Argonne National Laboratory hosted the inaugural Quantum Prairie Economic Symposium in Chicago, convening nearly 100 leaders from industry, government, academia, and nonprofits. A 2024 Boston Consulting Group analysis projects up to $80 billion in economic impact and 191,000 quantum technology jobs in the Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana region by 2035, with over 70% of positions open to workers without graduate degrees. The event featured panels on commercializing quantum technologies and building workforce pipelines, with quantum job growth projected to exceed 550% between 2030 and 2035. Key initiatives discussed include the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) and collaborative efforts to create accessible pathways into the quantum workforce.
