# NIST Funds South Florida Quantum Cybersecurity Workforce

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded Florida Atlantic University (FAU) a **$200,000 cooperative agreement** to develop a South Florida quantum-cybersecurity workforce consortium. Working with D-Wave Quantum and regional education and infrastructure stakeholders, the initiative will provide hands-on training for power-grid and other critical-infrastructure security using an upcoming D-Wave Advantage2 system and FPL InETech power simulators. The award funds an initiative; it is not an open solicitation for contractors.

- Procurement teams should distinguish this funded cooperative agreement from a competitive bid opportunity: the signal identifies no open solicitation or response deadline.
- Cybersecurity and quantum-technology firms can assess whether their training, hardware, or critical-infrastructure expertise fits potential collaboration with FAU and the consortium; the signal does not specify additional procurements.
- The use of power simulators and quantum hardware links workforce development to grid-security applications, a relevant capability area for organizations serving critical-infrastructure stakeholders.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Education
**Topics:** Cybersecurity, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 06, 2026

### Government Entities
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
- Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
- Palm Beach County Public Schools
- Broward County Public Schools

### Vendors
- D-Wave Quantum Inc. (Quantum hardware provider and consortium collaborator)
- Florida Power & Light (FPL) InETech (Provider of power simulators used in the training program)

### Sources
- [Florida Atlantic University Receives NIST Grant to Build South Florida Quantum Cybersecurity Workforce Ecosystem - Quantum Computing Report](https://quantumcomputingreport.com/florida-atlantic-university-receives-nist-grant-to-build-south-florida-quantum-cybersecurity-workforce-ecosystem) - Quantum Computing Report