On the day first of a four-day mission trip to Japan, Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday announced a deal with medical diagnostic product-maker Sysmex America Inc., which is headquartered in north suburban Lincolnshire.
Pritzker’s office said Sysmex will invest $20.6 million in northeastern Illinois to create 110 more jobs and retain 550 others. The company employs scientists, engineers and health care professionals, and produces medical equipment that aids in diagnosing blood clotting disorders and other conditions.
Pritzker is joined on the Japan trip by about four dozen lawmakers, economic development officials, academics and businesspeople. Their goal is to promote Illinois’ “manufacturing and innovation” and strengthen business partnerships.
The delegation on Monday met with Japanese executives from the food sector and Pritzker met with leaders of the Japan External Trade Organization, specifically discussing opportunities in clean energy and quantum technology. The governor also delivered a keynote speech to over 100 Japan-based companies at an event hosted by JETRO.
On Tuesday, Pritzker led a quantum roundtable discussion at the University of Tokyo along with Senate President Don Harmon, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, and deputy governors Martin Torres and Andy Manar.
Quantum technology has been a major emphasis of the administration and lawmakers, who approved a tax incentives package earlier this year that’s aimed at making Illinois a hub for the nascent technology.
Read more: Quantum technology companies set for big tax incentives under new law
The Japan trip is slated to conclude on Thursday.
