Technology

Global Leaders, Fortune 500 CEOs and Tech Visionaries Convene in Chicago for Second Annual Global Quantum Forum

Published

2 months ago

July 20, 2026

Presented by Ernst & Young, LLP, with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Penny Pritzker, Microsoft’s Jason Zander, Cognizant’s Ravi Kumar, Exelon’s Calvin Butler, Kara Swisher, WNBA HOF Candace Parker, and more than 60 other prominent speakers to explore how quantum will influence the world

International Global Quantum Fellowship cohort announced

CHICAGO, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chicago will once again become the meeting place for leaders at the forefront of quantum and its impact on industry, government, and discovery, when the second annual Global Quantum Forum (GQF) “Solving Grand Challenges” convenes July 22-23. Hosted by P33 and the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC), and presented by Ernst & Young, LLP, the forum will explore how quantum technologies may tackle some of society’s most complex problems, from strengthening cybersecurity and modernizing energy systems to accelerating medical breakthroughs.

“I’m honored that Illinois is once again hosting the Global Quantum Forum – bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers to help shape the future of quantum while creating jobs, attracting investment, and solving some of our greatest challenges,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through historic investments, world-class talent, and robust private-public partnership, Illinois has established itself as a global capital for quantum innovation, ushering in the next great wave of scientific innovation and economic opportunity.”

Distinct from conferences focused on the technological aspects of quantum, the GQF is intended to bring together an intersection of international leaders–quantum companies, researchers, scientists, and innovators, as well as business executives in finance, energy, pharma and other industries, global investors, and policymakers. This year’s theme, “Solving Grand Challenges,” reflects the forum’s focus on people rather than technology alone—highlighting how quantum has the potential to improve lives, strengthen economies, and help solve increasingly complex global problems.

The program features an exceptional lineup of leaders, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker; Microsoft Executive Vice President Jason Zander; New York Times bestselling author and technology journalist Kara Swisher; former U.S. Commerce Secretary and P33 co-founder Penny Pritzker; Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar; Exelon President and CEO Calvin Butler; WNBA Hall of Famer Candace Parker; and dozens of executives, researchers and policymakers helping shape the future of quantum.

The forum will kick off with a fireside chat between Governor Pritzker and Kara Swisher on how Illinois is staking its claim in the global quantum race, from bold public-private investments to the launch of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP).

Illinois has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s leading quantum ecosystems, bringing together nationally recognized research universities, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermilab, IQMP, innovative startups, established global companies, and strategic public-private partnerships that are accelerating commercialization and economic opportunity.

“The Global Quantum Forum brings together leaders across industries and borders to explore how quantum computing can take on society’s biggest challenges—from cybersecurity and clean energy to drug discovery,” said Illinois EDC President and CEO Christy George. “With Chicago once again serving as host, the world will see firsthand why Illinois is becoming the global center of this industry.”

“As the centerpiece of TechChicago Week 2026, our second annual Global Quantum Forum will explore the most important problems of our time and how quantum computing will help address these issues and shape our future,” said Brad Henderson, CEO at P33. “We’re excited to again welcome quantum leaders from across the world to Chicago, the heart of global quantum innovation.”

P33 and Illinois EDC also announced today the Global Quantum Forum Fellowship program. The inaugural cohort will bring rising leaders who are shaping the future of quantum across research, industry, and policy to Illinois for GQF 2026. Represented countries include Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

GQF 2026 keynote speakers include Matthew Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, and Calvin Butler, CEO of Exelon. Conversations will focus on:

The Long Bet: How Investors Decide What Quantum and Other Frontier Technologies Are Worth, and WhenThe Quantum Governance Gap: Security, Trust, and Who Sets the RulesPowering Grand Challenges: The Energy Systems Behind BreakthroughsCan Quantum Break the Bottleneck in Scientific Discovery?Other topics include quantum’s role in the history of computing, how quantum could complement AI to unlock discoveries, global diplomacy shaping quantum conversations, and classical computing’s limitations

Featured speakers throughout the program include leaders from Microsoft, IBM, Google, PsiQuantum, Infleqtion, Cognizant, JPMorgan Chase, Allstate, Exelon, Southern Company, AbbVie, UL Solutions, the World Economic Forum, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and numerous universities, national laboratories, and government agencies.

The Global Quantum Forum is hosted by P33 and the Illinois EDC. GQF 2026 is supported by presenting sponsor Ernst & Young, LLP. The lead sponsor is ComEd. Major sponsors include Clayco, IBM, Infleqtion, JLL, PsiQuantum, Quantum Shore, and Related Midwest. Quantum Sponsors include AbbVie, Bank of America and Merrill, Constellation, J.P. Morgan Chase, Microsoft, and The Rockefeller Foundation. Emerging Sponsors include BDO, The Comer Science & Education Foundation, Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, Google, IonQ, memQ, Northern Trust, Optiver, UL Solutions, and Workbox. Supporting organizations include Q-STAR and JETRO.

Additionally, the fifth annual TechChicago Week, powered by P33, will feature eleven other anchor events, including Chicago Climate Week, Aspen Ideas: Climate 2026, Chicago Sports Tech Week, 1871 TechPalooza, WMN in Fintech Showcase, Co-Invest Climate, the Best Buy Teen Tech Center Grand Opening, Smart Tech, Big Dreams: Learning AI for the Future, Building Resilient Communities Brunch, Founder Fest, and Technology That Starts in the Community. More than 130 partner events will take place across the city. To view the full TechChicago Week schedule, visit: https://gotechchicago.com/week/.

QUOTE APPENDIX:

“As a proud sponsor of the second annual Global Quantum Forum, we are honored to support the innovation, partnership, and knowledge-sharing that are driving the future of quantum,” said Kevin Cole, Ernst & Young, LLP Chicago Office Managing Partner. “By bringing together leading researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and innovators from around the world, the forum serves as a catalyst for meaningful collaboration and progress. We’re excited to be part of these important conversations and to help advance the growth of the quantum ecosystem in Illinois and beyond.”

“A world-changing technology like quantum should have power it can trust, and ComEd’s nation-leading reliability will provide critical support to the IQMP,” said ComEd President and CEO Gil Quiniones. “It is our privilege to power a technology that has the potential to transform the healthcare, energy and financial industries, while also creating local jobs and boosting economic growth across our region.”

“With the eyes of the quantum world on Chicago, the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park is further establishing Illinois as the global destination for innovation,” said Harley Johnson, CEO of the IQMP. “As the Park rises on the South Side, we’re excited to welcome leaders from across the industry and beyond to our city for impactful conversations about solving grand challenges.”

“Illinois is proving that when we invest in new technology, talent, and collaboration, we can shape the future of the global economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “The Global Quantum Forum highlights our state’s growing leadership in quantum technology while strengthening partnerships that drive innovation, create good-paying jobs, and expand opportunity for communities across Illinois.”

“Illinois is at the center of the quantum computing revolution—thanks to our world-class research institutions and the expanding Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park,” said Senator Dick Durbin. “I’m excited to welcome quantum technology leaders and researchers to Chicago for the Global Quantum Forum, giving us the opportunity to demonstrate our state’s expertise in quantum technologies that will grow the medical, financial, and material industries across the globe.”

“As a proven leader in quantum technology, Chicago is the perfect place to hold this global forum that will bring together the brightest minds to discuss the future of this booming industry,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “As home to the Argonne National Laboratory and the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, Illinois knows that the benefits of investing in quantum are endless, allowing us to create more jobs, boost economic growth, safeguard our privacy, enhance our national security, help cure diseases, bend the curve on climate change, protect our financial system and so much more. Chicago is leading the way, and I’ll continue to support quantum technology advancement at home and around the world.”

“Cook County is dedicated to forging innovative investments and partnerships that will position this region at the forefront of the global quantum economy,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “We’re thrilled the Global Quantum Forum is returning to the region, and we look forward to engaging with leaders and decision makers from around the world as we build the future of Cook County’s economic growth.”

“Momentum continues to build for the Illinois Quantum Microelectronics Park (IQMP) and there is no greater evidence than welcoming the Global Quantum Forum for the second year in a row,” said 10th Ward Alderman Peter Chico. “As I see the excitement grow from all over the world, I am equally excited for the impact the IQMP will have on the southeast side of Chicago. We have already made investments in our youth and workforce, helping to start rebuilding our community through quantum.”

“The return of the Global Quantum Forum to Chicago for a second consecutive year affirms our city’s growing role as a global leader in quantum innovation. It is especially meaningful that this international conversation is taking place in the city that is home to the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, where groundbreaking research, investment, and collaboration are helping shape the future of technology,” said 7th Ward Alderman Greg Mitchell. “We are proud to welcome innovators, researchers, investors, and policymakers from around the world to Chicago and look forward to the partnerships and opportunities that will continue to strengthen our city, our region, and our economy.”

HOST ORGANIZATIONS

About P33: P33 is a publicly and privately-funded non-profit with a mission to transform Chicago into a tier 1 tech and innovation hub driving inclusive economic growth. P33’s work is anchored in deep research and driven by a need to unlock the potential of the digital age to solve some of the toughest problems facing Chicago, such as equitable access to digital careers, talent retention, deep science commercialization, and gaps in the growth-stage startup ecosystem. P33 was launched in 2019 by Penny Pritzker, former Secretary of Commerce and founder and chairman of PSP Partners; Chris Gladwin, CEO and co-founder of Ocient and Cleversafe; and Kelly Welsh, former President of the Civic Committee of The Commercial Club of Chicago. Learn more at p33chicago.com.

About Illinois EDC: The Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC) is the statewide economic development organization focused on bringing new businesses, jobs, and investment to Illinois. Illinois EDC collaborates with industry, academic, and government partners to grow Illinois’ economy across competitive, priority industries and showcase why Illinois is the best location for domestic and international companies to relocate and expand. For more information, visit illinoisedc.org. Follow us at @IllinoisEDC. 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-leaders-fortune-500-ceos-and-tech-visionaries-convene-in-chicago-for-second-annual-global-quantum-forum-302829970.html

SOURCE P33

Technology

The World Is Taking Notice: TIME Recognition Fuels VinFast’s Global Journey

Published

4 minutes ago

September 11, 2026

On a rainy Tuesday morning in Paris, a driver waiting at a red light on Boulevard Haussmann might not immediately place the badge on the SUV beside them. Thousands of miles away, a driver in California might have a similar moment seeing the same badge on an American road. It is not German, nor one of the familiar Asian names that have become common across established automotive markets. It belongs to VinFast , a Vietnamese automotive brand that is steadily making its presence felt across Europe and North America, and whose global journey reflects a much larger story unfolding inside its parent group, Vingroup.

PARIS , Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — That journey reached a new milestone this year. Vingroup has been ranked 340th in TIME’s World’s Best Companies 2026, produced jointly with the research firm Statista, placing it among the world’s top 350 businesses and marking a rise of nearly 500 places from the previous year. It is the only Vietnamese company to appear on the list for two consecutive years.

A Ranking Built on More Than Growth

TIME and Statista do not rank companies on size alone. Their methodology weighs three dimensions: revenue growth, employee satisfaction and sustainability transparency. Vingroup earned an overall score of 81 out of 100, rising from 817th to 340th worldwide.

The revenue figures behind that score are substantial. In the first half of 2026, Vingroup posted consolidated net revenue of VND 222.9 trillion, up 72 percent year on year, with profit after tax reaching VND 20.904 trillion, more than four and a half times the figure recorded over the same period in 2025. That growth was driven largely by the Group’s industrial manufacturing and real estate businesses, earning Vingroup an “Outstanding” rating on the revenue metric.

Employee satisfaction told a similar story of momentum. Vingroup climbed to 398th globally, up 496 places, in a workforce that now spans roughly 400,000 people across 12 countries.

On sustainability, the Group’s contribution came through a different kind of infrastructure – green transition projects, urban development, and long-term investment in the systems that sustain a livable city rather than a single quarter’s balance sheet. Vinhomes, the Group’s real estate arm, has extended this thinking through its ESG++ model, adding Regeneration and Resilience to the conventional three pillars of Environmental, Social and Governance work, applied across urban developments spanning thousands of hectares.

Two new business lines added to that picture in 2025: infrastructure, through VinSpeed’s high-speed rail projects connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Can Gio and Hanoi to Quang Ninh, and green energy, through VinEnergo’s projects across multiple provinces. Together, they represent an attempt to build not just individual businesses, but the connective tissue – rail, power and mobility – that a modern, low-carbon economy runs on.

Making the EV Transition More Accessible

Within that broader ecosystem, VinFast represents one of the clearest expressions of Vingroup’s global aspirations. The company’s expansion across Asia, North America and Europe is bringing the Group’s vision for a greener future to an increasingly international audience, while putting a Vietnamese automotive brand directly into competition in some of the world’s most established markets.

For customers considering a new automotive brand, however, global vision is only the starting point. The more important question is whether a new entrant can earn the trust required to become part of everyday life.

Research from the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility offers a useful, if counterintuitive, perspective. Surveying thousands of European car buyers, McKinsey found that Europeans open to considering an Asian market entrant show an overall 53 percent likelihood of switching to a new brand when they move to an electric vehicle – a figure that rises as high as 63 percent in the United Kingdom. Brand loyalty, in other words, is proving more fluid in the EV era than it was in the age of the internal combustion engine.

That shift creates an opening for new EV brands. But winning customers requires more than a competitive vehicle. It requires making electric mobility accessible while building the sales, service and ownership infrastructure that gives customers confidence throughout the ownership journey.

With an increasingly diverse and accessible product portfolio, VinFast remains committed to its mission of making electric vehicles more accessible to everyone and enabling customers to transition to green mobility with greater ease and confidence.

In Europe, the company is expanding its presence with products designed around local priorities of efficiency, design and accessibility, including the VF 6 and VF 8, while electric buses such as the EB 8 and the fully European-certified EB 12 further extend its contribution to the region’s transition toward greener transportation.

Across North America, the same vision is being supported by the expansion of VinFast’s sales and service network and the development of its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. Together, these initiatives are designed to build a more comprehensive ecosystem around the customer, extending beyond the vehicle itself to the services and support that shape the ownership experience.

Vingroup was the first Vietnamese company to qualify for TIME’s World’s Best Companies list in 2025, while VinFast has earned recognition among TIME100 Most Influential Companies and Asia-Pacific’s Best Companies of 2025. These milestones reflect growing international recognition of Vingroup’s and VinFast’s aspirations, capabilities and expanding global reach.

The latest TIME recognition for Vingroup therefore arrives at a moment when that global reach is becoming increasingly visible. For VinFast, the challenge and opportunity now extend across multiple continents , from European cities where a new badge is gradually becoming familiar, to North American roads where the company is building its presence and customer ecosystem.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/the-world-is-taking-notice-time-recognition-fuels-vinfasts-global-journey-302876595.html

Technology

XLCS Partners advises CID Capital on its investment in Kaiser Garage Doors & Gates

Published

4 minutes ago

September 11, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — XLCS Partners, Inc., a leading middle market investment bank, is pleased to announce it served as advisor to CID Capital on its investment in Kaiser Garage Doors & Gates, LLC (Kaiser).

Headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, Kaiser is a leading installer and servicer of residential and commercial overhead doors and gates serving the Phoenix, Tucson, and White Mountains markets. With over 30 years of proven operations, the company has established a strong regional footprint, a reputation for quality and reliability, and long-standing customer relationships.

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, CID Capital is a private equity firm with decades of experience partnering with high-quality, lower middle market companies. CID makes control investments in companies with a proven track record of success and works alongside management teams to provide strategic guidance, resources, and capital for the next phase of growth, combining a focus on founder- and family-owned companies with a collaborative approach to building long-term value.

Kaiser is the third platform investment made from CID’s latest fund, CID Capital Opportunity Fund IV, L.P. In conjunction with the closing, industry veteran Eric Farley stepped in as CEO to lead the business under CID’s ownership, partnering with Dean Bennett, COO, and the existing Kaiser team.

XLCS acted as buyside advisor to CID Capital in connection with its investment in Kaiser, which was completed on August 14, 2026. The engagement was supported by Jay Cremer, Vice President, and David Silva, Senior Associate.

About XLCS Partners, Inc.
XLCS Partners is a leading global investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services. Visit www.xlcspartners.com for more information.

Media Contact:
Kendra Span
kspan@xlcspartners.com
615-379-7783

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xlcs-partners-advises-cid-capital-on-its-investment-in-kaiser-garage-doors–gates-302876631.html

SOURCE XLCS Partners, Inc.

Technology

PlanetiQ Selected for NOAA’s Space-Based Environmental Monitoring IDIQ

Published

1 hour ago

September 11, 2026

Selection builds on PlanetiQ’s long-standing relationship with NOAA and adds thermospheric neutral density to its environmental data offerings

GOLDEN, Colo., Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PlanetiQ, a leading provider of commercial satellite-based environmental data, today announced that it has been selected as an industry partner under NOAA’s new Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Through the SBEM IDIQ, PlanetiQ will be eligible to compete for task orders to provide NOAA with two types of commercial environmental data: Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) observations for atmospheric profiling and ionospheric monitoring, and thermospheric neutral density data for satellite orbit prediction.

“This selection builds on our long-standing partnership with NOAA and expands the ways our data can support the agency, from high-resolution atmospheric and ionospheric observations to thermospheric neutral density for satellite orbit prediction,” said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ.

The SBEM IDIQ, established by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) through its Commercial Data Program. The contract has a five-year base period followed by a five-year option and is effective from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2036.

Under SBEM, PlanetiQ will provide data from its existing satellite constellation as well as additional satellites planned for launch later this year. The company’s GNSS-RO observations provide high-resolution atmospheric profiles for numerical weather prediction and measurements of the ionosphere, including Total Electron Content (TEC) and scintillation. PlanetiQ will also introduce thermospheric neutral density data as a new commercial data product for NOAA NESDIS, supporting improved satellite orbit prediction and space-weather applications.

“PlanetiQ has built its business around delivering high-quality GNSS-RO data with the precision needed to improve weather forecasting,” said Ira Scharf, CEO of PlanetiQ. “This selection builds on our long-standing partnership with NOAA and expands the ways our data can support the agency, from high-resolution atmospheric and ionospheric observations to thermospheric neutral density for satellite orbit prediction. We look forward to continuing to work with NOAA to advance weather forecasting and space weather applications.”

Per NOAA’s own press release, NOAA is expanding its procurement and use of new commercial environmental satellite data streams that will enhance weather forecasting and space weather monitoring. The SBEM IDIQ contract is a key part in the agency’s ongoing effort to boost U.S. weather forecasting capabilities.

PlanetiQ currently provides GNSS-RO data to NOAA NESDIS under the agency’s previous commercial data contract vehicle. The company’s most recent task order, announced in August, provides GNSS-RO and ionospheric data and bridges the transition to the new SBEM contract.

About PlanetiQ

PlanetiQ provides the highest-quality GNSS radio occultation (RO) data available from a commercial constellation of satellites, offering unmatched temporal and spatial resolution. The data drive accurate, high-impact weather and climate forecast models, helping improve Numerical Weather Prediction and AI forecasts, safeguard lives and property from severe weather. In 2025, PlanetiQ was awarded NOAA’s largest-ever contract for satellite weather data, valued at $24.3 million. PlanetiQ is a space-tech company that serves the most mission-critical government, defense, and industry leaders, including international weather agencies, enabling more resilient operations across sectors. Founded in 2015 and privately owned, PlanetiQ designs, builds, and operates the preeminent commercial constellation of GNSS-RO satellites, setting the standard for precision and reliability in atmospheric monitoring. For more information, contact info@planetiq.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/planetiq-selected-for-noaas-space-based-environmental-monitoring-idiq-302876567.html

SOURCE PlanetiQ