FAU Receives $200,000 NIST Award for Quantum Cybersecurity Workforce

Insider Brief

• Florida Atlantic University received a $200,000 NIST cooperative agreement to establish a regional quantum cybersecurity workforce ecosystem across South Florida and the Treasure Coast.
• The program will combine quantum computing, cybersecurity and critical-infrastructure training through workshops, curriculum, case studies, online materials, mentoring and internships.
• FAU will work with D-Wave, government, industry, K-12 and community partners while expanding access to quantum computing resources through its planned D-Wave Advantage2 system.

PRESS RELEASE — As quantum computing advances, it is creating new cybersecurity challenges that will require a workforce trained to protect critical systems and infrastructure. Yet few workforce development programs provide hands-on training that integrates quantum computing, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure.

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, in collaboration with D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NASDAQ: QBTS), is addressing this emerging workforce gap with a new $200,000 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish a regional quantum cybersecurity workforce ecosystem serving Palm Beach and Broward counties and the Treasure Coast counties of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River.