On a campus that once helped give rise to the personal computer, a very different kind of machine is getting ready to arrive.
This week, D-Wave announced it will move its corporate headquarters from Palo Alto to Boca Raton and build a major U.S. research and development hub at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus. At the same time, Florida Atlantic University signed a $20 million agreement to purchase and install one of D-Wave’s Advantage2 annealing quantum computers on its campus.
Quantum computing still feels abstract to many, but its promise is concrete: faster ways to model supply chains, design new materials, improve traffic flow, price financial risk, and solve hard science problems.
These two announcements mark a turning point in South Florida’s push into advanced computing. They also build on earlier efforts, including the Quantum Beach event in West Palm Beach last October and the launch of a global quantum investment fund in Palm Beach County.
For D-Wave, the decision came as interest in practical quantum applications begins to move beyond research labs. The company said it chose Florida because of its growing tech base, academic strength, and access to talent.
“Florida represents one of the fastest growing technology ecosystems in the United States, and as such it was the ideal choice for our new corporate headquarters and U.S. R&D facility,” Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, shared in a statement. “The state offers a rich scientific and educational environment, a growing pool of highly skilled tech talent, and a vibrant spirit of innovation that made it attractive to D-Wave.”
Baratz continued: “With our new headquarters in Boca Raton, D-Wave will bring to South Florida incredible opportunities for advanced research, talent recruitment, and high-impact technology development that is shaping the future of computing.”
The new headquarters will sit inside the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), a site with deep roots in computing history. In the 1980s, IBM engineers there worked on the first personal computers. Now the same campus will host teams building quantum systems designed to tackle problems far beyond the reach of today’s machines.
“For decades, Boca Raton has played a key role in the computing revolution, and today our city took a major step forward in powering the next transformation in computing – quantum,” Mayor Scott Singer commented. “By welcoming D-Wave’s flagship U.S. R&D operations and its global headquarters to the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, we are strengthening our position as a destination for advanced innovation, attracting top-tier technology talent, and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth.”
At the center of the story is Florida Atlantic University, which will become home to one of the most advanced quantum computers in the country once the Advantage2 system is installed later this year.
The $20 million purchase will anchor a broader partnership between FAU and D-Wave focused on research, teaching, and applied work.
“This marks a defining moment for FAU and for D-Wave,” Baratz said. “Deploying a D-Wave quantum computer at FAU will establish the university as a preeminent center for quantum computing education and research. It signals that the university is not just preparing for the quantum era — it is helping to shape it. For D-Wave, it signifies an important collaboration with a leading academic institution to further quantum computing experimentation and innovation.”
FAU President Adam Hasner framed the deal as a bridge between theory and real-world impact.
“This partnership opens unique opportunities for Florida Atlantic University to provide real-world solutions, advance research, and offer our students hands-on experience with transformative technology,” Hasner said.
State leaders tied both announcements to Florida’s longer-term push into deep tech.
“This investment positions Florida and Florida Atlantic University at the forefront of the next generation of computing,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “By bringing a quantum computer to FAU, we’re creating new opportunities for research, workforce development, and partnerships that will benefit our economy, national defense, data security, critical life sciences R&D, and transportation and logistics systems – keeping our state competitive for years to come.”
READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:
- On Oct. 8th, Quantum Beach will bring the science of tomorrow to the coast of Florida today
- Matt Cimaglia is betting big on quantum to transform South Florida’s tech scene
- The Runway at FAU to expand under the College of Business
- The transatlantic tech connection: How the UK and Florida are shaping a shared innovation future
