D-Wave Quantum's Big Move to Florida - Game Changer for Boca Raton

Published: February 13th, 2026 | Updated: May 14th, 2026

The building where IBM invented the personal computer in 1981 is now home to the company building the future of computing. D-Wave Quantum, a publicly traded pioneer in quantum computing, announced it will relocate its global headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to the Boca Raton Innovation Campus.

The move is expected to create hundreds of high-paying technology and R&D jobs, each averaging at least $125,000 in salary. For homeowners and buyers across Palm Beach County, this signals another wave of tech-driven demand heading to South Florida.

Key Takeaways

D-Wave Quantum will occupy 25,000 square feet at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), with the move expected by the end of 2026.
Florida Atlantic University committed $20 million to purchase and install a D-Wave Advantage2 quantum computer on its Boca Raton campus.
The city offered up to $500,000 in performance-based incentives, tied to the creation of at least 100 full-time positions.

Why is D-Wave moving to Boca Raton?

D-Wave will occupy 25,000 square feet inside the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), a 1.7-million-square-foot complex at 5000 T-Rex Avenue. IBM originally built the campus in the late 1960s. Architect Marcel Breuer designed it, and at its peak, over 10,000 IBM employees worked here.

This is where IBM engineers developed the first personal computer in 1981. Now, quantum computers will be developed on the same site.

CP Group and DRA Advisors purchased BRiC for $320 million in 2021 and invested another $100 million in renovations. The campus saw over 300,000 square feet of leasing activity in late 2025 alone. Current tenants include Canon, Kroger, Modernizing Medicine, and Arete. Over 5,000 people currently work on campus.

As Larry Mastropieri explained on the Discover South Florida Podcast, "This is the plan to attract these awesome companies and revitalize this once-epic facility. I mean, this was the facility back in the day. And then you connect it with FAU, and you've got a talent pool being trained to work in the tech sector. Plus, you've got millions of square feet of tech companies right down the street."

BRiC has been rezoned for mixed-use development. Plans include over 1,200 residences, a boutique hotel, retail, restaurants, and a 5,000-seat entertainment venue. CP Group is positioning it as a "micro city." The campus can withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

What does the FAU partnership mean for Boca Raton?

Florida Atlantic University committed $20 million to purchase and install one of D-Wave's Advantage2 quantum computers on its Boca Raton campus. Installation is expected in 2026.

This will make FAU one of only a handful of universities worldwide with a quantum computer on campus.

FAU President Adam Hasner said, "This partnership opens unique opportunities for our students and researchers to gain hands-on experience with transformative technology."

The partnership creates a pipeline for quantum-trained talent. Students and researchers will have access to internships, experiential learning, and direct paths to employment at D-Wave and other tech companies in the area. For employers relocating to South Florida, having a local university producing quantum-ready graduates is a major draw.

How does this fit into Florida's tech migration from California?

D-Wave joins a growing list of companies relocating from California to Florida. A proposed 5% one-time wealth tax in California has accelerated the exodus.

Florida's financial incentives are clear: no personal income tax, a low 5.5% corporate tax rate, lower operating costs, and a business-friendly regulatory environment.

Other major recent relocations include Wells Fargo's Wealth Management headquarters to West Palm Beach, SimSpace (cybersecurity) from Boston to Orlando, and ServiceNow launching an AI hub in West Palm Beach with Related Ross. Big tech firms like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon have expanded their South Florida presence. Citadel shifted key operations to Miami.

Kelly Smallridge, President of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, called D-Wave a landmark win: "To attract a worldwide leader, not number two, not number three, but number one in quantum, really cements Palm Beach County's opportunity going forward."

D-Wave's stock has surged by more than 330% over the past year. The company's market cap is approximately $9.3 billion. It recently signed a $10 million, two-year enterprise agreement with a Fortune 100 company and, in January 2026, acquired Quantum Circuits, Inc., to accelerate its gate-model quantum computing roadmap.

What does this mean for homeowners and buyers near Boca Raton?

D-Wave's relocation brings hundreds of high-salaried tech employees who will need housing, schools, and services in and around Boca Raton. With jobs averaging at least $125,000, these are buyers with purchasing power.

The BRiC campus transformation into a mixed-use "micro city" could reshape the surrounding area and increase property values for nearby communities. The campus sits between Yamato Road and Spanish River Boulevard, putting communities in Delray Beach and central Boca Raton within easy commuting distance.

This reinforces a pattern. As major employers set up in Boca Raton and West Palm Beach, demand for housing in Palm Beach County continues to grow from domestic sources, even as some international buyers retreat.

For investors, the combination of a tech workforce migration and a major campus redevelopment creates a window of opportunity in Boca Raton before institutional pricing fully takes hold.

D-Wave has also partnered with defense firms Anduril and Davidson to create quantum tools for U.S. missile defense. That government work could bring additional contractors and defense-sector talent to the area.

Frequently Asked Questions about D-Wave Quantum's move to Boca Raton

What is D-Wave Quantum?

D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) is a publicly traded quantum computing company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The company builds quantum annealing computers designed for optimization problems, such as logistics, financial modeling, and scientific research. D-Wave is the only company offering both annealing and gate-model quantum systems. Its market cap is approximately $9.3 billion.

What is quantum computing?

Traditional computers process information in bits (0 or 1). Quantum computers use qubits, which can represent 0 and 1 simultaneously. This allows quantum computers to solve complex optimization, logistics, financial modeling, and scientific problems much faster than traditional systems. D-Wave specifically builds quantum annealing computers, designed for finding the best solution among many possibilities.

Where is the Boca Raton Innovation Campus?

The Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC) is located at 5000 T-Rex Avenue, between Yamato Road and Spanish River Boulevard. The 1.7-million-square-foot campus sits on 123 acres and was originally built by IBM in the late 1960s. CP Group and DRA Advisors purchased it for $320 million in 2021 and have invested $100 million in renovations.

How many jobs will D-Wave create in Boca Raton?

D-Wave expects to create hundreds of high-paying technology and R&D jobs. The city's $500,000 incentive package requires the creation of at least 100 full-time positions with an average salary of at least $125,000. The company plans to complete the relocation by the end of 2026.

Why are tech companies moving from California to Florida?

Florida offers significant financial advantages: no personal income tax, a 5.5% corporate tax rate, lower operating costs, and a business-friendly regulatory environment. A proposed 5% one-time wealth tax in California has accelerated departures. Companies like Wells Fargo, SimSpace, ServiceNow, and now D-Wave have relocated or expanded operations in Florida.

Local help for buyers and investors in Boca Raton

If you are buying, selling, or investing in Boca Raton or the surrounding area, understanding how major corporate relocations affect neighborhood values and market dynamics matters. Whether you are looking at homes near the BRiC campus, condos in central Boca, or investment properties in the path of tech-driven growth, working with someone who tracks these developments can help you make informed decisions. Reach out to The Mastropieri Group, Realtors®.

For practical, hands-on support across Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Palm Beach County, call (561) 544-7000.