Discover The Quantum Edge in Fairfax

It’s called quantum advantage—the point at which quantum systems outperform classical computers for a specific computational problem. If there’s a place that embodies this futuristic concept, it is Fairfax NOVA. The Northern Virginia county has emerged as the hub for quantum computing innovation among a host of emergent technologies. Chalk it up to numerous factors—proximity to Washington, D.C., a stellar workforce pipeline, robust infrastructure. By every measure, Fairfax is at the forefront of the next technological revolution.

Fairfax Is Positioned for Quantum Success

Today, countries and companies around the world are racing toward the holy grail of quantum supremacy. There’s a reason why top innovators seeking breakthroughs in this space are drawn to Fairfax and Northern Virginia. Booz Allen Hamilton is investing in a large-scale effort to accelerate quantum hardware and software solutions for government, civil, and commercial clients from its Fairfax headquarters. Nearby, MITRE has assembled a Quantum Moonshot team building a universal, scalable photonic quantum computer using hybrid qubit architecture.

Other global giants operating in Fairfax are known for pushing the edge of quantum technologies: Google with its groundbreaking quantum advantage research; Amazon Web Services with its cloud quantum computing services; and Northrop Grumman with its forays into quantum sensors and other quantum information technologies.

For these innovators and many more, Northern Virginia’s offers a compelling nexus of government access, research institutions, talent, and infrastructure. Put together, it is an ideal breeding ground to translate novel ideas like quantum entanglement or Hamiltonian physics into diverse real-world applications.

“It’s not just computation, it’s also communications, it’s also sensing, it’s also space work, it’s all these industries. We found that quantum has been a blue ocean for us [in Fairfax County].” — Victor Hoskins, President & CEO of Fairfax County Economic Development Authority

Strategically Positioned Near Power and Policy

What defines Fairfax’s quantum advantage? Location is good place to start. It makes a world of difference that Fairfax brings Washington, D.C. within immediate reach—not just physically, but in terms of institutions and the people who drive them. This proximity opens the door to new connections and opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else in the U.S.

Want access to federal decision-makers and policymakers who are charting the direction of emerging tech and defense spending? Looking to partner with contractors that are already exploring quantum computing applications in national security, AI, or cryptography? Want to be close to prestigious research institutions, federal laboratories, and the innovation networks clustered around them? Fairfax is the place to be.

It’s a major advantage for companies like IBM that operate in Northern Virginia. The tech giant is at the cutting edge of cybersecurity and defense solutions leveraging quantum mechanics and other fields like machine learning. IBM’s base in Herndon, VA places it in a prime position to help the federal government heighten its security in a new technological era.

A Deep and Diverse Talent Pool

Talent adds another piece to the puzzle. Fairfax is brimming with brainpower, home to a dense population of computer scientists, physicists, and engineers. But it takes more than that to build quantum computers and companies with exponential speedup potential. You need a large-scale professional ecosystem spanning diverse skillsets.

This is where Northern Virginia shines. The region not only has STEM professionals, but skilled trades and construction workers who can build specialized labs and state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities. Veterans and security-cleared individuals bring valuable government and defense experience. Designers, data analysts, and project managers are plentiful, ready to accelerate commercialization and product design.

Locally based George Mason University is a powerhouse for workforce development. The university houses its own Quantum Science & Engineering Center, pioneering research on quantum algorithms, materials science, and more to tackle real-world problems—all while fueling the quantum talent pipeline.

That pipeline starts well before college or postgrad. Partnering with Greater Washington nonprofit Connected DMV and its Potomac Quantum Innovation Center, George Mason leads efforts to help local K-12 schools educate tomorrow’s quantum workforce with educator trainings and curriculum development. Here, quantum concepts are introduced as early as kindergarten.

These initiatives are mirrored by institutions across the wider region, from Northern Virginia Community College’s expanding quantum curriculum to Virginia Tech’s quantum center where researchers test their ideas on IBM cloud quantum processors. The recently formed TalentCapital.ai platform is designed to connect professionals in Greater Washington with career and reskilling opportunities in emerging sectors like quantum.

A Power Grid You Can Rely On

If talent is the brains behind quantum technology, then energy infrastructure is its backbone. It’s no secret that the rise of AI and quantum computing comes with heavy power demands. Fairfax is more than ready to meet the challenge.

The evidence is all around. Utility provider Dominion Energy delivers energy grid stability backed by significant investments in renewable power sources. And the region’s famed digital infrastructure is getting continual upgrades to accelerate quantum computing, AI and other deep tech sectors. Penzance’s groundbreaking 60-acre project in Fairfax, designed for hyperscale demand and maximum energy efficiency, offers a prime example.

Overall, Fairfax County guarantees access to reliable electricity and redundancy systems that are critical for quantum tech companies. It’s a region committed to building sustainable power capacity to support long-term tech growth.

A System of Innovation and Collaboration

The discovery of quantum mechanics has always carried larger-than-life implications. What starts at the most abstract level—a qubit’s quantum state, or a quantum system out-competing its classical counterpart—can reverberate far beyond into the wider universe. In that vein, quantum investments often generate benefits for a region’s broader business landscape if the right networks are in place. And Fairfax is more than well-equipped; it’s supremely well-connected.

There’s no better proof than the Quantum World Congress (QWC), hosted annually by the Greater Washington region. Since its founding in 2022, the conference has quickly become the premier global gathering for quantum tech leaders across industry, science, government, finance, and education. The cross-pollination that occurs at QWC offers a microcosm of this region’s unique ecosystem at work.

As a star in that ecosystem, Fairfax NOVA is a place where universities, federal laboratories, and tech accelerators thread together into a unified system of collaboration. It’s where partnerships with defense, aerospace, and AI industries are ingrained in the culture. It’s an environment where support is easy to find, thanks to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) and other local innovation partners.

Fairfax knows that the quantum world is a door to vast possibilities along near-term and distant timescales. It’s not just about quantum supercomputers. Among its many use cases, quantum technology can bolster national security; it can enable rapid development of new life-saving drugs; it can discover new materials. Quantum simulations can solve complex optimization problems with blinding speed, from financial investments to emergency response systems.

As FCEDA President and CEO Victor Hoskins puts it, quantum represents a “blue ocean” opportunity. It’s why FCEDA signed on as founding partner of the Quantum World Congress—to elevate Greater Washington as one of the most exciting hubs on the planet for quantum innovation.

Fairfax Is Built for Quantum

Just like quantum systems themselves, Fairfax runs on its own kind of algorithm. Deep knowledge and tight-knit industry networks meet innovation-ready infrastructure to create a distinct quantum advantage. This is a region where pathbreakers and problem-solvers think outside the bounds of classical methods, whether in physics or business. If your company is looking for a foundation to build the quantum future, qubit by qubit—Fairfax delivers everything you need and more.

Want to learn more? Visit our emerging technologies page for more information.