D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NASDAQ: QBTS) (“D-Wave” or the “Company”) has delivered Italy’s first annealing quantum computer to Lombardy. D-Wave is the only dual-platform quantum computing company providing annealing and gate-model systems, software and services. The Company announced the news at Digital Innovation Forum 2026. The Advantage2 system has arrived at Villa Saporiti in Como, where teams will install it. Swiss Quantum Technology SA (“SQT”) funded the system, which the Q-Alliance ecosystem calls the VoltaB1. Once installed, it will give European researchers, universities and businesses access to production-grade annealing quantum computing technology. Moreover, the arrival marks a key step in Q-Alliance’s work. The alliance aims to turn Italy’s quantum ambitions into research capabilities, practical applications and industrial opportunity.
Villa Saporiti to Host the Formal Inauguration
Q-Alliance will formally inaugurate the VoltaB1 Advantage2 annealing quantum computer on October 16. The “Quantum per l’Italia” event will take place at the historic Villa Saporiti. It forms part of the lead-up to the bicentennial of Alessandro Volta’s death. D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz will deliver remarks during the special ceremony. Representatives from research, industry and government will also attend. Furthermore, the ceremony follows D-Wave’s signing of the Volta Declaration. The Company signed it at the World Tech Conference in Milan in June 2026. The declaration set up a framework for cooperation on quantum, artificial intelligence and sovereign computing infrastructure.
“Bringing Italy’s first annealing quantum computer to Como marks a historic milestone toward making quantum computing a working capability for Italian innovation and industry,” said Dr. Baratz. “Italy has exceptional scientific talent and industrial strength. Together with SQT and Q-Alliance, we can give Italian teams the technology and hands-on experience to tackle complex problems, develop applications that can move into production, and build expertise in the country. That is how quantum infrastructure becomes industrial advantage.”
€10 Million Agreement and Leap Cloud Access
The delivery follows a €10 million agreement between D-Wave and SQT. The deal covers the deployment of an annealing quantum computer in Europe. Under the agreement, SQT acquired 50% of the system’s capacity for five years. In addition, SQT holds an option to purchase the full system. After it becomes operational, users can reach the Advantage2 system through D-Wave’s Leap™ real-time quantum cloud service. Leap offers 99.9% availability and uptime.
“The arrival of the Advantage2 system in Lombardy puts physical infrastructure behind our vision for Italian quantum innovation,” said Thomas F. Darden, acting CEO, SQT. “Our investment is intended to connect researchers and businesses with advanced computing resources, support the development of useful applications and help build the expertise that will sustain Italy’s role in the quantum economy.”
The Advantage2 system features more than 4,400 qubits. It is D-Wave’s most advanced annealing quantum computer. Moreover, it has outperformed classical computing on a complex materials simulation problem. One of the world’s most powerful classical supercomputers would have needed nearly one million years to solve it. It also would have consumed the world’s annual electricity consumption. Today, some of the world’s largest organizations use the Advantage2 system. They come from aviation, manufacturing, telecommunications and health care. They address real-world problems in optimization, materials simulation and artificial intelligence.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
