8-K: D-Wave Boosts APAC Quantum Computing Presence

D-Wave Quantum Inc. announced its first Qubits Japan 2025 conference, driven by an 83% increase in APAC bookings and new customer agreements.

Summary

• D-Wave Quantum Inc. will host its first Qubits Japan 2025 quantum computing user conference in Tokyo on September 17.
• The conference aims to support growing interest and adoption of annealing quantum computing technology in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
• Bookings in the APAC region have increased by 83% over the past 12 months.
• APAC customers are increasingly using D-Wave's technology for artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning and business optimization problems.
• Recent customer highlights include a pilot project with Japan Tobacco Inc. for quantum AI drug discovery, an optimization pilot by NTT DOCOMO Inc. reducing mobile network congestion by 15%, and a strategic relationship with Yonsei University and Incheon Metropolitan City to accelerate quantum computing adoption in South Korea, including efforts to acquire a D-Wave Advantage2 system.

Sentiment

Score: 9

Explanation: The filing presents very strong positive news, highlighting significant growth in a key region, successful customer adoptions with measurable benefits, and strategic expansion. The 83% booking increase is a particularly strong indicator of positive momentum.

Positives

• First-ever Qubits Japan 2025 conference indicates strategic focus on a key growth market.
• 83% increase in bookings in the APAC region over the past 12 months demonstrates strong market traction and adoption.
• Successful pilot project with Japan Tobacco Inc. for quantum AI drug discovery, moving towards production deployment.
• NTT DOCOMO Inc. achieved demonstrable mobile network performance improvements, reducing paging signals by 15% during peak times, leading to potential efficiencies and lower infrastructure costs.
• Strategic relationship with Yonsei University and Incheon Metropolitan City to accelerate quantum computing exploration and talent development in South Korea, including potential acquisition of a D-Wave Advantage2 system.
• Recognition of Japan as an "important epicenter of quantum computing innovation, development and adoption."

Risks

• Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied.
• Risks are referenced under "Risk Factors" in Part I of the most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or updates in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other SEC filings.

Future Outlook

D-Wave aims to continue fostering dialogue and adoption of quantum technology in the APAC region, particularly in Japan, which is seen as a key innovation hub. The company expects its technology to address complex computational problems in business and science, with ongoing customer explorations and potential production deployments.

Management Comments

• "Asia – and especially Japan – is becoming an important epicenter of quantum computing innovation, development and adoption." Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave.
• "Japan is the birthplace of the original concept of quantum annealing, first proposed by Hidetoshi Nishimori and Tadashi Kadowaki." Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave.
• "We're seeing first-hand how this powerful technology can address some of business's and science's most computationally complex problems." Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave.
• "We're thrilled to bring together the quantum ecosystem for Qubits Japan 2025 to continue fostering this important dialogue in the region." Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave.

Industry Context

The announcement highlights the growing global interest and adoption of quantum computing, particularly annealing quantum computing, in the Asia Pacific region. It positions D-Wave as a leader in this space, with tangible customer successes in AI/machine learning and business optimization, aligning with the broader industry trend of moving from theoretical quantum research to practical applications. The focus on Japan, the birthplace of quantum annealing, underscores the strategic importance of regional innovation hubs.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• D-Wave is described as "a leader in quantum computing systems, software and services" and "the world's first commercial supplier of quantum computers."
• The company is "the only company building both annealing and gate-model quantum computers."
• D-Wave's quantum computers are "the world's largest" with QPUs offering "sub-second response times" and "99.9% availability and uptime" through its cloud service.
• Over 100 organizations trust D-Wave, with "over 200 million problems submitted to our quantum systems to date."
• Specific customer successes like Japan Tobacco's quantum AI drug discovery moving towards production deployment and NTT DOCOMO's 15% reduction in paging signals demonstrate practical, measurable value, setting a benchmark for real-world quantum application impact.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Positive impact due to strong growth in APAC bookings, new customer wins, and strategic expansion, potentially leading to increased revenue and market share.
• Customers: Existing and potential customers benefit from demonstrated value and successful use cases, encouraging further adoption and innovation.
• Employees: Positive outlook due to company growth and expansion into new markets, potentially leading to increased opportunities.
• Industry: Contributes to the broader adoption and validation of quantum computing technology, particularly annealing quantum computing, by showcasing real-world applications and successes.

Next Steps

• Hosting Qubits Japan 2025 conference on September 17.
• Japan Tobacco Inc. pilot project marks the next step toward production deployment.
• NTT DOCOMO Inc. is exploring new quantum use cases.
• Yonsei University and Incheon Metropolitan City are working towards the acquisition of a D-Wave Advantage2 system.
• Continued fostering of quantum dialogue and ecosystem in the APAC region.

Key Dates

Recommendation

The filing indicates robust growth in a critical market (APAC) with an 83% increase in bookings, alongside concrete examples of customer success and tangible value creation (e.g., 15% reduction in network congestion for NTT DOCOMO, drug discovery progress with Japan Tobacco). Strategic partnerships like the one with Yonsei University and Incheon Metropolitan City signal future expansion and adoption. These factors collectively point to strong operational momentum and increasing market penetration for D-Wave's quantum computing solutions, making it an attractive investment.

Keywords

Quantum computing, D-Wave, Qubits Japan, APAC, annealing quantum computing, artificial intelligence, AI, machine learning, business optimization, Japan Tobacco, NTT DOCOMO, Yonsei University, Incheon Metropolitan City, quantum AI, drug discovery, mobile network optimization, South Korea, D-Wave Advantage2