D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), the dual-platform quantum computing company providing both annealing and gate-model systems, has joined the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative as an inaugural member. The collaborative brings together The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Davidson Technologies, IBM, and Alabama A&M University to accelerate quantum information science advancement across the Southeast.
The SQC aims to develop the quantum-ready workforce needed to commercialize quantum technology, with D-Wave positioned to support these workforce development efforts. Davidson Technologies already hosts a D-Wave Advantage2 system at its Huntsville, Alabama headquarters, creating immediate infrastructure for collaboration. According to Jack Sears, vice president of government business solutions at D-Wave, establishing a globally competitive quantum workforce capable of operationalizing both annealing and gate-model systems will be decisive in accelerating adoption throughout the region's public and private sectors.
The collaborative represents a strategic investment in quantum talent and infrastructure that could position the Southeast as a national leader in quantum innovation, advanced manufacturing, energy, logistics, and defense. By bringing together academia, industry, and government, the SQC creates a framework for developing mission-critical decision-making capabilities, large-scale operational efficiency solutions, and technologies for protecting national interests. This regional approach to quantum development mirrors broader national efforts to build quantum ecosystems outside traditional technology hubs.
D-Wave's participation as the only dual-platform quantum computing provider brings unique expertise to the collaborative. The company has established itself as the world's first commercial supplier of quantum computers and offers enterprise-grade systems available on-premises and via its Leap quantum cloud service, which maintains 99.9% availability and uptime. More than 100 organizations across commercial, government, and research sectors currently use D-Wave systems to address complex computational challenges.
The implications of this collaboration extend beyond immediate workforce development. By creating a regional quantum ecosystem in the Southeast, the SQC could accelerate practical applications of quantum computing in industries where the region already has significant presence, including aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and logistics. The partnership between academic institutions and multiple quantum technology providers creates opportunities for cross-pollination of ideas and approaches that could lead to innovative solutions not possible through isolated efforts.
For the broader quantum industry, regional collaborations like the SQC represent an important model for building the infrastructure and talent pipeline needed to move quantum computing from experimental technology to practical tool. As quantum computing matures, such regional ecosystems will likely play crucial roles in determining which geographic areas become centers of quantum innovation and economic growth. The Southeast's established strengths in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing could provide particularly fertile ground for quantum applications that address complex optimization problems common in these industries.
Additional information about D-Wave's quantum computing systems and services is available at https://www.dwavequantum.com. Forward-looking statements in the original announcement are subject to risks and uncertainties as detailed in the company's SEC filings, available through standard financial reporting channels.
