D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), the only dual-platform quantum computing company providing both annealing and gate-model systems, announced it has been selected to receive a $1,566,250 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) through the agency’s National Quantum Virtual Laboratory (NQVL) program. The funding will support D-Wave’s role as a key industry partner in ERASE (Erasure Qubits and Dynamic Circuits for Quantum Advantage), a project focused on developing foundational technologies for fault-tolerant quantum computing and strengthening U.S. leadership in quantum innovation.
Led by Yale University, the ERASE project brings together researchers from leading academic institutions and industry organizations to advance dual-rail gate-model quantum computing hardware, software, error correction, and applications. D-Wave, through its New-Haven, Connecticut-based subsidiary Quantum Circuits, LLC, will give ERASE researchers access to its superconducting dual-rail gate-model quantum computing resources. The award moves ERASE into the second phase of the NQVL program and underscores the NSF’s continued support for the project’s approach to scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing.
“NSF’s continued support for the ERASE project highlights the national importance of accelerating progress toward scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave. “We believe that D-Wave’s dual-rail technology can play a meaningful role in that effort, while building the technical foundation and skilled workforce needed to sustain U.S. leadership in quantum computing.”
This grant is part of a broader federal initiative to bolster quantum computing capabilities in the United States. The NQVL program aims to create a national quantum computing infrastructure that accelerates research and development. By funding projects like ERASE, the NSF seeks to bridge the gap between foundational research and practical quantum advantage. D-Wave’s involvement highlights its dual-platform approach, which includes both annealing and gate-model systems, allowing researchers to explore diverse quantum computing paradigms.
The ERASE project specifically targets fault-tolerant quantum computing, a critical milestone for achieving reliable and scalable quantum systems. Fault tolerance is essential for correcting errors that naturally occur in quantum computations, enabling more complex and longer-running algorithms. D-Wave’s dual-rail gate-model technology, which uses pairs of quantum states to encode information, offers a promising path toward error correction. The company’s subsidiary, Quantum Circuits, LLC, has been working on this technology and will provide access to its resources for the project.
Beyond technical advancements, the grant supports workforce development in quantum computing. By involving researchers from multiple institutions, the project trains the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers. This aligns with the NSF’s broader goal of maintaining U.S. competitiveness in quantum technologies. As quantum computing moves from theoretical research to practical applications, such investments are crucial for economic and national security.
The announcement comes amid growing global competition in quantum computing. Countries like China and members of the European Union have significantly increased their quantum research funding. The U.S. government has responded with initiatives like the National Quantum Initiative Act and the NQVL program. D-Wave’s grant is a concrete example of how public-private partnerships are driving innovation in this field.
For more information, the full press release can be accessed at https://ibn.fm/5um9O.
