D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), the only dual-platform quantum computing company providing both annealing and gate-model systems, announced it has been selected to receive a $1,566,250 grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) through the agency’s National Quantum Virtual Laboratory (NQVL) program. The funding will support D-Wave’s role as a key industry partner in the ERASE (Erasure Qubits and Dynamic Circuits for Quantum Advantage) project, which focuses on developing foundational technologies for fault-tolerant quantum computing and strengthening U.S. leadership in quantum innovation.
Led by Yale University, the ERASE project brings together researchers from leading academic institutions and industry organizations to advance dual-rail gate-model quantum computing hardware, software, error correction, and applications. D-Wave, through its New Haven, Connecticut-based subsidiary Quantum Circuits, LLC, will give ERASE researchers access to its superconducting dual-rail gate-model quantum computing resources. The award moves ERASE into the second phase of the NQVL program and underscores the NSF’s continued support for the project’s approach to scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing.
“NSF’s continued support for the ERASE project highlights the national importance of accelerating progress toward scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave. “We believe that D-Wave’s dual-rail technology can play a meaningful role in that effort, while building the technical foundation and skilled workforce needed to sustain U.S. leadership in quantum computing.”
The grant comes at a critical time for the quantum computing industry, as nations and companies race to achieve quantum advantage—the point at which quantum computers can solve problems that classical computers cannot. Fault-tolerant quantum computing, which can correct errors that arise during computation, is widely seen as essential for practical, large-scale quantum systems. D-Wave’s dual-rail technology, which encodes quantum information in two paths to reduce errors, could be a key enabler of this goal.
The ERASE project aims to demonstrate that dual-rail qubits, combined with dynamic circuits and advanced error correction, can lead to scalable fault-tolerant quantum computers. By providing access to its superconducting dual-rail gate-model resources, D-Wave is helping researchers test and refine these technologies. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of quantum computers capable of solving real-world problems in fields such as materials science, drug discovery, and cryptography.
The NSF’s investment through the NQVL program reflects a broader U.S. strategy to maintain leadership in quantum technologies amid growing global competition. The program supports the development of quantum testbeds and infrastructure that can be shared across academia, industry, and government. D-Wave’s participation in ERASE positions the company at the forefront of this effort, leveraging its dual-platform expertise to contribute to both annealing and gate-model quantum computing.
For more information, visit the full press release and D-Wave's website.
