D-Wave Quantum Computing
# FAU’s Quantum Computing Initiative
Florida Atlantic University has signed a $20 million agreement to purchase a D-Wave Advantage2 annealing quantum computer — a production-ready system with over 4,400 qubits. Deployment is expected on the Boca Raton campus later in 2026.
This makes FAU one of the first universities in the world to host an on-site quantum computer of this scale, positioning it as what President Adam Hasner calls “Florida’s Quantum Computing University.”
# The System
The D-Wave Advantage2 is designed for real-world optimization problems. Unlike gate-model quantum computers, annealing systems excel at:
- Optimization — logistics, scheduling, supply chain, portfolio management
- Materials simulation — molecular modeling, materials discovery
- AI and machine learning — feature selection, training optimization, sampling
- Emergency management — resource allocation, evacuation planning
# Research at MPCR
The MPCR Lab is investigating how quantum annealing can accelerate research across our project portfolio:
- Optimization problems in neural network compression
- Quantum-assisted search in hyperdimensional computing spaces
- Stochastic computing approaches mapped to quantum hardware
- Swarm optimization algorithms on quantum substrates
# Education and Workforce Development
The partnership includes:
- D-Wave Quantum Applications Academy at FAU with paid internships
- Joint hackathons and ideation workshops
- Hands-on student access to production quantum hardware
- Research, training, and workforce development programs
The State of Florida and City of Boca Raton are providing incentives, and D-Wave has announced it will establish its new corporate headquarters at the Boca Raton Innovation Center.