D-Wave Moves From Silicon Valley to Boca Raton, Betting on Florida’s Tech Boom and Hundreds of New Jobs
D-Wave Quantum Inc. is relocating its corporate headquarters from Palo Alto to the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), establishing a U.S. R&D hub and projecting to create hundreds of high-paying technology and research jobs by the end of 2026.
- New HQ and R&D hub: D‑Wave will relocate to BRiC in Boca Raton and occupy about 25,000 square feet under lease agreements with CP Group and DRA Advisors.
- Jobs and investment: The company expects to create hundreds of high-paying tech and R&D roles and FAU agreed to acquire an Advantage2 system for $20 million.
- Timeline and footprint: Full transition by the end of 2026; D‑Wave will keep a bicoastal presence to maintain redundancy.
- Market context: Move reflects a broader California-to-Florida migration among tech firms and follows strong commercial momentum for D‑Wave.
Move details and timeline
On Jan. 27, 2026, D‑Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), with a full transition expected by the end of 2026. The company will lease approximately 25,000 square feet at BRiC under agreements with CP Group and DRA Advisors, according to media coverage and filings.
The relocation was disclosed in a corporate announcement and an SEC 8-K filing that confirms the timeline and related material events.
Why Boca Raton and BRiC?
D‑Wave’s leadership points to Florida’s expanding tech ecosystem. CEO Dr. Alan Baratz said the state “represents one of the fastest growing technology ecosystems in the United States” with a rich scientific and educational environment and a growing pool of skilled tech talent, per the company press release.
BRiC is a 1.7‑million‑square‑foot campus originally built by IBM and recently upgraded with roughly $100 million in improvements by CP Group, including amenities such as a wellness center, dining hall, event space and a 1,100‑space parking garage. The campus saw strong leasing activity in 2025, leasing more than 300,000 square feet, according to reporting by Investing and industry coverage.
R&D focus, systems growth and jobs
D‑Wave said the Boca Raton site will act as a major U.S. R&D hub focused on advancing its annealing roadmap and system development. The company reported significant usage growth — 314% year‑over‑year growth in Advantage2 system usage and 114% growth in Stride hybrid solver usage over six months — and said the new site supports space needs for core R&D, testing and support.
Jobs: The company projects hundreds of high-paying technology and R&D positions to be created in the Boca Raton region as part of the build-out and operations at BRiC.
Local partnerships and purchases
Florida Atlantic University agreed to purchase and install a D‑Wave Advantage2 annealing quantum computer for $20 million, a detail disclosed in the company’s SEC filing and the announcement. See the SEC filing and the company press release for transaction details.
Leaders weigh in
Florida and local leaders welcomed the move. J. Alex Kelly, Florida’s secretary of commerce, praised the state’s appeal for high‑tech firms. Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer highlighted the city’s computing heritage and potential to attract talent, while Kelly Smallridge of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County called the announcement a milestone for South Florida.
“The move strengthens Florida’s growing tech ecosystem and signals confidence from public markets and startups,” local officials said in responses reported with the company announcement.
Broader context: California to Florida migration
The D‑Wave relocation is one of several high‑profile moves from California to Florida amid debates over taxes, regulation and business climate. Business and industry outlets documented the trend and provided market context; see reporting from Fox Business and regional coverage by BizJournals South Florida.
Implications for Hesperia, California
Economic opportunity and talent movement: While most new D‑Wave jobs will be in Florida, the departure of companies from California may shift local hiring dynamics. Hesperia residents with engineering or IT skills might see changes in recruitment patterns, including more remote and hybrid opportunities as firms maintain bicoastal footprints.
- Remote and hybrid work: D‑Wave and peers are keeping multiple sites and expanding R&D, which could increase remote roles accessible to Hesperia workers.
- Higher education ties: FAU’s $20 million system purchase shows universities can attract major research tools; California institutions and community colleges may intensify efforts to retain talent through expanded STEM and quantum curricula.
- Local business impact: Suppliers and contractors in San Bernardino County could see shifts in contracts if firms relocate, but remote procurement may open new opportunities.
Financial backdrop and market reaction
D‑Wave’s share price climbed sharply over the previous year. Investing reported the stock rose over 330% year‑over‑year and traded near $25.11 at the time of the announcement, implying roughly a $9.3 billion market cap. The company framed the move as supporting an accelerated gate‑model quantum roadmap with an initial system launch expected later in 2026.
