D-Wave Awarded Year 2 Microelectronics Commons Project Funding to Advance Superconducting Quantum Innovation
D-Wave Awarded Year 2 Microelectronics Commons Project Funding to Advance Superconducting Quantum Innovation
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Key Terms
superconducting qubitstechnical
Superconducting qubits are tiny circuits cooled to near absolute zero that use electrical currents to store and process quantum information, similar to a coin that can behave like both heads and tails at once. They matter to investors because they are one of the leading hardware approaches for building powerful quantum computers that could transform industries—so progress, production scaling, or setbacks in this technology can strongly influence the value of firms and supply chains tied to computing, materials and cloud services.
quantum computingtechnical
Quantum computing is a type of advanced technology that uses the principles of quantum physics to perform calculations much faster than traditional computers. It can process vast amounts of information simultaneously, potentially solving complex problems that are currently impossible or take too long with regular computers. For investors, this technology could lead to breakthroughs in areas like cryptography, data analysis, and optimization, impacting financial markets and security systems.
microelectronicstechnical
The design and manufacture of extremely small electronic parts and systems—think tiny computer chips, sensors and circuits that fit inside phones, cars and medical devices. Microelectronics matters to investors because these miniature components determine a product’s speed, battery life, cost and capabilities, so advances or shortages can boost or hurt a company’s sales, profit margins and competitive edge much like swapping ordinary bricks for precision-engineered building blocks.
qubit fabricationtechnical
Qubit fabrication is the process of building the tiny physical devices that store and process quantum information, similar to how microchip factories make transistors for conventional computers. It matters to investors because the quality, reproducibility and cost of fabrication determine how many qubits can be made, how reliably they work, and how fast a company can scale quantum products from lab prototypes to commercial systems—factors that directly affect a quantum company's value and competitive edge.
quantum error correctiontechnical
Quantum error correction is a set of methods for detecting and fixing mistakes in quantum computers by encoding fragile quantum information across multiple physical parts, much like using multiple copies or checksums to protect a sensitive digital file. For investors, it matters because reliable error correction is a key technical milestone that determines whether quantum machines can scale from experimental devices to practical tools that could disrupt computing, encryption, drug discovery and other industries.
qubit control schemestechnical
Qubit control schemes are the methods and signals used to operate and manipulate qubits, the tiny information carriers inside a quantum computer, so they perform the intended calculations. They matter to investors because how well these control methods reduce errors, speed up operations and scale to more qubits directly affects a quantum device’s reliability and commercial potential—think of it as the steering and controls that make a prototype car roadworthy and saleable.
gate-modeltechnical
A gate-model is a stepwise project-management process that breaks a development program into defined stages separated by decision points, or “gates,” where progress, evidence and resources are reviewed before allowing the project to continue. For investors, each gate acts like a checkpoint on a road trip—cleared gates reduce technical and regulatory risk and justify further funding, while failed or delayed gates signal higher chance of cost overruns, timeline slips or project termination.
nanofabricationtechnical
Nanofabrication is the set of techniques used to make and arrange components at the scale of billionths of a meter, essentially building devices thousands of times smaller than a human hair. For investors it matters because these tiny parts enable new or improved electronics, sensors and medical tools that can create fresh markets, lower manufacturing costs or give companies a technical edge—like shifting from hand tools to precision laser cutters for higher-value products.
Year 2 award supports D-Wave’s role in advancing scalable superconducting qubit fabrication and next-generation U.S. microelectronics capabilities
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), the only dual-platform quantum computing company providing both annealing and gate-model systems, software and services, today announced that it has been awarded second year funding for the Improved Materials for Superconducting Qubits with Scalable Fabrication (SQFab) project by the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH).
Awarded to D-Wave subsidiary Quantum Circuits, LLC, the SQFab project is one of four innovative programs selected by the U.S. Department of War (DOW) through NORDTECH, a regional consortium of non-profit accessible semiconductor R&D facilities, government labs, defense companies, academic institutions, and technology manufacturing organizations in and around New York State. NORDTECH is one of eight hubs composing the U.S. Microelectronics Commons (MEC) program, which is a DOW initiative executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division and managed by the National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL).
The four programs are collectively receiving more than $25 million in second year funding after achieving key first-year benchmarks by demonstrating significant results in the design, fabrication, and characterization of key quantum computing components. D-Wave’s project aims to improve materials for superconducting qubits with scalable fabrication methods, supporting the development and advancement of next-generation microelectronics capabilities from research to manufacturing.
“This award reflects the growing recognition that quantum computing will play an important role in advancing U.S. microelectronics innovation,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave. “D-Wave is proud to collaborate with leading partners across the region to accelerate the development of scalable, high-impact quantum technologies that support both commercial and national security applications.”
“Building on the progress made last year, we are excited to continue our work in establishing the hub’s core infrastructure for superconducting qubit fabrication and system scalability,” said Dr. Rob Schoelkopf, chief scientist at D-Wave. “We believe that this work is critical to advancing the foundational packaging and testing protocols needed for gate-model superconducting quantum systems, enabling the transfer of best-in-class nanofabrication processes from lab-to-fab and supporting broader adoption and scalability.”
The Microelectronics Commons seeks to accelerate domestic microelectronics prototyping, strengthen semiconductor supply chains, and expand U.S. leadership in critical technologies. By bringing together industry, academia, and government partners, the program helps to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and domestic manufacturing. The initiative plays a critical role in addressing supply chain vulnerabilities while fostering a robust semiconductor workforce and innovation pipeline. The SQFab mission is to co-develop technologies necessary to demonstrate scalable quantum error correction, using new materials, innovative quantum circuits and qubit control schemes.
About D-Wave Quantum Inc.
D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services. It is the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, and the first and only to offer dual-platform quantum computing products and services, spanning both annealing and gate-model quantum computing technologies. D-Wave’s mission is to help customers realize the value of quantum today through enterprise-grade systems available on-premises and via its Leap™ quantum cloud service, which offers 99.9% availability and uptime. More than 100 organizations across commercial, government and research sectors trust D-Wave to address complex computational challenges using quantum computing. Learn more about realizing the value of quantum computing today and how D-Wave is shaping the quantum-driven industrial and societal advancements of tomorrow: www.dwavequantum.com.
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