The University of Illinois System’s Discovery Partners Institute is committed to making Illinois a global leader in the rapidly evolving computing landscape by expanding its focus through a new location at the planned Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park while maintaining its downtown Chicago headquarters, U of I System President Tim Killeen said Friday.
Expanding DPI’s vision will allow it to optimize the impact of the state’s investment in DPI and maximize the economic opportunities being created by major shifts in technology and the federal CHIPS and Science Act.
Under this expanded vision, DPI will maintain its downtown headquarters as DPI North while establishing DPI South at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), which was announced in July. DPI South will be a quantum-focused facility established in partnership with globally recognized companies. The IQMP is being managed by a University of Illinois-led organization on behalf of the state of Illinois and Gov. JB Pritzker.
“DPI was created to train people for high-demand tech jobs, conduct applied research and development, and build businesses, and that vital work continues. It also was designed to be nimble and move quickly to serve the people of Illinois. The changes happening locally and globally in computing have created an incredible, once-in-a-generation opportunity that DPI is well-situated to harness for our state,” Killeen said.
Since DPI was announced in 2017, the potential has only become more clear for quantum computing to meet challenges in health care, food production, manufacturing, climate science and many other areas that are beyond the reach of today’s computers. This, combined with other developments such as the transformative CHIPS and Science Act signed into law in 2022, has accelerated broad changes in the technology landscape.
The need for faster, more-pervasive computing technologies will only continue to grow.
The U of I System shared this new vision for DPI with Gov. Pritzker, who appreciated the magnitude of the opportunity and supports the expansion of its focus, Killeen said.
Under Gov. Pritzker, the state of Illinois has provided $500 million for DPI and the Illinois Innovation Network, the network of research and innovation hubs around the state that DPI is a part of.
As part of DPI’s new plan, construction on a new headquarters at The 78 in downtown Chicago has stopped. DPI will continue to operate from its current location at 200 S. Wacker Drive in downtown while it explores options for the location of the new DPI North.
DPI is committed to maintaining its headquarters in downtown Chicago, Killeen said, and real estate-market trends have provided opportunities that will be explored.
“As a public university system, we must ensure that we maximize the benefits of DPI’s headquarters for us, the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois as this vital work continues,” Killeen said.
Since it was launched, DPI has worked to transform the tech ecosystem of greater Chicago and drive equitable economic development:
- The Pritzker Tech Talent Lab (PTTL), DPI's workforce unit, has trained over 2,000 learners across the spectrum — K-12, community colleges, Chicago Public Schools teachers, undergraduates and adults in the workforce. PTTL expects to reach more than 4,000 learners per year by FY29.
- DPI applied research is driven by societal needs, including strong programs focused on climate and sustainability, public health and in AI and computing.
- DPI has shown it can rapidly adapt its resources to meet public needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DPI launched Shield T3, which made a U of I System-developed, saliva-based test-and-trace system available across the country. Shield T3 grew to a $100 million business that saved lives.
- DPI has also gained worldwide recognition in academic circles and 15 top institutions are now formal DPI partners, making the Chicago headquarters their home away from home and also an entry point for international entrepreneurs.
