FAU Becomes State's First University to Host Onsite Quantum Computer

(From left): Alan Baratz, Ph.D., CEO of D-Wave; FAU President Adam Hasner; and Florida Secretary of Commerce, J. Alex Kelly, at D-Wave Qubits26 in Boca Raton.

Florida Atlantic University will be the first university in Florida to publicly host a large, dedicated quantum computer on site. Today, FAU signed an agreement with D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), to acquire and install an Advantage2 annealing quantum computer on the university's Boca Raton campus, aiming to accelerate and solidify the state of Florida's position as a leader in quantum computing.

The Advantage2 system deployment, expected later this year, will serve as the foundation of a new partnership with D-Wave, the only dual-platform quantum computing company, providing annealing and gate-model systems, software and services. Together, FAU and D-Wave aim to advance quantum computing education, research and applied innovation in Florida.

"This milestone marks a transformative moment for Florida Atlantic University and for the state of Florida," said Piero Bussani, chair, FAU Board of Trustees. "By hosting one of the most advanced quantum computers on a university campus, FAU is not only accelerating research but also preparing our students to lead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. This partnership with D-Wave positions our university - and our region - at the forefront of quantum innovation, bridging academia, industry and real-world solutions in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago."

Earlier today, D-Wave announced that it will establish its new corporate headquarters at the Boca Raton Innovation Center. The headquarters will serve as a key development hub in the United States for D-Wave, designed to further quantum computing technology advancement.

"This is an exciting 'quantum' leap for Florida Atlantic University as we strengthen our position as a hub of innovation in Florida and beyond," said FAU President Adam Hasner. "As an R1 research university strategically located in South Florida, we are positioned to leverage these resources to tackle challenges in logistics, finance, transportation, materials discovery, and much more. This partnership will define how we approach science and innovation, and we are proud to take our place as Florida's Quantum Computing University. This is a big differentiator for Florida Atlantic. We are planting the FAU flag in the proverbial sand of Florida's Quantum Beach. Integrating the D-Wave system into our research and teaching elevates FAU into an elite group of universities that will drive the next wave of quantum science."

The collaboration between FAU and D-Wave will include academic research, training, joint research and workforce development initiatives that will leverage D-Wave's award-winning Advantage2 system to be housed on FAU's campus.

"Congratulations to Florida Atlantic on this groundbreaking partnership with D-Wave, which will strengthen our state and enhance meaningful educational opportunities for students," said Alan Levine, chair of the Florida State University System's Board of Governors. "This achievement underscores the forward-thinking leadership focused on the future that President Hasner brings to Florida Atlantic. His expertise in cultivating strategic industry partnerships is fundamental to Florida Atlantic's and our state's continued growth and competitiveness."

FAU and D-Wave will also host joint ideation workshops and hackathons to explore real-world quantum use cases in areas such as public works, logistics, supply chains, transportation and emergency management.

"Spearheaded by our Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and College of Engineering and Computer Science, our quantum computing system will serve as a powerful tool for tackling complex scientific and engineering challenges," said Gregg Fields, Ph.D., FAU vice president for research. "Direct access to the hardware enables faster experimentation and deeper collaboration among researchers, while giving students and engineers hands-on experience with next-generation technology and helping to build a highly skilled workforce."

The Advantage2 system is a revolutionary quantum computer developed by D-Wave that uses quantum annealing to tackle complex problems beyond the reach of traditional computers. With 4,400+ qubits, it is designed to optimize logistics, improve resource scheduling, accelerate materials discovery, and enhance artificial intelligence applications.

"This marks a defining moment for FAU and D-Wave," said Alan Baratz, Ph.D., CEO of D-Wave. "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."

Unlike supercomputers, which excel at tasks like weather forecasting, scientific research and AI, quantum computers operate on fundamentally different principles, offering an entirely new paradigm in computing. By harnessing the principles of quantum physics, quantum computers are designed to tackle more computationally complex problems - such as modeling molecules for drug discovery, optimizing complex systems like supply chains or energy grids, and developing new materials - often considered impractical or impossible for classical computers to solve.

"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."

An onsite system also attracts private industry, startups and investment by signaling a strong commitment to emerging technologies and innovation. In addition, local control over advanced computing infrastructure supports secure research and data use, strengthens FAU's ability to compete for federal funding, and positions the university as a leader in shaping the future of advanced computing rather than relying on resources located elsewhere.

A D-Wave Quantum Applications Academy at FAU also will be established to provide paid internships and experiential learning opportunities for FAU students. In support of this agreement, the state of Florida and the city of Boca Raton have provided incentives for job growth and training to expand the talent pool needed to support growing U.S. in-production quantum systems and increased government business.

D-Wave's Advantage2TM annealing quantum computer is a powerful and energy-efficient system capable of solving computationally complex problems in business and science. D-Wave's sixth-generation annealing quantum computer, the Advantage2 system is production-ready and built to address real-world use cases in areas such as optimization, materials simulation, and artificial intelligence. (Photo credit: D-Wave)

An image of D-Wave's Advantage2™ annealing quantum computer. FAU has signed an agreement to purchase and install an Advantage2 annealing quantum computer at its Boca Raton campus. (Photo credit: D-Wave)

A close-up look at a D-Wave Advantage2TM annealing quantum processing unit (QPU). (Photo Credit: D-Wave)

-FAU-