D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) announced on February 20, 2026, that it has joined the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative (SQC) as an inaugural member, alongside The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Davidson Technologies, IBM, and Alabama A&M University. The SQC aims to bring together academia, industry, and government to accelerate the advancement and application of quantum information science and technology across the Southeast, with a particular focus on developing a quantum-ready workforce.
D-Wave's participation is bolstered by the presence of a D-Wave Advantage2 system at Davidson Technologies' headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama, which positions the company to support the SQC's workforce development initiatives. Jack Sears, vice president of government business solutions at D-Wave, emphasized the strategic importance of the region, stating, "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." He added that establishing a globally competitive, quantum-ready workforce capable of operationalizing both annealing and gate-model systems for mission-critical decision-making, large-scale operational efficiency, and national security will be crucial for accelerating adoption across the Southeast's public and private sectors.
The collaborative effort is expected to position the Southeast as a national leader in quantum innovation, with potential impacts on advanced manufacturing, energy, logistics, and defense. By investing in quantum talent and infrastructure, the region aims to drive the commercialization of quantum technologies. The announcement highlights D-Wave's dual-platform quantum computing capabilities, which include both annealing and gate-model systems, as a key differentiator in supporting diverse quantum applications.
D-Wave's involvement in the SQC underscores its commitment to expanding quantum computing adoption beyond traditional research settings into practical, real-world applications. The company already serves over 100 organizations across commercial, government, and research sectors, providing on-premises systems and cloud access via its Leap quantum cloud service. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/Pitiq.
This initiative represents a significant step toward building a skilled workforce that can leverage quantum computing for national and regional priorities. As the SQC develops, it will likely serve as a model for other regions seeking to harness quantum technology for economic and strategic advantage.
