Building on its growing Chicago quantum footprint, IBM is planning to open a FutureNow delivery center at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, with a commitment to create 750 new full-time technology jobs on the city’s South Side. The center, one of a handful scattered across North America, will serve as an IBM innovation hub to solve business and technology challenges for its clients. It also expands the computer giant’s role in developing the state’s nascent quantum ecosystem, while providing a pipeline for Chicago tech talent to launch their careers. “With this new era of quantum computing upon us, I actually do believe that we are now a couple of years away from this making a profound difference to industry and to people’s lives,” IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said during an announcement Wednesday at Olive-Harvey College. “This is the moment to double down on our cooperation and our investment.” As part of the program, IBM will participate in a new City Colleges apprenticeship program to support 500 students to work at the innovation center over the next five years. IBM has committed to hire at least 180 apprentice alumni to help reach its employment targets with the state. Krishna was joined Wednesday by Gov. JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, City Colleges leadership and other politicos onstage at Olive-Harvey on the city’s Far South Side, heralding the latest development in the state’s ambitions to become the center of the quantum universe. “IBM is launching a truly innovative workforce partnership with City Colleges that ensures the benefits of the quantum revolution are felt here and all across the city of Chicago, that everyone in Chicago benefits,” Pritzker said. The new IBM innovation center was incentivized by tax credits through the state’s Economic Development for a Growing Economy program Under the terms of