In Palm Beach County, Quantum Technology Is Moving From Buzzword to Building Block
After years of headline-grabbing advances in artificial intelligence, a quieter revolution is taking shape—one with deep roots in Florida and growing momentum in Palm Beach County.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – (August 27, 2025) – Artificial intelligence has gone from lab demos to daily utility in just a few years, reshaping business, government, and culture. The Stanford AI Index’s 2025 report chronicles surging adoption and investment, and Washington has moved to set guardrails with a landmark executive order on “safe, secure, and trustworthy” AI.
Now comes the next chapter: quantum computing—an approach that uses the weird rules of quantum physics to tackle some problems far beyond the reach of today’s supercomputers. Crucially, quantum isn’t a replacement for AI or classical computers. It’s a teammate. Think of it as a highly specialized accelerator that, when paired with conventional systems, can sharpen certain AI tasks like optimization, simulation, and materials discovery. Quantum research leaders emphasize this complementary, hybrid future.
“West Palm Beach has a proud tradition of welcoming innovation that enhances quality of life,” said City of West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “As quantum technology matures, our City is committed to ensuring that residents, students, and local businesses not only understand it, but also benefit from it and play a role in shaping its future — right here at home in West Palm Beach.”
That ‘right here’ matters. Palm Beach County’s economic leaders have been steadily convening universities, companies, and civic partners around the opportunity, ensuring the region has a seat at the table as quantum technology advances. “We’re mobilizing educators, employers, and investors so the Palm Beaches can lead in this strategic field,” said Kelly Smallridge, President & CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. “The message is simple: this is approachable tech with real business value.” Recent BDB initiatives and announcements underscore the push.
Florida, for its part, is building a formidable statewide bench:
- UF’s Florida Quantum Initiative is coordinating research across algorithms, hardware, and secure quantum systems—and hosting statewide convenings.
- FSU is home to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and a growing Quantum Science & Engineering initiative—key for quantum materials and devices.
- UCF’s CREOL (a global optics and photonics leader) advances quantum photonics and silicon-photonics platforms, foundational for quantum networking and sensing.
- FAU is expanding programs that touch quantum computing and AI, from coursework to research engagements along the Treasure Coast.
- Just to list a few…
Palm Beach County’s interest also sits on a proud local tech lineage. The IBM PC team that kicked off the personal-computing boom worked out of Boca Raton, and the IBM Simon—often called the first smartphone—helped set the stage for today’s mobile era. That history of practical, people-first technology is a useful lens for thinking about quantum today.
Quantum technology is starting to show up in real ways—like helping logistics companies optimize routes, researchers accelerate drug discovery, and financial institutions better manage risk.
Beyond the tech, the impact on Florida’s economy is significant. Quantum jobs already offer starting salaries around $100,000, with technical trainees earning $60,000 or more. Each $1 invested in this sector can generate up to $3 in broader economic activity.
For Florida, early leadership means more high-wage jobs, stronger industries, and a long-term advantage in the innovation economy.
“People were once nervous about the internet, then about AI—and now quantum. Each time, the technology turned out to be less intimidating and more useful than people feared,” said Matt Cimaglia, Founder & Managing Partner, Quantum Coast Capital. “Quantum isn’t about replacing what we already have—it’s about unlocking what we can’t yet do. Soon it will shift from something we’re curious about to something we quietly rely on every day.”
Save the Date: Quantum Beach 2025
That approachable on-ramp arrives in six weeks, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, when Quantum Beach 2025 comes to The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. Designed for business leaders, policymakers, educators, students, and curious locals, the full-day program will demystify the field with practical talks, case studies, and networking—an official recognition of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ2025).
“I am grateful that Quantum Beach is in Palm Beach County. Palm Beach County has become a world-recognized hub for innovations and financial services,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly. “It’s fitting and appreciated that Quantum Beach would bring together so many key stakeholders who are focused on innovation and technologies that will both keep Florida a leader.”
Corporate sponsors include D-Wave, Quantinuum, IonQ, and Florida Power & Light (FPL). Education partners include UCF, FSU, FIU, UF, PBSC, and FAU—a coalition that reflects Florida’s growing alignment between industry and academia in advancing quantum technology.
If AI was the spark, quantum is the quiet current that can supercharge it. And if the Palm Beaches have anything to say about it, the future won’t just happen somewhere else—it will be built here, by and for this community.
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About the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County:
The Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB) serves as the county’s official public/private economic development organization. Established in 1982, the BDB is dedicated to attracting and retaining industries, fostering business investments, creating high-quality jobs, and supporting workforce development through corporate relocations, expansions, and international trade initiatives. Over the past five years, the BDB has supported more than 140 companies, contributing to the creation or retention of over 13,110 direct jobs with average salaries exceeding $80,000. These efforts have driven more than $1.12 billion in capital investments into Palm Beach County.
CONTACT:
Business Development Board of Palm Beach County:
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