IBM, the University of Chicago and the Illinois state government unveiled IBM Quantum System Two in Chicago on Nov. 6, 2026. The machine is IBM’s first quantum computer in Illinois and will serve as the foundation of the National Quantum Algorithms Center after it moves to a planned specialized technology campus.

The system is initially housed at Hyde Park Labs, which is operated by the University of Chicago. It uses IBM Quantum Nighthawk, the most powerful quantum chip the company has built to date, and IBM describes the installation as its most advanced quantum computer currently available.

After construction is completed, the system will move to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, or IQMP, a Chicago campus focused on quantum technologies and microelectronics. IBM said locating the computer in Chicago should give local researchers and companies easier access to advanced computing capacity, support talent development and help turn scientific research into commercial and industrial applications.

“IBM is proud to deploy our first quantum computer of IQMP — an IBM Quantum System Two. Today, it can deliver scientifically useful results to organizations across the state of Illinois and beyond,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO at IBM.

National Quantum Algorithms Center

Quantum System Two will become the anchor system for the National Quantum Algorithms Center, which Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker established in 2024 with IBM’s participation. The center brings together researchers, universities, national laboratories, startups and companies to develop algorithms and applications that can scale with advances in quantum computing.

Deloitte and AbbVie are working with IBM and Northwestern University on quantum molecular-modeling methods that can be applied to drug development. EPRI and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are exploring quantum optimization algorithms intended to improve power-grid efficiency.

Fermilab is working with IBM to apply quantum technologies to high-energy physics and develop distributed quantum computing. Separately, IBM and the University of Chicago recently demonstrated quantum advantage over leading classical methods using an approach that guaranteed the correctness of results.

Pritzker described the system’s launch as a tool for turning scientific research into practical solutions and creating jobs. IQMP CEO Harley Johnson said the computer would strengthen Illinois’ position in the global quantum industry after becoming the algorithms center’s foundation.

Regional investment and research

The deployment complements IBM’s other investments in the region. The company previously announced the FutureNow Chicago center at the IQMP site in partnership with City Colleges of Chicago. The project envisions 750 jobs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, quantum computing and other technologies.

In 2025, IBM unveiled the Nighthawk quantum processor and announced the experimental Loon model.

IBM’s earlier experiment with a 120-qubit entangled state drew attention to potential long-term risks for Bitcoin cryptography. The experiment did not, by itself, indicate an ability to break the network’s current security.

As governments expand practical quantum research, U.S. President Donald Trump signed Executive Orders 14409 and 14411, which are intended to accelerate the U.S. transition to post-quantum cryptography and support the development of quantum technologies. U.S. authorities also allocated billions of dollars to infrastructure projects, including the Anderon quantum factory with IBM’s involvement.

The crypto industry is also exploring responses to potential threats. In August, miner MARA processed the first quantum-resistant transaction in bitcoin using a method developed by StarkWare researcher Avihu Levy, without changing the protocol.

Source: Incrypted