Insider Brief
- IonQ has signed a contract with Florida International University (FIU) to deliver and install a Superion 256-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer on the university’s Miami campus.
- The system will be housed in a dedicated secure facility, with installation currently expected in late 2027 after completion of FIU’s on-campus data center.
- FIU plans to provide access to the system for students, faculty, visiting scholars and research centers, with applications spanning materials science, AI, logistics, cybersecurity, health and power grid management.
PRESS RELEASE — IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading full-stack quantum platform and foundry, today announced a contract with Florida International University (FIU), Miami’s top ranked state university. Under the agreement, IonQ will deliver its Superion 256-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer for installation at FIU.
This contract establishes FIU as IonQ’s flagship academic partner in Florida, creating a central hub for quantum research and education across the region. This agreement marks the first sale and deployment of a Superion 256 trapped-ion quantum computer in Florida.
“This key partnership with Florida International University represents a major milestone in expanding direct physical access to IonQ’s industry-leading, high-performance quantum hardware,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. “By housing our Superion 256 system directly on campus, FIU will lead the region in quantum research and training.”
“Having this 256-qubit quantum computer right on campus positions FIU researchers at the forefront of national quantum innovation,” said FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez. “This partnership provides our 1,200 faculty members, 56,000 students, and regional industry partners with direct access to one of the most advanced computing architectures in the world. It also puts the university in a leading position to engage with key federal agencies to advance recently launched quantum initiatives that address many national needs in the areas of sensing, cryptography, commercialization and workforce development.”
FIU maintains an active national research showcase and briefing center in Washington, D.C. with robust engagement among federal agencies, which is expected to support the partnership with Maryland-based IonQ.
The sixth-generation IonQ system features 256 physical trapped-ion qubits. The hardware will be housed in a specialized, secure facility built on FIU’s campus, with installation currently expected in late 2027, following completion of FIU’s on-campus data center. Students, faculty, visiting scholars, and affiliated research centers will gain direct access to the IonQ Superion system. Scientific applications and research are expected to span material science, artificial intelligence, logistics, cybersecurity, health, and power grid management.
“The 256 physical qubits system located in Miami will enable our team to run complex computational workflows,” said FIU Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development Andres G. Gil. “They will also train the skilled workforce needed to support Florida’s growing quantum industry by developing new curricula, degree programs, and certificates in quantum computing and collaborating closely with industry partners across South Florida and beyond.”
