D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS) has been named an inaugural member of the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative (SQC), joining a consortium that includes the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Davidson Technologies, IBM, and Alabama A&M University. The collaboration is structured to synchronize academic and industrial efforts in quantum information science (QIS) across the Southeastern United States, focusing on the development of field-ready quantum capabilities.
Central to this integration is the D-Wave Advantage2™ annealing system, currently operational at Davidson Technologies’ Huntsville facility. This infrastructure provides the collaborative with the hardware necessary to develop and test quantum-powered applications for mission planning and large-scale operational optimization. By utilizing local hardware, the SQC aims to reduce the latency between theoretical research and the deployment of quantum solutions in defense, logistics, and energy sectors.
The SQC serves as a framework for building a specialized workforce capable of managing both annealing and gate-model quantum technologies. This initiative leverages the region’s existing defense and manufacturing base to create an ecosystem for quantum innovation. The partnership’s objective is to establish the Southeast as a primary hub for operational quantum computing, supporting the technical requirements of both public and private sector stakeholders.
For further technical details, view the official press release from D-Wave here or explore the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative’s research priorities at UAH here.
February 19, 2026
