D-Wave and NEC Join Forces to Develop Hybrid Quantum-Classical Applications
D-Wave Systems and NEC partner to create hybrid applications combining classical supercomputers with quantum technology, backed by a $10 million investment from NEC. The collaboration aims to deliver better performance at a lower cost to drive commercial quantum computing forward.
D-Wave Systems and Japanese tech giant NEC announce a new partnership to build hybrid applications that combine NEC's high-performance classical computers with D-Wave's quantum systems. As part of this collaboration, NEC invests $10 million in D-Wave to help push this hybrid technology closer to full commercialization. D-Wave leaders call this a major milestone, noting it is one of the earliest deals of its kind between a quantum vendor and a multinational IT company of NEC's scale.
The partnership focuses on three key elements that aim to maximize computing efficiency. First, the companies develop hybrid services that blend NEC supercomputers with D-Wave quantum technology to achieve better performance at a lower cost than traditional classical systems. Second, the two organizations work directly with NEC customers to build practical applications utilizing this combined approach. Finally, NEC becomes an authorized reseller of D-Wave's cloud services, expanding access to quantum resources.
This alliance holds significant meaning for NEC, a company that claims to have demonstrated the world's first quantum bit device in 1999. NEC executives emphasize that hybrid applications and greater access to quantum systems are essential for achieving truly commercial-grade quantum solutions across various industries. By merging classical and quantum strengths, the two companies strive to solve today's most complex computing problems and advance the future of commercial quantum technology.