D-Wave Quantum Inc. is set to make a significant mark in Asia’s fast-growing quantum computing landscape with its first-ever Qubits Japan 2025 conference, scheduled for September 17 in Tokyo. Centered on the theme “Quantum Realized,” the event aims to showcase how annealing quantum computing is already producing measurable business value rather than remaining an experimental technology. The conference will gather executives, customers, and academic pioneers to discuss real-world applications, with D-Wave highlighting that bookings from the Asia-Pacific region have risen an impressive 83% in the past year, reflecting growing adoption of its quantum systems in AI, machine learning, and complex optimization projects.
The company’s momentum in the region is underpinned by several notable customer achievements. Japan Tobacco’s pharmaceutical division is advancing into a production-oriented pilot for quantum AI drug discovery, following a successful proof-of-concept earlier this year in which D-Wave’s hybrid quantum-AI approach generated novel, more drug-like molecules than those found in the training data. NTT DOCOMO, Japan’s largest mobile network operator, leveraged D-Wave’s optimization solutions to cut paging signal congestion during peak calling times by 15%, leading to nationwide improvements in network efficiency and cost management, while continuing to explore fresh use cases. In South Korea, D-Wave’s partnership with Yonsei University and Incheon Metropolitan City aims to accelerate both quantum research and workforce development, with plans that include acquiring a D-Wave Advantage2 system to anchor advanced projects in biotechnology, materials science, and more.
D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz emphasized Japan’s special role in quantum annealing’s history, tracing the concept back to Hidetoshi Nishimori and Tadashi Kadowaki nearly three decades ago, and noting that today it is solving some of the world’s toughest computational challenges. Qubits Japan 2025 will reflect that blend of history and forward momentum, with speakers such as Dr. Baratz, Chief Development Officer Trevor Lanting, Professor Emeritus Nishimori, Japan Tobacco CSO Dr. Masaru Tateno, NTT DOCOMO data scientist Takumi Hattori, and Tohoku University professor-entrepreneur Masayuki Ohzeki. For D-Wave, the event is both a showcase of proven results and a strategic bridge to deeper engagement in a region increasingly shaping the future of quantum computing.
Leave a Reply