Chicago Innovation Takes Center Stage at the SC26 Regional Tech Hub

Chicago has long been heralded as a city where ambitious ideas become reality. From pioneering medical research and world-class universities to national laboratories, advanced manufacturing, and some of the nation’s most sophisticated computing infrastructure, the region is a nexus for scientific discovery. This November, SC26 attendees will have an opportunity to immerse themselves in that technological legacy.

Located steps from conference registration, the SC26 Regional Tech Hub invites all conference attendees – no special badge needed – to explore how technology in Illinois is advancing high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and biomedical innovation. Designed as an immersive space rather than a traditional exhibit, the Regional Tech Hub will connect people with the researchers, institutions, and technologies driving discoveries that extend far beyond the state’s borders.

“Chicago is the ideal backdrop to bring the best of the Illinois’ technological innovators together with the world’s leading minds in HPC, networking, AI, quantum, and so many specialties in between,” said SC26 General Chair Kevin Hayden, also a senior network engineer at Argonne National Laboratory. Hayden lobbied to bring the Regional Tech Hub, especially focused on medical applications, to SC this year.

“The Hub is another way we are living our theme, HPC Unites, by providing a forum for the global HPC and scientific research communities to show how and why computing can help people in tangible, impactful ways,” Hayden added.

The inaugural Regional Tech Hub will kick off with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, November 16 at 2 pm Thereafter, it will operate November 17–19 from 10 am until 6 pm.

Research In Focus

Rather than focusing on individual organizations, the Regional Tech Hub will present a broader story: how universities, national laboratories, healthcare organizations, industry partners, and policymakers work together to accelerate scientific progress.

Visitors will move through an interactive digital environment featuring multimedia storytelling with touchscreen displays, videos, and research profiles. There also will be opportunities to engage directly with scientists and institutional leaders from throughout the state. Every element has been designed to invite exploration, conversation, and collaboration.

The Hub’s programming will focus on areas where advanced computing is actively reshaping science and society.

Artificial intelligence & Precision

Like many areas, AI is transforming healthcare, from improving medical imaging and clinical decision-making to enabling personalized therapies and accelerating drug discovery. The Regional Tech Hub will spotlight how researchers are applying AI capabilities to some of the most complex medical challenges, as well as how AI and HPC are enabling more precise and effective healthcare. Featured organizations will include the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), and University of Illinois College of Medicine.

Quantum & next-Gen computing

As quantum technologies mature, researchers are exploring entirely new approaches to computation. Leaders from organizations, such as the Chicago Quantum Exchange, Argonne National Laboratory, NCSA, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago, will share their diverse insights into the expanding quantum ecosystem that has made Chicago an internationally recognized hotspot for quantum research.

High-throughput Computing INfrastructures & Systems

Every scientific breakthrough relies on powerful infrastructure, often buoyed by AI, that can manage vast volumes of data. This area will highlight the computing platforms, workflows, and large-scale research systems that enable discoveries across disciplines, spanning regional biomedical science programs to national-scale research initiatives. Experts from the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, Duke University, and others are expected to participate.

Human Impact & Translational Biomedical Research

As part of his personal charter for SC26, General Chair Hayden often emphasizes that “computing matters because of its impact on people.” As such, the Research Tech Hub has carved a special space for showcasing how advanced computing translates into improved patient care, healthcare innovation, and better health outcomes. Ethical, societal, and clinical dimensions of computational science will be explored along with how breakthroughs move from the laboratory to applications in the real world.

Let the Conversations Begin