February 19, 2024

NEC and D-Wave Introduce New Quantum Offerings to Australian Market

SYDNEY, Australia; PALO ALTO, California (USA); BURNABY, B.C. (CAN) – February 19, 2024 - NEC Australia and leading international quantum computing company, D-Wave Quantum Inc. (D-Wave), are partnering to release two new quantum services to the Australian market, further enhancing their quantum computing offering and options for Australia’s commercial sector, federal and state governments, and academia.

Optimising business operations exponentially faster than ‘traditional’ computers, quantum technology services from NEC Australia and D-Wave are able to navigate increasingly large datasets to find solutions to real-world problems, including logistics and supply chain management, emergency response, financial risk modelling and drug discovery. 

The joint service offering includes:

  • Quantum Consultancy Service:

Through our refined engagement and delivery methodology, NEC Australia and D-Wave develop and test quantum solutions to help address our customers’ complex challenges using Proof of Concepts (POCs). Quantum solutions can then be seamlessly migrated into practical business applications.

  • Leap™ Quantum Cloud Service:

This offering provides customers with access to the D-Wave Leap real-time quantum cloud service, enabling them to perform their own research whilst tapping into the cutting-edge capabilities of quantum computing.

The Quantum Consulting Service, powered by D-Wave’s skilled quantum data scientists, provides hands-on support to help customers understand and transform their complex business problems into optimised technical solutions for efficient and cost-effective implementation.

From improving the mobilisation of resources and response times during natural disasters and national emergencies, to improving the efficiency of cargo transfers at busy ports by up to 60%, the quantum services from NEC Australia and D-Wave can harness the computational power of quantum to solve real-world problems and deliver better outcomes for businesses, governments, and citizens.

The Leap quantum cloud service delivers immediate, real-time access to D-Wave’s Advantage™ quantum computers and quantum-hybrid solvers, offering enterprise-class performance and scalability. The portfolio of hybrid solvers enables enterprises to address a myriad of business problems, varying in size and complexity.

Ayala Domani, Vice President – Technology & Innovation at NEC Australia, said quantum computing has matured rapidly and will provide Australian governments and businesses with a competitive edge.

"NEC Australia is delighted to partner with D-Wave to provide transformative quantum solutions here in Australia to ensure our customers remain agile, efficient, and competitive in an increasingly data-driven world.

"Quantum computing is no longer solely the subject of futuristic speculation or found only in top-secret research facilities; it’s a commercially available technology that is revolutionising business and government operations today, and NEC Australia and D-Wave are proud to lead the way forward in this space,” she said.

NEC Australia’s National Portfolio Manager, Quantum Solutions, Michael Hall said:

"Supported by significant investment and research and development from the NEC global business, our collaboration with D-Wave has already enabled us to provide tangible benefits to the Australian Federal Government and a key transport entity in New South Wales through successful POCs and tailored solutions.

“We’re helping our customers streamline their costs and improve efficiency by harnessing the power of D-Wave’s annealing quantum technologies, while leveraging NEC's extensive expertise in the Australian market," he said.

Vice President of Quantum Technology Evangelism at D-Wave, Murray Thom, is in Australia for the Quantum Australia 2024 Conference + Careers Fair (Quantum Australia 2024). NEC Australia is a platinum sponsor of the event.

“Quantum computing is at an important inflection point, moving from experimentation to operational use, capable of helping organizations solve their computationally complex problems through real-world applications at scale,” said Thom. “We’re thrilled to team up with NEC to accelerate commercial and government adoption of this transformative technology in Australia and bring its remarkable potential to bear for business and society.”

Closely aligned with and supporting the federal government’s National Quantum Strategy, NEC Australia is committed to helping grow the quantum industry in Australia by developing world-class quantum-based solutions and services for the local market.

Drawing on NEC Australia's 50 years of expertise delivering complex technical solutions to Australian government agencies and businesses, and D-Wave's 20+ years of global leadership in quantum computing solutions, they have delivered successful local quantum applications together since 2021. United by a shared vision, NEC Australia and D-Wave believe in the transformative potential of quantum computing to elevate economic prospects and opportunities for all Australians.

NEC and D-Wave will be jointly speaking at Quantum Australia 2024 in Sydney from 20-22 February on their shared vision for a brighter future using quantum computing.

#####

For media enquiries please contact:

NEC Australia

Liz Ackroyd

Corporate Communications Specialist

M: +61 405 707 161, E: liz.ackroyd@nec.com.au

D-Wave

Alex Daigle

media@dwavesys.com

 

About NEC

NEC Australia is a leading technology company, delivering a complete portfolio of ICT solutions and services to large enterprise, small business and government organisations. We deliver innovative solutions to help customers gain greater business value from their technology investments. NEC Australia specialises in information and communications technology solutions and services in multi-vendor environments. Solutions and services include: IT applications and solutions development, unified communications, complex communications solutions, network solution, display solutions, biometrics, research and development services, systems integration and professional, technical and managed services. For more information, visit NEC Australia at nec.com.au.

About D-Wave

D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services, and is the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers—and the only company building both annealing quantum computers and gate-model quantum computers. Our mission is to unlock the power of quantum computing today to benefit business and society. We do this by delivering customer value with practical quantum applications for problems as diverse as logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, cybersecurity, fault detection, and financial modeling. D-Wave’s technology has been used by some of the world’s most advanced organizations including Mastercard, Deloitte, Davidson Technologies, ArcelorMittal, Siemens Healthineers, Unisys, NEC Corporation, Pattison Food Group Ltd., DENSO, Lockheed Martin, Forschungszentrum Jülich, University of Southern California, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the potential of quantum computing and D-Wave’s plans to speak at Quantum Australia 2024.  These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including unforeseen issues with travel; the risk that Quantum Australia 2024 does not go ahead as planned or at all; general economic conditions and other risks; our ability to expand our customer base and the customer adoption of our solutions; risks within D-Wave’s industry, including anticipated trends, growth rates, and challenges for companies engaged in the business of quantum computing and the markets in which they operate; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us; risks related to the performance of our business and the timing of expected business or financial milestones; unanticipated technological or project development challenges, including with respect to the cost and/or timing thereof; the performance of our products; the effects of competition on our business; the risk that we will need to raise additional capital to execute our business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that we may never achieve or sustain profitability; the risk that we are unable to secure or protect our intellectual property; volatility in the price of our securities; the risk that our securities will not maintain the listing on the NYSE; the risk that our restatement of certain previously issued audited and unaudited financial statements or material weaknesses in internal controls could negatively affect investor confidence and raise reputational issues; and the numerous other factors set forth in D-Wave’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2022  and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.