois? ===
I thought that was the 2nd Munir question for Kari, LOL.
Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:00 pm
=== Maybe candidate Bailey could walk me through it.===
Easy peasy
Bailey could shoot neutrinos at an Illinois budget sitting in a locker in Soudan, Minn from Batavia.
Comment by Da big bad wolf Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:01 pm
Just today I was working on a system that’s built off of an innovative and groundbreaking early AI system from UIUC, there were comments in the documentation about it, and I was like “Hey, cool, my hometown guys.” Maybe in another 20 years I’ll be working on a quantum system from UIUC.
Comment by Suburban Mom Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:06 pm
I don’t know, seems like a bit of a leap to me…
Comment by Ok Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:10 pm
Maybe Pritzker can strive to do right here where once went wrong
Comment by Ok Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:12 pm
I think Gov. Pritzker just earned himself a role in the next “Ant-Man” movie
Comment by ThanosSnapJudgment Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:14 pm
I want to repeat the quote (and a bit more of it) from the first post in the thread because it struck me as something we should expect from so many more of our elected leaders.
=== I’m only in this job for so long, right. But that Illinois is going to be here forever. And that my job as governor is to make the kinds of investments that will give us the best possible future 10 and 20 and 30 years, long after I’m governor.===
We need more folks willing to take this kind of approach. We have suffered greatly by electing folks with a very short-term view and focus on what they know effects them personally. To the elected folks who read this blog…please think more like this when making decisions on behalf of your constituents.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:30 pm
==== Maybe candidate Bailey could walk me through it.===
Easy peasy
Bailey could shoot neutrinos at an Illinois budget sitting in a locker in Soudan, Minn from Batavia.=
Lol, really good stuff. Unfortunately Bailey cannot even spell quantum much less explain it.
But he can tell you how to squeeze every nickel of subsidy money out of the Fed.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:32 pm
===Thank God we won’t be losing you to Argonne anytime soon===
Soon? Never.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:33 pm
Pritzker is very good at picking the next shiny object, but his people are not so good at following through. Case in point - marijuana program is a disaster; Build Illinois is only a fraction of what it could be; electric vehicle capital we are not and we lag every other state.
Comment by olden days Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:33 pm
@Jibba
“A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.”
-James Freeman Clarke
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:48 pm
JB Pritzker discusses the importance of quantum computing and quantum development in the state of Illinois. Darren Bailey confuses desert and dessert.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:52 pm
I asked Heisenberg is he could explain it to me, but he was uncertain, so I walked the Planck.
Comment by SAP Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:53 pm
It’s based on photons, or light energy theories, not typical electromagnetic theories and binary codes.
Mastering quantum would definitely make for some interesting transportation.
Comment by cdog Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 3:55 pm
trivia to be more healthy…
Human dna, and most chemical functions in the body, are at light speed, fueled by bio-photons, which are found in chlorophyll and other sunlight harvesting foods.
Humans are quantum, I guess. (shrugs)
Comment by cdog Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 4:02 pm
===University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer, Argonne National Laboratory Director Paul Kearns and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Provost Andreas Cangellaris touted new state government funding for a program that could be “even bigger than supercomputing” (Zimmer) and a “paradigm shift” in technology (Cangellaris).===
Imagine Governor Darren Bailey meeting with these people.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 4:06 pm
Can you imagine how Pat Quinn would have replied if he was asked about Quantum 10 years ago today?
Comment by Just Sayin Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 4:21 pm
=marijuana program is a disaster=
That depends on your perspective. I can go to my local cannabis dispensary and legally purchase any number of cannabis products. I consider that a huge success.
Comment by Steve Polite Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 4:23 pm
-Can you imagine how Pat Quinn would have replied if he was asked about Quantum 10 years ago today?-
Meet Queezy, the really tiny Quantum Python.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 4:27 pm
I understand that U of Chicago just hired away from CalTech Dr. Leonard Hofstader and Nobel Laurette Sheldon Cooper to further our quantum research.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 4:27 pm
“I don’t know, seems like a bit of a leap to me…”
I see what you did there Sam.
Comment by Proud Sucker Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 4:58 pm
“hired away from CalTech Dr. Leonard Hofstader and Nobel Laurette Sheldon Cooper”
Two imaginary people to study something that may not be where they think it is located and doing something other than what they thought it would be doing.
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 5:21 pm
Heisenberg was driving through downstate Illinois, speeding like crazy, and gets pulled over.
“Sir, do you know how fast you were going? You were going 110 mph.”
“YOU JERK,” Heisenberg shouted. “NOW I’M LOST.”
Comment by Suburban Mom Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 5:40 pm
If you’re looking for another local angle, last year Fermilab announced that its measurements of the muon differed from standard model predictions in a way that has physicists excited. This suggests that there may be new/different particles than those already known and/or new physics that we haven’t yet discovered. It’s an exciting time.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 5:42 pm
Grade A dad joke, Suburban Mom. Also, it sounds like you have a really cool job.
Comment by The Captain Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 5:44 pm
Mostly I translate technology-speak into lawyer-speak, but I do get to learn about a lot of really fascinating technology, see it demonstrated, and sometimes I get to play with it.
(I enjoy the heck out of it, is what I’m saying, but other people might find writing regulatory documents dull even if the topics are super-interesting.)
Comment by Suburban Mom Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 5:50 pm
I personally find it fascinating to see a term like “quantum” become a political buzz word and get thrown around periodically by people who could have a difficult explaining what exactly they’re talking about. I also think it’s pretty fun that even though people have been talking about quanta in physics since Max Plank started talking about it before the Theory of Special Relativity had been published. It still sounds exciting and new, but most people are probably mostly only hearing about things like the “quantum realm” from Ant Man. Quantum mechanics has a whole lot of potential for the advancement of our understanding of the universe and the ways in which we could manipulate the universe around us for our advantage. The whole idea of public investment in quantum mechanics research is a message of optimism that’s hard for people to be upset about.
In terms of messaging, Pritzker should never shorten Chicago Quantum Exchange to anything shorter than the “Quantum Exchange” and if he’s talking about the area of research he should keep it to quantum physics or quantum mechanics. Just referring to “Quantum” by itself is a lot like when someone else was running around talking about “Cyber” but maybe worse because quantum is a noun that has a very specific meaning.
But good on the Governor for wanting to highlight this.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 5:57 pm
===It’s an exciting time. ===
Muons are always exciting. The reason why we get bombarded by so many of them is the very real manifestation of relativity and that all motion is relative to the observer.
There’s just so much that we don’t know about how the universe around us works and because we haven’t got past burning things that died a while ago to get around we may never get the opportunity to discover.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 6:02 pm
Maybe we will have quantum elections where the ballots cast remain in a state of uncertainty like Schrodinger’s cat.
Comment by MoralMinority Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 8:19 pm
==-Can you imagine how Pat Quinn would have replied if he was asked about Quantum 10 years ago today?-
Meet Queezy, the really tiny Quantum Python.==
“These magic soybeans were made possible through quantum physics.”
“My kids and I loved 3-2-1 Contact.”
“Now sit back, relax and let us enjoy Shelia’s banjo rendition of ‘She Blinded Me with Science.’”
Comment by Just Sayin Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 8:26 pm
====-Can you imagine how Pat Quinn would have replied if he was asked about Quantum 10 years ago today?-==
“Do you have a nuclear reactor here? Can I sit there and pretend I’m Homer Simpson? You know, the Sunday TV star. Like me. I was put on this earth to hold press conferences and pass petitions on Sundays.”
Comment by Just Sayin Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 8:31 pm
How lucky is Illinois to be the only jurisdiction that knows about about quantum possibilities?
Comment by Anon-?? Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 11:00 pm
Don’t forget we had Representative Mike Fortner who was a nuclear physicist and professor. If anyone runs into him make sure you ask him about this.
Comment by Flexible One Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 11:11 pm
We can build on the success of the Thompson administration in the mid-1980s in its attempt to replicate the Massachusetts Miracle in Illinois.
Comment by Anon-?? Thursday, Jun 16, 22 @ 11:49 pm
==How lucky is Illinois to be the only jurisdiction that knows about about quantum possibilities? ==
I missed that part of the article, still not seeing it. I did notice that he mentioned how Illinois received more grants than any other state for quantum. Do you have any thoughts on that (i.e. things actually in the article)?
Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Jun 17, 22 @ 9:56 am