The evolution of D-Wave Quantum: from its origins to commercial quantum computing

D-Wave emerged in Canada around the turn of the millennium with the goal of building commercially useful quantum-computing systems.

How D-Wave Quantum developed

A critical strategic decision in 2004 focused the company on quantum annealing rather than a general-purpose gate-model approach. In 2011, a collaboration with Lockheed Martin put a D-Wave system into an external research environment and helped establish the company as an early commercial quantum-computing supplier.

D-Wave Quantum in 2026

By 2026, D-Wave sold quantum-computing systems, cloud access and software centred on annealing technology, while also developing gate-model capabilities.

D-Wave matters historically because it commercialised specialised quantum hardware years before the sector attracted its later wave of public-market and hyperscale investment.

Information was checked against public company material, regulatory filings and reputable independent reporting where available, using sources accessible on 18 September 2026.