The demand for faster, more scalable computing is outpacing what traditional systems can handle, especially in AI, cybersecurity, and advanced simulations. As challenges grow more complex, organizations are turning to quantum systems for solutions.
D-Wave, a company that specializes in quantum computing, is recognized for its comprehensive quantum systems and powerful quantum annealing computers. Recently, D-Wave announced that its technology is now available as on-premises systems for institutional and enterprise use. With this change, organizations such as HPC centers, government labs, and academic institutions can directly purchase D-Wave’s quantum systems for research and applied projects.
D-Wave’s Advantage2 System
D-Wave has announced Advantage2, its sixth-generation quantum computing system, featuring more than 4,400 qubits, higher connectivity, and several engineering updates aimed at improving performance in optimization, simulation, and AI workloads. The system is available through D-Wave’s Leap cloud platform and as an on-premises installation for organizations requiring customization, direct integration or operational control.
Based on D-Wave’s Zephyr topology, Advantage2 supports 20-way connectivity, which could allow more efficient mapping of large and complex problems. According to D-Wave, the system provides a 40% increase in energy scale and a 75% reduction in noise compared to earlier generations. Coherence time has been doubled, and a fast anneal option is designed to mitigate environmental interference, improving overall computational accuracy and speed.
Despite these advancements, Advantage2 retains a 12.5-kilowatt power requirement, consistent with prior D-Wave systems. The platform’s hybrid solvers can address problems involving up to two million variables, supporting applications that combine quantum and classical computing methods. The system demonstrates various use cases, including advanced AI research, drug discovery, industrial optimization, and national security.
The system is already in use at organizations including Davidson Technologies and the Jülich Supercomputing Centre, highlight the system’s role in both enterprise and government quantum research ecosystems.
In this article, we break down the key features of Advantage2 and explore D-Wave’s patent portfolio to see how it’s pushing quantum computing forward.
D-Wave Quantum: Patenting Activity
D-Wave’s patent activity experienced significant peaks in 2016 and 2019, reflecting concentrated phases of innovation corresponding with significant milestones in quantum computing. For instance, in 2015, D-Wave scaled its quantum processors to 1,000 qubits with its D-Wave 2X, marking a substantial hardware advancement that likely fueled related R&D and patenting efforts.
Following this, D-Wave launched its 2000Q system in 2017, pushing the limits of quantum annealing performance and reinforcing technological leadership. Although patent filings declined after 2019, likely influenced by corporate strategy shifts and disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the sustained presence of pending patents shows ongoing research and the continuous development of new quantum technologies.
These events illustrate how advances in quantum hardware, supportive policy frameworks, and product launches drive intellectual property activity within the company and the broader quantum computing ecosystem.
D-Wave Quantum: Top Jurisdictions
Most of D-Wave’s patents have been filed in the United States. The U.S. remains a global leader in quantum innovation, driven by a strong ecosystem of universities, national labs, and technology companies such as IBM, Google, and Microsoft. In the competitive quantum computing landscape, D-Wave is one of several key players actively building and protecting its intellectual property. IBM and Google also reportedly emerged as the top investors in the field with the most patents granted in 2025.The National Quantum Initiative Act, passed in 2018, further accelerated investment in quantum research and commercialization, fostering a competitive patent landscape.
China follows with 23 patents in D-Wave’s portfolio, reflecting its aggressive expansion in quantum computing and communication technologies led by state-backed institutions and major tech firms. China’s patent landscape showcases broad coverage spanning from hardware architectures to quantum networking, positioning it as a vital global player with growing influence on industry standards.
Europe accounts for 16 patents, representing a growing yet comparatively smaller footprint. The European quantum ecosystem benefits from initiatives such as the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) and coordinated efforts to develop hybrid quantum platforms across the continent. Despite strong patent growth in 2024, Europe risks lagging behind the US and China in overall patent volume, which may impact its ability to commercialize quantum technologies at scale. European policymakers and industry leaders have already adopted a quantum strategy to maintain competitiveness and protect regional European innovations.
Canada, where D-Wave was founded, also features prominently with multiple patents, signaling continued innovation and protection of intellectual assets close to home.
The quantum computing market is rapidly expanding, with forecasts projecting a CAGR of over 41.8% over the next five years and a market value of approximately USD 20 billion by 2030. Strategic patent filings not only secure technological advantages but also position these companies for licensing, partnerships, and government collaborations. For enterprises and investors, understanding patent ownership and specialization is essential for navigating and leveraging the evolving quantum ecosystem.
D-Wave Quantum: Top Technology Areas
The majority of D-Wave’s patents and applications are concentrated in G06N, covering specialized computing systems. This strategic focus demonstrates D-Wave’s commitment to quantum architectures, especially quantum annealing technologies.
Furthermore, D-Wave’s portfolio includes patents in digital data processing systems (G06F), which cover infrastructure, software integration, and computational workflows that connect quantum systems with classical computing environments. Patents related to electric solid-state devices (H10N) demonstrate innovations in device architectures that support qubit operation, while those focused on semiconductor devices (H01L) reflect advancements in the fabrication and control of quantum chips.
D-Wave Quantum: Top Law Firms
From 2015-2022, Cozen O’Connor was the dominant firm, handling a larger portion of D-Wave’s patent filings. Other firms with notable involvement include Beijing Kangxin Intellectual Property Agency in China, Murgitroyd & Company in Europe, and Lambert Intellectual Property Law in Canada. Additional law firms with smaller roles include Yoon & Lee International Patent & Law Firm, Holland & Hart, and Seed IP.
D-Wave’s featured patents on quantum computing
Adaptive quantum annealing control
Quantum annealing is a method in quantum computing used to solve tough optimization problems by finding the best solution from many possibilities. Instead of checking every option, it uses quantum “tunneling” to reach good solutions more quickly. This makes it useful for areas like logistics, finance, and materials science, where efficient decision-making is key.
However, it faces challenges like noise, loss of quantum information (decoherence), and fixed processing schedules. These issues can reduce accuracy and efficiency. Traditional methods may also get stuck in poor solutions, and fixed schedules make it hard to adapt to complex problems.
U.S. Patent No. 9,727,527, titled “Analog processor comprising quantum devices,” addresses these issues with an adaptive control method. It monitors the quantum system in real-time during annealing and dynamically adjusts parameters through feedback.
This adaptive annealing path enables the system to navigate the energy landscape more effectively, avoiding local traps and increasing the likelihood of finding the global optimum. The approach enhances accuracy and efficiency without significantly increasing complexity, thereby making quantum annealing more practical.
The patent was filed on June 1, 2015, and granted on August 8, 2017. It lists CTO and co-founder Geordie Rose; principal scientists Mohammad H. S. Amin and Andrew J. Berkley; and inventors Alexander Maassen van den Brink, Peter Love, David Grant, Miles F. H. Steininger, and Paul I. Bunyk. Seed IP represented D-Wave in the patent filing.
Low-noise quantum processor fabrication
Superconducting processors, including those used in quantum computing, offer faster switching speeds and shorter computation times than traditional processors. However, making superconducting integrated circuits is challenging because standard semiconductor processes can introduce impurities and contamination. These impurities cause noise that can harm qubit coherence and processor performance. This drives the need for better manufacturing methods that reduce noise without changing processor design.
U.S. Patent No. 11,856,871, titled “Quantum Processors,” addresses these issues by proposing systems and methods for fabricating superconducting integrated circuits using multiple wiring layers composed of different superconducting materials. By incorporating low-noise materials into wiring layers, the resulting integrated circuits are less susceptible to noise that compromises quantum processor performance.
The method involves the precise deposition and patterning of superconducting materials with distinct temperature ranges and noise characteristics. This fabrication strategy enhances the robustness of superconducting devices against noise, while maintaining compatibility with quantum processor architectures. The approach represents an essential step in improving the fabrication and performance of superconducting quantum and classical processors.
The patent was filed on February 25, 2022, and was granted on December 26, 2023. Its listed inventors are Chief Development Officer Trevor M. Lanting, Principal Scientist Danica W. Marsden, Chief Scientist and Co-Founder Eric G. Ladizinsky, Byong Hyop Oh, Jason Yao, and Douglas P. Stadtler. The patent is represented by Frank Abramonte, James Gale, Lorraine Linford, and others at Cozen O’Connor.
Degeneracy mitigation in quantum processors
Quantum processors, such as those used in quantum annealing, face challenges due to “degeneracy,” where certain qubits or groups of qubits can be flipped without changing the system’s energy. This “floppiness” can reduce the effectiveness of optimization algorithms by allowing the system to get stuck in ambiguous or less useful states, lowering solution quality.
U.S. Patent No. 11,100,416, titled “Systems and methods for degeneracy mitigation in a quantum processor,” tackles degeneracy in quantum processors by focusing on “floppy” qubits or groups of qubits—those whose states can flip without changing the system’s energy. This floppiness can impair optimization by causing ambiguity in the system’s states. The patent describes sampling these qubits from the analog processor and measuring their “floppiness” with a normalized metric. Based on this metric, adjustments are made to the annealing process, advancing the floppiest qubits to reduce degeneracy.
U.S. Patent No. 11,100,416, titled “Systems and methods for degeneracy mitigation in a quantum processor,” addresses degeneracy in quantum processors by focusing on “floppy” qubits or groups of qubits, which are those whose states can flip without changing the system’s energy. This floppiness can impair optimization by introducing ambiguity into the system’s states. The patent describes a method of sampling these qubits from the analog processor and measuring their floppiness using a normalized metric. Based on this measurement, the annealing process is adjusted to advance the floppiest qubits and reduce degeneracy.
In hybrid quantum-classical systems, degeneracy is further mitigated by measuring each qubit’s magnetic susceptibility and tuning its tunneling rate accordingly. Additionally, the quantum annealing process includes controlled pauses to improve performance. These techniques help enhance the accuracy and efficiency of quantum annealing for solving complex problems.
The patent was filed on October 27, 2016, and was granted on August 24, 2021. The listed inventors are Trevor M. Lanting and Andrew Douglas King. The patent is represented by Frank Abramonte, James Gale, Lorraine Linford, and others at Cozen O’Connor.
