Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park Appoints Philip Makotyn as Deputy CTO

Insider Brief

• The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) has appointed Dr. Philip Makotyn as Deputy Chief Technology Officer to help shape the park’s technical strategy and growth.
• Makotyn joins IQMP from semiconductor laser company Vexlum US and previously held leadership roles at CUbit Quantum Initiative, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell Quantum Solutions.
• IQMP said Makotyn will help guide the technical direction of the 128-acre quantum and microelectronics development as it expands its infrastructure, partnerships, and commercialization efforts.

PRESS RELEASE — The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) today announced Dr. Philip Makotyn as its new Deputy Chief Technology Officer, a senior leadership role focused on shaping the Park’s technical strategy and growth. After nearly twenty years working in Colorado’s quantum ecosystem, Dr. Makotyn will help guide the technical direction of the IQMP as it grows to support the development and commercialization of quantum technology and microelectronics. 

“Phil brings an exceptional combination of expertise in technical solutions, ecosystem building, and scientific research, and that is exactly what the IQMP needs as we continue bringing world-class tenants to Chicago’s South Side,” said Dr. Harley Johnson, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. “His work over the last two decades in academia and industry gives him a rare perspective on the quantum landscape, and Phil’s leadership will be invaluable as we build the technical foundation and partnerships that will define the Park for years to come.”

Dr. Makotyn joins the IQMP from Vexlum US, a semiconductor-laser company delivering key components for the quantum industry, where he most recently served as President of the U.S. subsidiary, driving partnerships, strategy, and commercial expansion. Prior to that, he served as Executive Director of the CUbit Quantum Initiative, the interdisciplinary hub catalyzing quantum activities at University of Colorado Boulder. He has also held leadership roles in the quantum space at Lockheed Martin and Honeywell Quantum Solutions. 

“The IQMP is an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate quantum technologies, solve complex challenges, and drive economic growth for the city and the state, and I’m thrilled to help shape its technical vision to drive real-world impact,” said Dr. Philip Makotyn, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park. “As a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnus, I couldn’t be more excited to return to Illinois and work with the incredibly talented IQMP team to make this state a global quantum leader.” 

Dr. Makotyn has served on the Steering Committee of the National Photonics Initiative and on the advisory committee for SPIE’s Public Policy Advisory Committee. He received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Elmhurst University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

The IQMP, which broke ground in Fall 2025, is a 128-acre development that provides infrastructure and resources to support the development and commercialization of quantum technologies, hardware, software, and applications.