D-Wave Quantum Joins Southeastern Quantum Collaborative to Advance Regional Quantum Workforce Development

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 alongside The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Davidson Technologies, IBM, and Alabama A&M University. The collaborative aims to accelerate quantum information science advancement across the Southeast while developing the workforce needed to commercialize the technology. With Davidson Technologies already hosting a D-Wave Advantage2 system at its Huntsville headquarters, D-Wave is positioned to support quantum workforce development efforts through this partnership.

Jack Sears, vice president of government business solutions at D-Wave, emphasized the region's potential in quantum innovation. "Alabama has long been a leader in the development and use of advanced technologies, and D-Wave is excited to join the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative as an inaugural member to support the next wave of innovation coming from the region — quantum computing," Sears stated. He noted that establishing a quantum-ready workforce capable of operationalizing both annealing and gate-model systems would be decisive for accelerating adoption throughout public and private sectors.

The collaborative brings together academia, industry, and government to advance quantum technology applications across the Southeast. According to Sears, this investment in quantum talent and infrastructure could position the region as a national leader in quantum innovation, advanced manufacturing, energy, logistics, and defense. The partnership leverages D-Wave's dual-platform approach, which includes both annealing and gate-model quantum computing technologies available through enterprise-grade systems and the Leap quantum cloud service offering 99.9% availability.

D-Wave's participation in the collaborative builds on its existing relationships in the region and its broader mission to help customers realize quantum computing value. More than 100 organizations across commercial, government, and research sectors currently use D-Wave systems to address complex computational challenges. The company's involvement in the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative represents a strategic move to expand quantum adoption while developing the specialized workforce required for quantum technology implementation. Additional information about D-Wave's quantum computing solutions is available at https://www.dwavequantum.com.

The Southeastern Quantum Collaborative's formation marks a significant step in regional quantum ecosystem development, with implications for multiple industries and national security interests. By combining academic research capabilities with industry expertise from companies like D-Wave and IBM, the collaborative aims to create a sustainable pipeline of quantum talent while advancing practical applications of quantum computing. This initiative reflects growing recognition that quantum workforce development must parallel technological advancement to ensure successful commercialization and implementation across sectors.