D-Wave Quantum Inc. Expands European Quantum Computing Presence with €10M Initiative in Italy

D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), a global leader in quantum computing systems, software and services, is expanding its European presence through a significant initiative in Italy that includes a €10 million contract for quantum computing infrastructure and educational programs. The company announced it is hosting a series of seminars in Italy aimed at advancing annealing quantum computing awareness and adoption among leading universities in the region as part of the newly formed Q-Alliance.

The Q-Alliance, revealed at last week's Digital Innovation Forum in Como, Italy, has been created to support the Italian government's strategic framework for digital and quantum technologies. This partnership represents a coordinated effort to position Italy at the forefront of quantum computing development and application. In support of this alliance, D-Wave announced a €10 million contract for a D-Wave Advantage2 annealing quantum computer in the region, ensuring accessibility for Italy's scientific community, academia, and industry.

The agreement includes acquisition of 50% capacity of an Advantage2 system for five years with the option to purchase the full system. This strategic placement of quantum computing infrastructure marks a significant step in making commercial-grade quantum technology available to Italian researchers and businesses. Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, stated, "As a founding member of the Q-Alliance, D-Wave is committed to fast-tracking efforts to establish Italy as a global hub of quantum innovation. Through the placement of a D-Wave system in the region as well as ongoing hands-on workshops and training for Italy's researchers and academic community, we're providing access to D-Wave's powerful, commercial-grade quantum technologies and our team of experts to help usher in Italy's era of quantum-fueled progress."

The educational component of this initiative includes initial workshops held at the Università dell'Insubria and the Università della Svizzera Italiana. These seminars are designed to accelerate education and awareness of quantum computing among Italy's growing ecosystem of young researchers through scholarships, internships, and training programs. This comprehensive approach addresses both the infrastructure and talent development needs essential for building a sustainable quantum computing ecosystem.

This expansion into Italy represents a significant milestone in the global adoption of quantum computing technology. By providing Italian researchers and industry with access to D-Wave's quantum systems, which feature quantum processing units with sub-second response times and can be deployed on-premises or accessed through cloud services with 99.9% availability, the initiative enables practical quantum computing applications across optimization, artificial intelligence, and research domains. More information about D-Wave's quantum computing solutions is available at https://www.dwavequantum.com.

The implications of this initiative extend beyond Italy's borders, potentially influencing quantum computing adoption across Europe and demonstrating how public-private partnerships can accelerate technological advancement. By combining infrastructure investment with educational programs, this model could serve as a blueprint for other nations seeking to establish themselves in the rapidly evolving quantum computing landscape. The availability of commercial quantum computing resources to Italian researchers and businesses positions the country to compete in emerging technology sectors while developing homegrown expertise in quantum applications.