• Resonance
  • Posts
  • 🔵 The Quantum Insider Weekly | D-Wave Hits Florida Shore. Aquisit-IonQ. And More News in Quantum

🔵 The Quantum Insider Weekly | D-Wave Hits Florida Shore. Aquisit-IonQ. And More News in Quantum

Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe below to never miss a qubit. 👇️

FROM THE EDITOR.

January — the days are short, but the month sure is long.

At least the quantum sector has made productive use of the time. The final stretch of the month delivered a concentrated burst of corporate move.

D-Wave Quantum was at the center of the week’s activity, announcing several developments capped by the decision to relocate its headquarters to Boca Raton, Florida. Florida has been quietly assembling the components of a viable quantum ecosystem, combining state and local policy support with academic infrastructure and industry partnerships.

D-Wave’s alignment with Florida Atlantic University places a commercial quantum system directly alongside research, workforce development and applied experimentation. Ecosystems builders around the world view this synergy as critical to building and sustaining advanced technology clusters. The relocation announcement also coincided with new customer activity and partnerships, which underscores D-Wave’s message that its strategy is focused on near-term deployment, not distant promise.

IonQ continued an aggressive acquisition strategy that may read like opportunism to the superficial bystander, but it looks more and more like an intentional design. By combining chip fabrication capabilities through SkyWater, quantum networking assets via Skyloom, and AI-driven infrastructure expertise from Seed Innovations, IonQ is assembling a vertically integrated stack that extends well beyond trapped-ion hardware. The emphasis appears to be on delivering full systems—hardware, networking, and orchestration—tailored to large government and commercial customers.

Here’s what I’m seeing… You have to take in the entire picture to understand the quantum landscape. (Admittedly, I don’t always follow my advice on this.) But leading players are moving away from the same old single-architecture narratives toward ecosystem building and systems integration. Location, partnerships and operational depth are becoming as important as qubit counts or coherence times.

If January truly did seem like it stretched on forever, it ended by making one thing clear: quantum companies are no longer just proving technology—they are choosing where, and how, it will be deployed.

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading!

— Matt, Chief Content Officer at The Quantum Insider

INSIDER BRIEF.

The Noteworthy & Nuanced

Wordplay, wordplay everywhere! QUDORA Technologies has introduced Qamelion, a quantum computing emulator for testing algorithms under realistic, hardware-like noise conditions. Some features include adjustable noise models, hybrid classical quantum execution, and compatibility with OpenQASM, Qiskit, and QIR, enabling thorough evaluation of near-term and future algorithms. Available through QUDORA’s cloud with a free trial, Qamelion will also be offered in Japan through Fixstars Amplify.

“Pan-European Quantum Corridor” - sounds fancy, doesn’t it? SEALSQ has expanded its Quantum Investment Fund from $35M to more than $100M. All in order to create the aforementioned corridor and advance Europe’s post-quantum security and sovereign quantum computing ambitions. The company is deploying capital across PQC hardware, secure satellites, blockchain identity systems, QKD, and quantum-ready semiconductors in multiple countries.

Illinois is pumping out support for quantum startups. The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) and Silicon Catalyst have formed a partnership that will give companies in Silicon Catalyst’s accelerator access to lab space, specialized equipment, cryogenic infrastructure, and the National Quantum Facility. This is all facilitated by the Illinois EDC, as part of a strategy to attract and retain quantum firms in the state. — Alan Kanapin, Analyst at The Quantum Insider

The Research Rundown

Check out this week’s handpicked quantum research. These are studies headed for real-world impact: improving accuracy, reducing latency, using fewer resources, or solving problems that classical methods struggle with. These are early developments, but they hint at where quantum might earn its keep.

Want more research insights? Get them delivered straight to your inbox Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with The Daily Qubit. Subscribe below or use the link to update preferences at the end of this email. 👇️

Registration for Quantum Days 2026 closes on February 4. Taking place February 18–20, 2026, at the Victoria Conference Centre in Victoria, British Columbia, Quantum Days is Canada’s flagship quantum science and technology conference.

Organized by Deep Tech Canada in partnership with Quantum BC, the event brings together researchers, industry leaders, startups, investors, and policymakers from across Canada and around the world. Attendees will explore the latest advancements in quantum science, commercialization, and real-world applications through keynotes, technical sessions, and networking opportunities.

Secure your spot before registration closes.

➡️ D-Wave Quantum Inc. announced it will relocate its corporate headquarters from Palo Alto to Boca Raton, Florida, establishing a new U.S. headquarters and research and development hub at the Boca Raton Innovation Center before the end of 2026.

➡️ The move expands D-Wave’s U.S. R&D footprint while providing bicoastal operational redundancy and aligning the company with state and local incentives aimed at building a regional quantum ecosystem.

➡️ As part of the expansion, D-Wave confirmed a $20 million agreement with Florida Atlantic University to install an Advantage2 annealing quantum computer on FAU’s Boca Raton campus, with deployment expected in 2026.

➡️ The relocation coincides with increased enterprise engagement with D-Wave’s annealing and gate-model platforms and growing demand for hybrid quantum computing services.

Analyst Commentary

D-Wave’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Boca Raton was one of many big moves by this quantum tech pioneer — and one that could reflect a subtle but important shift in how quantum computing companies are positioning themselves for the next phase of commercialization. Rather than clustering exclusively around traditional technology hubs, the company is aligning its long-term strategy with regions willing to invest in infrastructure, talent development and institutional partnerships — not just capital.

Experts also see the Florida move not exclusively about cost arbitrage, but also about control. By consolidating headquarters and core U.S. R&D functions in a state actively courting advanced computing, D-Wave can gain leverage over its operating environment at a moment when quantum timelines remain uncertain but competitive pressures are sharpening. The emphasis on redundancy, testing capacity, and system support suggests a company planning for scale, not experimentation.

Equally significant is the proximity between D-Wave’s corporate operations and its largest announced academic deployment. The Advantage2 installation at Florida Atlantic University anchors the relocation in a concrete use case rather than a symbolic presence. This mirrors a broader trend in quantum commercialization, where companies increasingly tie geographic expansion to deployed systems and applied research rather than future promises.

D-Wave’s framing avoids portraying the move as a bet on a single breakthrough. Instead, it positions Boca Raton as a platform for incremental progress across annealing systems, emerging gate-model capabilities, and enterprise-facing services. That posture aligns with how quantum value is actually emerging today — unevenly, through targeted workloads, hybrid architectures, and long-running collaborations.

Taken together, the headquarters relocation and FAU partnership suggest D-Wave is prioritizing operational readiness over narrative momentum. The company appears less focused on winning the race to a universal quantum computer and more focused on ensuring that, as quantum computing becomes embedded in real workflows, it is structurally prepared to deliver.

Some other notes from this week’s (D) wave of news:

Product and Platform Momentum
D-Wave reported a 314% year-over-year increase in Advantage2 system usage and outlined progress toward a gate-model system targeted for 2026, alongside new hybrid solver updates that integrate machine learning into quantum optimization workflows.

Academic and Workforce Alignment
The FAU agreement extends beyond hardware deployment to include collaboration on education, research, and workforce development, reinforcing the role of universities as applied innovation hubs rather than purely research partners.

Enterprise Services Adoption
A newly disclosed $10 million, two-year Quantum Computing as a Service agreement with a Fortune 100 company signals continued enterprise interest in quantum-enabled applications spanning both annealing and gate-model systems.

DATA SPOTLIGHT.

PacketLight Networks and NEC demonstrated quantum key distribution over a 400G dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) network using a dual-fiber setup. They integrated NEC’s QKD system with PacketLight’s PL-4000M 600G Muxponder, achieving 100% data throughput and low latency, verified via a 100GbE tester. The QKD ran over a dedicated parallel fiber, maintaining quantum signal integrity. The result: a cost-effective, scalable quantum-safe model with zero performance tradeoffs on existing high-capacity infrastructure.

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS.

✨ UNESCO’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology will conclude with a two-day public closing ceremony in Accra, Ghana on February 10–11, bringing together global leaders from science, policy, and education. The event will review outcomes from IYQ 2025, highlight Africa’s growing role in the quantum ecosystem, and formally launch the Global Quantum Initiative.

🇪🇸 The Spanish government has invested €9.75 million in Nu Quantum’s €51 million Series A round to support the launch of a Spanish subsidiary focused on quantum networking and photonic infrastructure.

📈 Xanadu and Crane Harbor have publicly filed a joint Form F-4 with the SEC, advancing a proposed $3.1 billion business combination that could take Xanadu public. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, pending regulatory review and shareholder approval, with shares anticipated to trade under the ticker “XNDU.”

🌐 IonQ has completed its acquisition of Skyloom Global, adding free-space optical and secure communications capabilities to advance its quantum networking roadmap. The deal strengthens IonQ’s ability to deliver end-to-end quantum-secure communications for government, defense, and enterprise customers.

💻️ IonQ has agreed to acquire Seed Innovations to expand its software, AI, and cloud capabilities and support the scaling of its enterprise-grade, full-stack quantum platform. The deal strengthens IonQ’s strategy to integrate AI-driven software with quantum computing, networking, sensing, and security for government and commercial customers.

⚠️ NVIDIA is urging Congress to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative, arguing that U.S. leadership now hinges on integrating quantum computing with AI and high-performance computing rather than advancing quantum systems in isolation. The position, articulated by NVIDIA’s quantum research leadership, calls for an updated federal strategy focused on system-level deployment, hybrid infrastructure, and clear benchmarks for practical scientific use.

🇨🇦 Quobly has opened a Canadian subsidiary in Sherbrooke, Quebec, to deepen its North American R&D, industrial partnerships, and commercialization of silicon-based quantum computing. The company plans to recruit around ten engineers and researchers over the next two to three years, leveraging Sherbrooke’s dense ecosystem in silicon spin qubits, advanced manufacturing, and cryogenic infrastructure.

🚀 Western Massachusetts received a Quantum Technology TechHub designation and a $1 million planning grant for Springfield Technical Community College to assess the feasibility of a proposed quantum supply chain accelerator. The funding supports early-stage planning only, positioning the region to coordinate workforce and infrastructure development while competing for future state and federal investment.

🇳🇱 The Netherlands risks losing its quantum technology lead unless it invests roughly €9–€10 billion to help startups scale from research to industrial production, as limited growth capital leaves firms vulnerable to foreign acquisition. Industry planners argue targeted public funding could unlock private investment, keep manufacturing and IP at home, and secure a share of a rapidly expanding global quantum market.

EVENTS.

Feb. 18–20 — Quantum Days 2026, Canada’s flagship quantum science and technology conference, will take place at the Victoria Conference Centre in Victoria, British Columbia. Registration closes Feb. 4.

March 3-6 -- SIAM Conference on Parallel Processing for Scientific Computing (SIAM SC26), Berlin.

March 16-20 -- Quantum Resources will be held in Tokyo, Japan. The conference brings together leading experts and emerging voices in the field to explore the latest theoretical insights, operational applications, and future directions of quantum resource theories.

March 24 -- Quantum Security & Defence -- Taking place at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, this half-day event convenes industry, government, and research leaders to address quantum security and defence challenges, including quantum-secure communications, certification paths, and practical deployment strategies amid the rising Quantum-AI era.

March 24 -- Convergence Quantum II (CQII) hosted by The Convergence Center for Applied Quantum Computing at The Engine in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA, defines the next generation of drug discovery through applied quantum use cases, biopharma insights and investor perspectives, 

April 6-8 -- International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC 2026) -- Taking place in Kobe, Japan, this IEEE-hosted conference covers advances in quantum communications, networking, computing, cryptography, and related systems, featuring research presentations and industry discussions across key tracks in the field.

April 9–11 -- TQCEBT 2026 -- Hosted at CHRIST University’s Pune Lavasa Campus in India, this interdisciplinary event explores quantum computing advancements alongside emerging business technology applications, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and business leaders.

Apr 22–23 -- Mathematics & Physics Frontiers 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany is an international forum uniting mathematicians, physicists, engineers, data scientists, and technology innovators from across the globe to explore groundbreaking advances at the intersection of theory and application.

April 27-30 -- The Quantum Matter International Conference & Expo (QUANTUMatter2026) will take place at the Barceló Sants Hotel in Barcelona. The conference to foster the incubation of new ideas & collaborations at the forefront of quantum technologies, emerging quantum materials and novel generations of quantum communication protocols, quantum sensing and quantum simulation.

June 4-5 -- Q2B Tokyo 2026 will be held exclusively in-person and presented in Japanese and English, with real-time interpretation.

June 16 -- France Quantum -- the premier event showcasing the French Quantum ecosystem to the world.

June 22-24 -- IQT Nordics: Oslo, Norway

June 24-26 -- Quantum. Tech World: Boston, Mass

June 25-26 -- Quantum.Tech World -- Empowering Quantum, AI & HPC at Enterprise -- Scale, co-located with Quantum.Tech World will be held at Encore Boston Harbor in Boston, United States.

June 25-26 -- Quantum.Tech World -- Empowering Quantum, AI & HPC at Enterprise -- Scale, co-located with Quantum.Tech World will be held at Encore Boston Harbor in Boston, United States.

July 1-3 -- The 2026 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Control, Computing, and Learning (IEEE qCCL 2026) will take place from Wednesday to Friday, July 1-3, 2026