CGI and D-Wave Quantum have formalized a partnership built on over a year of prior collaboration to accelerate the adoption of quantum computing for enterprise clients. The firms will focus initially on applying D-Wave’s unique dual-platform quantum systems, offering both annealing and gate-model approaches, to complex challenges in logistics, transportation, and retail. “Organizations are moving beyond research to evaluate where quantum technologies can improve optimization and enhance decision-making,” said Dave Henderson, Chief Technology Officer, CGI, as the companies plan to co-develop solutions for areas like train scheduling and supply chain planning.
D-Wave and CGI Partnership Advances Enterprise Quantum Adoption
CGI will integrate D-Wave’s Advantage2 quantum computer and hybrid solvers into its technology services, enabling clients to test and deploy quantum solutions for challenges like industrial production planning and energy grid optimization. This collaboration extends beyond simple access; the firms plan to co-develop specific use cases where quantum computing can demonstrably improve upon existing classical methods and deliver quantifiable business results.
Initial efforts center on transportation and rail systems, targeting improvements in train scheduling, network operations, and resource allocation, alongside retail applications focused on supply chain optimization and workforce management. D-Wave, the only company offering both annealing and gate-model quantum computing systems, brings specialized hardware and software to the table.
This dual-platform capability is important as organizations move beyond theoretical exploration and seek practical applications for quantum technology, the company says. “Quantum computing’s business value is no longer theoretical,” said Lorenzo Martinelli, chief revenue officer at D-Wave, pointing to the current successes of D-Wave customers in generating tangible results with annealing quantum computing.
CGI’s scale and industry expertise are intended to bridge the gap between quantum potential and real-world implementation. Through this partnership, CGI aims to help clients identify valuable use cases and validate them through experimentation, ultimately driving broader enterprise adoption. earlier this year further solidified D-Wave’s position, adding gate-model quantum computing capability to its existing annealing technology and enabling the shipment of its first dual-rail gate-model machine from a new research center in New Haven, Connecticut.
Recent investments also demonstrate D-Wave’s momentum; the company secured up to $100 million from the US government to build quantum systems and received a $1.5 million NSF grant to advance fault-tolerant quantum computing, according to the company. A $25 million+ series C funding round advanced fabrication of components for improved materials used in quantum computing, specifically for scalability, while a $20 million agreement with Florida Atlantic University will establish a quantum computer for research and education.
Martinelli added that D-Wave customers are using annealing quantum computing today to improve operations and generate tangible results on problems that challenge legacy systems. Combining D-Wave’s quantum technology with CGI’s scale, industry expertise and delivery capabilities will give more organizations a clear path from exploration to production and measurable business value.
As AI adoption advances and organizations seek new ways to solve increasingly complex business objectives, quantum computing is emerging as a practical complement to classical computing for selected use cases.
Dave Henderson, Chief Technology Officer, CGI
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