Tackling Even More Complexity: D-Wave Delivers Industry-First Hybrid Solver With Continuous Variables To Run On A Quantum Computer

D-Wave Systems Inc. – a global leader in quantum computing software, services, and systems, and the only quantum computing company building both annealing and gate model quantum computers – today announced an update to its Constrained Quadratic Model (CQM) hybrid solver in the Leap quantum cloud service. This update enables organizations, for the first time, to leverage the power of quantum computation to run constrained quadratic optimization problems with continuous variables.

Because of this, the CQM solver allows quantum developers to better represent constrained problems – such as production capacity, available funds, and asset tracking – by using continuous variables, unlocking a new class of problems and further accelerating commercialization of quantum applications. For example, with continuous variables, developers can determine optimal vehicle routes by considering capacity, travel/wait times and distances; pharmaceutical companies can more deeply analyze patient outcomes of drug trials by reviewing trial duration, time-to-patient outcomes and number of iterations; and energy operators can more effectively deliver power to customers through models that address generator output, fuel consumption and emission, and storage levels.

“D-Wave’s new CQM hybrid solver introduces an exciting new method for tackling complex problems in an unconventional way,” said Rami Musa, director of supply chain modeling and analytics at Johnson & Johnson. “By adding support for continuous variables, D-Wave is expanding the utility of its quantum hybrid solver, and the early results we’ve seen are impressive. We believe our work with D-Wave is helping our business stay ahead of the curve and plays an important role in our quantum strategy.”

The CQM solver was first made available in October 2021. It incorporates problem constraints, allowing users to benefit from a simplified expression of their constrained problems, significantly expanding the size and complexity of problems customers can solve with constraints to find the best answers to complex business problems.

Benefits of the addition of continuous variables to the CQM solver include:

• Industry First: For the first time ever, users can leverage the power of quantum computation to run constrained quadratic optimization problems that are defined on both discrete and continuous variables, expanding the scope of quantum solutions into the Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) space. This capability further broadens the optimization problems D-Wave’s platform can solve, expanding use cases and business impact.
• Demonstrated Business Value: Available in the Leap quantum cloud service, enhancements to the Constrained Quadratic Model (CQM) hybrid solver enable organizations to find higher-quality solutions to their most complex business problems. This creates real business value, as models using continuous variables can avoid the up to 50% per variable overhead of “fragmentation waste” created previously when continuous variables had to be rounded to integers.
• Convenience & Time Savings: Direct representation of continuous variables is a more efficient approach in terms of human time spent in reformulating and tuning problems to reduce waste due to fragmentation.
• Cross-Industry Impact: The new CQM solver further expands the commercial value of quantum computing applications across numerous industries. These include: 2D and 3D bin packing such as pallet, aircraft and truck loading; inventory management, and job shop scheduling in manufacturing and logistics; portfolio optimization in financial services; and drug trial optimization in pharmaceuticals.

“The introduction of continuous variables in D-Wave’s CQM hybrid solver service enables our customers to immediately begin unlocking and deriving business value on even more complex optimization use cases by using quantum hybrid applications,” said Murray Thom, vice president of product management at D-Wave. “Our customers are solving the increasingly-complex challenges facing organizations in our fast-paced, ever-changing world – and we are driven by our belief that quantum computing will play a central role in unlocking these solutions. By providing, for the first time, the ability to run continuous variables on quantum computers, we’re taking an exciting step in the evolution of this innovative technology, marking yet another product and commercial milestone that increases the value of quantum computing to our Global 2000 customer base.”

About D-Wave Systems Inc.
D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services, and is the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers—and the only company building both annealing quantum computers and gate-model quantum computers. Our mission is to unlock the power of quantum computing today to benefit business and society. We do this by delivering customer value with practical quantum applications for problems as diverse as logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, cybersecurity, fault detection, and financial modeling. D-Wave’s systems are being used by some of the world’s most advanced organizations, including NEC Corporation, Volkswagen, DENSO, Lockheed Martin, Forschungszentrum Jülich, University of Southern California, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. With headquarters and the Quantum Engineering Center of Excellence based near Vancouver, Canada, D-Wave’s U.S. operations are based in Palo Alto, Calif. D-Wave has a blue-chip investor base that includes PSP Investments, Goldman Sachs, BDC Capital, NEC Corp., Aegis Group Partners, and In-Q-Tel.

D-Wave announced in February it has entered into a definitive transaction agreement with DPCM Capital, Inc., a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. Upon closing of the transaction, shares of D-Wave Quantum Inc., a newly formed parent company of D-Wave and DPCM Capital, are expected to trade on the NYSE under the symbol “QBTS.”

Important Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It:
A full description of the terms of the transaction between D-Wave and DPCM Capital is provided in a registration statement on Form S-4, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by D-Wave Quantum Inc. that includes a preliminary prospectus with respect to the combined company’s securities, to be issued in connection with the transaction and a preliminary proxy statement with respect to the stockholder meeting of DPCM Capital to vote on the transaction. D-Wave Quantum Inc. and DPCM Capital urge investors, stockholders, and other interested persons to read the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other documents filed with the SEC, because these documents contain important information about D-Wave Quantum Inc., DPCM Capital, D-Wave, and the transaction. After the registration statement is declared effective, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the registration statement will be mailed to stockholders of DPCM Capital as of a record date to be established for voting on the transaction. Stockholders also may obtain a copy of the registration statement on Form S-4, as amended, —including the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC without charge—by directing a request to: D-Wave Quantum Inc. The preliminary and definitive proxy statement/prospectus to be included in the registration statement, once available, also can be obtained, without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov).