400 attendees from across the country gather in West Palm Beach for a federal security briefing, the first findings of a statewide quantum study and a look at the talent pipeline behind Florida’s newest industry
[Jason Mahon, deputy secretary of economic development and chief manufacturing officer at FloridaCommerce; Matt Cimaglia, founder and managing partner of Quantum Coast Capital; U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel; Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches; Mayor Keith James of the City of West Palm Beach]
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2026) – More than 400 business, government and research leaders from across the country gathered at the Palm Beach County Convention Center yesterday for Quantum Beach 2026, Florida’s statewide quantum technology conference. Federal security officials, the National Science Foundation, quantum computing companies and the presidents of Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College shared one message: quantum technology is being deployed, secured and staffed in Florida now.
The Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches (BDB), The Quantum Insider and Quantum Coast Capital hosted the conference, now in its second year in the Palm Beaches. IonQ and D-Wave were presenting sponsors.
“A year ago, Quantum Beach was a bet that Palm Beach County could become a home for this industry. Today we have a quantum company headquartered in Boca Raton, a dedicated quantum computer at Florida Atlantic University, a training center at Palm Beach State College and federal agencies in the room,” said Kelly Smallridge, president and CEO of the Business Development Board. “The companies building quantum technology are being courted by every region in America. Palm Beach County intends to win them.”
Federal officials: the encryption clock is running
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency briefed attendees on threats arriving with quantum computing, including the risk to the encryption that protects financial, health and infrastructure data. Dr. Sarah Mohrle, chief AI and data officer at Eclypses, followed with a case study on securing mission-critical systems before that encryption can be broken.
D-Wave puts down roots in Boca Raton
D-Wave has moved its global headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Boca Raton. Allison Schwartz, the company’s senior vice president of global government relations and public affairs, showed how Florida’s existing industries, from logistics to finance to utilities, can use quantum computing today.
Florida’s quantum sector, mapped
Alex Challans, co-founder and CEO of The Quantum Insider, released the first findings of a study commissioned by FloridaCommerce in partnership with the BDB. The study documents the companies, research institutions and infrastructure that make up Florida’s quantum sector. A preview of the findings is available at bdb.org and thequantuminsider.com.
Building the network
IonQ’s Jay Patel hosted a session on the state’s quantum infrastructure. Florida LambdaRail CEO Jon Ellis announced that Phase 1 of the FLR Quantum Network is complete and statewide expansion is underway. Jack Puleo, dean of engineering and computing at Florida International University, outlined how FIU is building quantum into a permanent capability.
The talent pipeline runs through Palm Beach County
Palm Beach State College President Ava Parker and Florida Atlantic University President Adam Hasner joined Hillary Matchett, general partner and chief investment officer at Quantum Coast Capital, to discuss turning research and training into companies and jobs. PBSC’s Quantum Innovation Center and FAU’s $20 million quantum computer are preparing students for quantum careers and building a talent pool for companies moving to the region.
Students showed what that looks like in practice. Quantum Coders, the FAU team of Robert Tudor, Jonathan Seepaul and Tegan Dowd that won the Florida Qiskit Hackathon, presented their project in a session hosted by FAU PhD student Kateryna Tsekhmayster. Robert Loredo, FAU’s executive director of quantum technologies and CEO of Entangled Solutions Group, led an advanced briefing.
Enterprise, pharma and aerospace
ServiceNow’s John Licata told The Quantum Insider’s Evan Kubes how a large enterprise decides when quantum is ready for investment. Dr. Matthew Disney of The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute explained how quantum computing could shorten drug discovery. Riverlane founder and CEO Dr. Steve Brierley and IMPACTIFI’s John Riley III made the case that error correction is the path to useful quantum computers. Dr. Davide Venturelli of the Universities Space Research Association drew on more than a decade at NASA’s Quantum AI Laboratory to discuss pairing quantum computing with advanced AI for aerospace research.
Washington opens and closes the day
With U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel in attendance, Smallridge opened the conference alongside Matt Cimaglia, founder and managing partner of Quantum Coast Capital, and Jason Mahon, deputy secretary of economic development and chief manufacturing officer at FloridaCommerce. Cimaglia closed the day with Dr. Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for technology, innovation and partnerships at the National Science Foundation, on federal support for quantum innovation.
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About the Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches
The Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches is the official public-private economic development organization for Palm Beach County, Florida, working to attract, retain and grow businesses across the region. Learn more at bdb.org.
Media contact
Kristen Liberman, Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches
[email protected]
