Florida Tech and 13 other leading Florida universities have formalized efforts to make the Sunshine State a national hub for quantum innovation.
The schools signed a memorandum of understanding in early October at Quantum Beach 2025 in West Palm Beach, an event celebrating Florida’s growing leadership in next-generation quantum technologies. They launched the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology (FAQT).
Under the agreement, FAQT will coordinate statewide expertise in quantum engineering and science and align the activities of member universities with state agencies, private-sector innovators, and investors to accelerate research, commercialization, and workforce development.
The Alliance will focus on building a quantum-ready workforce, fostering entrepreneurial growth, attracting new industry, and securing new federal research funding for Florida through joint grant initiatives and public-private partnerships.
The initiative is being driven by Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly, whose vision for fostering statewide collaboration between academia, industry, and government has been instrumental in its creation.
Secretary Kelly has emphasized that building a coordinated quantum ecosystem is essential to securing Florida’s long-term leadership in advanced technologies, strengthening national security capabilities, and preparing a future-ready workforce.
Under his leadership, Florida Commerce has prioritized innovation as a key driver of economic development, positioning the state at the forefront of emerging technology sectors such as quantum science, artificial intelligence and space systems.
The timing was apt as 2025 is the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology in honor of the 100th anniversary of modern quantum mechanics, which center on the tiniest objects in our universe such as atoms and the particles inside them. Quantum science and engineering may help revolutionize many technologies, including high-performance computing, communication, cybersecurity, medical imaging and environmental sensing.
“FAQT will position our state as a national leader in quantum innovation,” said Florida Tech Chief Research Officer Hamid Rassoul, who, along with Rob Salonen, assistant vice president, government affairs & strategic partnerships, represented the university and President John Nicklow at the signing event in West Palm Beach. “This initiative will coordinate efforts across academia, industry and government to advance research, drive commercialization, and develop a quantum-ready workforce.”
Three Florida Tech faculty members are key contributors to Florida Tech’s part in the FAQT initiative: Drs. Robert Usselman (lead faculty), Souvik Das, and Naveed Mahmud. Secretary Kelly visited Usselman’s lab during his recent visit to Florida Tech.
In addition to Florida Tech, the new coalition includes Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida Polytechnic University, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.
The FAQT effort was spearheaded by the University of Florida, with Mark Tehranipoor, the Sachio Semmoto Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, developing the concept and plan.
Florida Commerce leaders noted that with the formation of FAQT, the state’s universities and leadership are signaling a unified vision to ensure Florida remains at the forefront of technological innovation and workforce readiness as the quantum era accelerates.
