D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) secures year-2 funding in U.S. Microelectronics Commons program
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
D-Wave Quantum Inc. announced it has been awarded second-year funding for the Improved Materials for Superconducting Qubits with Scalable Fabrication (SQFab) project through the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub (NORDTECH) under the U.S. Microelectronics Commons program.
The award, made to subsidiary Quantum Circuits, LLC, is part of a group of four quantum-focused programs that together are receiving more than US$25 million in second-year funding after meeting first-year milestones in designing, fabricating, and characterizing quantum components. D-Wave aims to improve materials and scalable fabrication for superconducting qubits, supporting next-generation U.S. microelectronics from research to manufacturing.
Management highlights this as recognition of quantum computing’s role in U.S. microelectronics innovation and notes the work is intended to advance packaging and testing for gate-model superconducting quantum systems, while contributing to domestic semiconductor capabilities and supply-chain resilience.
Positive
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Insights
Government-backed quantum R&D funding advances D-Wave’s superconducting roadmap.
D-Wave securing second-year SQFab funding within the U.S. Microelectronics Commons program signals continued validation from defense-related stakeholders. The project targets improved materials and scalable fabrication for superconducting qubits, which are central to gate-model quantum systems and future error-corrected architectures.
The announcement notes that four programs together receive more than $25 million after hitting first-year milestones in design, fabrication, and characterization of quantum components. While the exact allocation to D-Wave is not stated, renewed funding typically reflects satisfactory technical progress against program benchmarks.
The initiative is framed as supporting next-generation U.S. microelectronics capabilities and supply-chain resilience, with collaboration across industry, academia, and government. Subsequent company filings or program updates may clarify D-Wave’s specific award size and any related commercialization or deployment milestones.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 7.01, 9.01
2 items
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Second-year funding pool: More than $25 million
1 metrics
Second-year funding pool
More than $25 million
Collective second-year funding for four quantum programs under Microelectronics Commons
Key Terms
Microelectronics Commons, superconducting qubits, quantum error correction, annealing, +1 more
5 terms
Microelectronics Commons regulatory
"NORDTECH is one of eight hubs composing the U.S. Microelectronics Commons program"
superconducting qubits technical
"Improved Materials for Superconducting Qubits with Scalable Fabrication (SQFab) project"
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 error correction technical
"to co-develop technologies necessary to demonstrate scalable quantum error correction"
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.
annealing technical
"the first and only to offer dual-platform quantum computing products and services, spanning both annealing and gate-model"
Annealing is a controlled process that changes the internal structure of a material or molecular system to improve performance: in manufacturing it typically means heating and then slowly cooling metals, glass or semiconductor layers to relieve stress and make them stronger or more reliable, while in molecular biology it means bringing complementary strands of DNA or RNA together so they stick in the right places. Investors should care because annealing affects product quality, manufacturing yield, device reliability and the accuracy of biological tests—factors that influence costs, revenue and regulatory outcomes much like reshaping or neatly fastening parts improves a finished product.
gate-model quantum computing technical
"foundational packaging and testing protocols needed for gate-model superconducting quantum systems"
Gate-model quantum computing is a way of building quantum computers where information is stored in qubits—tiny units that can represent blended states rather than just on/off—and computation is done by applying a sequence of precise operations called gates. Think of it as a programmable circuit where each gate nudges qubits like musical notes in a score; investors care because, if scaled and error-corrected, this approach promises dramatic speedups for certain tasks (encryption, optimization, simulation) that can reshape industries and create new markets.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________________________________________________
FORM 8-K
_____________________________________________________________
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 26, 2026
_____________________________________________________________
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
_____________________________________________________________
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices)
(650 ) 285-2881
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
_____________________________________________________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
| Emerging growth company | ||||||||
| If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. | o | |||||||
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On May 26, 2026, D-Wave Quantum Inc. (“D-Wave”) 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 program, which is a DOW initiative executed through the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division and managed by the National Security Technology Accelerator. According to Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave, this award reflects the growing recognition that quantum computing will play an important role in advancing U.S. microelectronics innovation. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.
The information in this Item 7.01 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is intended to be furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
99.1 | Press release, dated May 26, 2026. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: May 26, 2026 | D-Wave Quantum Inc. | |||||||
| By: | /s/ Alan Baratz | |||||||
| Name: | Alan Baratz | |||||||
| Title: | President & Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED. D-Wave Awarded Year 2 Microelectronics Commons Project Funding to Advance Superconducting Quantum Innovation Year 2 award supports D-Wave’s role in advancing scalable superconducting qubit fabrication and next-generation U.S. microelectronics capabilities PALO ALTO, Calif. — May 26, 2026 — 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. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the United States Department of War (DoW) of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. The DoW does not exercise any editorial, security, or other control over the information you may find at these locations.
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE. DISTRIBUTION IS UNLIMITED. 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. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “believe,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “trend,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “projection,” “continue,” “ongoing,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may not be indicative of future results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including the risks discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release in making an investment decision, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no duty to update this information unless required by law. Media Contact: Alex Daigle media@dwavesys.com
FAQ
What did D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) announce in this 8-K filing?
D-Wave announced it received second-year funding for its SQFab project through NORDTECH under the U.S. Microelectronics Commons program. The project focuses on improving materials and scalable fabrication for superconducting qubits, supporting next-generation quantum and microelectronics capabilities in the United States.
What is the SQFab project mentioned by D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS)?
SQFab, or Improved Materials for Superconducting Qubits with Scalable Fabrication, is a D-Wave project aimed at enhancing materials and fabrication methods for superconducting qubits. It supports development of scalable quantum hardware and next-generation microelectronics, from research environments toward manufacturing applications.
How much funding is associated with D-Wave’s Microelectronics Commons program group?
The filing states that four quantum-related programs, including D-Wave’s SQFab project, are collectively receiving more than $25 million in second-year funding. This follows successful first-year milestones in designing, fabricating, and characterizing key quantum computing components across the participating projects.
How does D-Wave Quantum Inc. (QBTS) describe the importance of this award?
D-Wave’s CEO says the award reflects growing recognition that quantum computing will help advance U.S. microelectronics innovation. The company emphasizes collaboration with regional partners and the role of scalable quantum technologies in both commercial and national security applications within the Microelectronics Commons framework.
What broader goals does the U.S. Microelectronics Commons program support?
The Microelectronics Commons program aims to accelerate domestic microelectronics prototyping, strengthen semiconductor supply chains, and expand U.S. leadership in critical technologies. It connects industry, academia, and government to bridge early-stage innovation and domestic manufacturing, while supporting workforce development and an innovation pipeline.
What technical objective does the SQFab mission focus on for D-Wave?
The SQFab mission focuses on co-developing technologies needed to demonstrate scalable quantum error correction. It targets new materials, innovative quantum circuits, and qubit control schemes, alongside packaging and testing protocols for gate-model superconducting quantum systems and scalable nanofabrication processes.