Iiew Family Professor of Molecular Engineering at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (University of Chicago); Director of the Chicago Quantum Institute; Founding Director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE); Senior Scientist at Argonne National Laboratory; and Inaugural Director of Q-NEXT, the U.S. Department of Energy Quantum Information Science Research Center.

Quantum technology is transitioning from breakthrough laboratory experiments to engineered, scalable systems. The regions that will lead this next phase are those that successfully integrate foundational science, shared infrastructure, and collaborative models that can operate at national scale.

In this Fireside Chat, David Awschalom—one of the world’s leading solid-state quantum scientists and ecosystem builders—shares insights from his journey from spintronics research to the creation of one of the most influential quantum hubs in the world. Drawing on his experience across academia, national laboratories, and large DOE initiatives, he offers a rare perspective on how quantum platforms mature and how durable ecosystems are built.