French quantum leader Pasqal expands to U.S. with $65M investment in Illinois
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French quantum leader Pascal is expanding its global footprint with a $65 million investment to establish its U.S. headquarters in Illinois, marking a major milestone for the state’s fast-growing quantum technology ecosystem. The French quantum computing company Pasqal will open at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on Chicago’s South Side, creating 50 high-tech jobs and strengthening Illinois’ role in the global race for quantum innovation.
For eeNews Europe readers, this move signals another major step in the industrialization and commercialization of quantum technologies, with direct implications for semiconductor manufacturing, R&D collaboration, and hardware access in North America.
Illinois boosts its quantum ecosystem
Supported by the state’s Manufacturing Illinois Chips for Real Opportunity (MICRO) Program, Pasqal’s facility will include space for one of its neutral-atom quantum processing units (QPUs) — bringing live quantum hardware access to the U.S. Midwest. The company also received a $15 million loan from the Illinois Finance Authority/Climate Bankto help finance the project.
“Pasqal’s decision to establish its U.S. headquarters in Illinois marks another major milestone for Illinois’ quantum ecosystem,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “As one of the world’s leaders in neutral-atom quantum computing, Pasqal’s presence will accelerate innovation, attract new partners, help power the next generation of discovery, and economic growth right here in Illinois.”
Pasqal joins a growing list of companies at IQMP — including DARPA, IBM, Infleqtion, and Diraq — all working on practical quantum applications. The state recently broke ground on PsiQuantum’s new facility, further expanding Illinois’ claim as a national leader in quantum R&D.
French tech meets American industry
Founded in 2019 by a team including Nobel Laureate Dr. Alain Aspect, Pasqal builds and commercializes quantum computers based on neutral atom arrays, a technology developed at the CNRS Charles Fabry Laboratory near Paris. The company currently operates in eight countries with more than 300 employees.
“Establishing our U.S. headquarters in Illinois is a pivotal step in Pasqal’s journey,” said Loïc Henriet, CEO of Pasqal. “Here, we will accelerate the development of real-world quantum applications, from advancing new materials and drug discovery to optimizing energy and financial systems. Illinois has the academic excellence, supportive policy environment, and diverse talent pool to seize the unique opportunity to build quantum solutions in the U.S.”
Pasqal already operates multiple 140+ qubit systems across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, serving Fortune 500 companies and public institutions. According to Wasiq Bokhari, Executive Chairman of the Board, establishing a base in Illinois ensures that both industry and government “can access real hardware in the near term.”
Strategic investment for quantum growth
Illinois’ commitment to quantum infrastructure continues to attract global leaders. “Pasqal will bring scientific expertise and proven technical achievements to our dynamic, rapidly-growing ecosystem,” said Harley Johnson, Executive Director of IQMP. “By expanding both their hardware and software operations, Pasqal will be at the center of delivering practical, real-world quantum applications.”
With the MICRO program encouraging manufacturing and R&D in advanced computing, and strong support from both state and international partners, Pasqal’s new headquarters marks a major milestone in the convergence of European quantum leadership and U.S. technology investment — positioning Illinois as a cornerstone of the global quantum economy.
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