(BURNABY, B.C.)– At Davidson, we’re on the forefront of bringing breakthrough technology to Huntsville. This journey began earlier this year when Davidson announced a strategic partnership with D-Wave Quantum Inc. to host Alabama’s first quantum computer—a D-Wave Advantage system—at our Huntsville headquarters in 2025.
Since that announcement, teams on both sides have been laying the groundwork to make this vision a reality. Our most recent step forward? A fact-finding mission to D-Wave’s Quantum Center of Excellence in Burnaby, British Columbia, where Davidson’s Vice President of Enterprise IT, James Gatewood, Vice President of Security Operations, Paul Malone, and Director of Brand Strategy & Creative, David Wood met with D-Wave’s technical team for an up-close look at the system we’ll be bringing to Alabama.
In a region known for defense, aerospace, and technology innovation, introducing quantum computing brings unprecedented capabilities and positions Davidson as a leader in the next generation of problem-solving technology. This will be the second D-Wave Advantage system located in the United States, and Davidson is proud to lead the way for the southeastern region.
Laying the Foundation: Davidson and D-Wave’s Initial Steps
In September, D-Wave engineers traveled to Huntsville for an initial site assessment. Led by D-Wave’s Director, Hardware Systems and Service, Craig Petroff, Principal Mechanical Engineer, Dave Bruce, and Mechatronics Engineer, Emrick Rurange, the team carefully evaluated Davidson’s current facilities, verifying construction plans to support the sensitive infrastructure a quantum computer demands. This assessment established the framework for our ongoing collaboration, ensuring that Davidson’s infrastructure aligns with the strict environmental requirements to maintain the stability and performance of a quantum system.
A Critical Trip to Canada: Ensuring Quantum Success
As a follow-up to D-Wave’s September visit, Gatewood and Malone traveled to D-Wave’s Quantum Center of Excellence for a firsthand look at the intricacies involved in hosting a quantum computer. This visit allowed our team to see an Advantage system in operation and meet with D-Wave’s experts to better understand the specifics that will ensure smooth, continuous uptime for the system.
Dave Bruce, D-Wave’s Principal Mechanical Engineer, emphasized the importance of this kind of in-depth exposure.
“It’s essential to come and see a real system working and understand what it takes to achieve production-level uptime,” Bruce explained. “This isn’t a plug-and-play installation—everything we do has a purpose, from redundancy planning to stabilizing environmental variables, and it’s critical to get it right the first time.”
Reaching Unprecedented Cold: The Role of Cryogenics
One of the most distinctive aspects of quantum computing is the extreme cold required to maintain quantum stability. Davidson’s quantum computer will operate at temperatures colder than outer space, requiring specialized cryogenic equipment to keep the system running at 15 millikelvin. To put this into perspective, that’s only 15 thousandths of a degree above absolute zero—the point at which molecular activity nearly stops.
Zane Pfrimmer, D-Wave’s Cryogenic Systems Manager, spoke to the complexity and importance of these cooling systems. “In order to take advantage of the quantum properties of the processors, everything must be super, super cold,” he said. “The visit gave Davidson a clear view of these operational needs, helping ensure they’re prepared to maintain optimal conditions.”
Cryogenics is essential not only for maintaining low temperatures but also for creating a quiet environment where quantum processes can function without interference. For D-Wave, monitoring each system in real time is paramount, as Pfrimmer explained: “We monitor thousands of points on each system, from cooling water levels to power supplies and ambient temperature to maintain stability.”
The Potential Impact: What Quantum Computing Means for Davidson and Beyond
This partnership is about much more than just installing a new system. It’s about bringing next-generation technology to Huntsville, giving Davidson—and by extension, Alabama—the tools to tackle complex challenges in ways that were previously impossible. Quantum computers excel at optimization, a process vital to industries like defense, logistics, and aerospace. When faced with challenges involving hundreds or thousands of variables, classical computers can take hours or even days to find solutions. Quantum computers, however, have the potential to solve such problems almost instantaneously.
D-Wave’s Director, Hardware Systems and Service, Craig Petroff, reflected on the significance of this partnership. “For D-Wave, working with Davidson is an exciting opportunity to see how quantum technology can advance defense and national security,” Petroff shared. “This isn’t just about bringing a quantum system to Alabama—it’s about exploring new applications for quantum in ways that we haven’t yet fully realized.”
Petroff went on to describe how Davidson’s upcoming installation offers an opportunity for D-Wave to deepen its capabilities in a new domain. “The collaboration with Davidson allows us to build on past deployments and adapt our systems to meet specific, often sensitive needs,” Petroff said.
“By being hands-on at this early stage, we can ensure that Davidson’s team is ready to operate the system efficiently and gain value from day one.”
Looking Ahead: The Road to Quantum Integration
The work involved in deploying a quantum computer is extensive and complex, but Davidson and D-Wave are committed to the process every step of the way. As we prepare to bring the D-Wave Advantage system online in 2025, our teams are dedicated to ensuring this technology performs at the highest standards, unlocking capabilities that will drive innovation and position Davidson as a leader in quantum applications for defense.
Stay tuned as we continue to document our journey to quantum readiness, from infrastructure upgrades and cryogenic preparations to the final installation. This is an exciting chapter not just for Davidson, but for Huntsville, Alabama, and beyond as we prepare to enter the quantum era.
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