D-Wave has signed a multi-year manufacturing agreement with SkyWater Technologies, extending a partnership that has already produced the Advantage2 quantum processor at SkyWater's Minnesota fab.

The deal continues collaboration with the engineering team at the Bloomington, Minnesota facility. D-Wave said the agreement provides "manufacturing continuity and access to specialized process expertise developed around its technology requirements."

SkyWater has fabricated D-Wave's Advantage2 processors at the Minnesotan plant. D-Wave first unveiled the Advantage2 quantum computer in 2022. The system features more than 4,400 qubits and targets both quantum and hybrid quantum applications.

The companies described complementary roles: D-Wave contributes superconducting engineering and quantum system and processor design knowledge, while SkyWater supplies manufacturing and materials expertise.

What do the CEOs say?

SkyWater CEO Thomas Sonderman framed the deal as proof of the foundry model's value to quantum hardware makers.

"Our team has developed deep process knowledge around D-Wave's highly specialized technology, demonstrating the value of close collaboration between quantum innovators and semiconductor manufacturers," Sonderman said. "This agreement reinforces our commitment to providing D-Wave and customers across the quantum ecosystem with the unique process development and manufacturing capabilities they need to advance their technologies."

D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz emphasized the length of the relationship, which now spans roughly ten years of superconducting quantum annealing production.

"Our work with the SkyWater team has played an important role in powering the past decade of D-Wave's superconducting quantum annealing technology," Baratz said. "This agreement provides continuity with an experienced manufacturing team and specialized process capabilities we know well as we build the next generations of our quantum systems."

Who is SkyWater?

SkyWater dates to 2017, when private equity firm Oxbow Industries acquired Cypress Foundry Solutions, a former subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor. The pure-play foundry manufactures chips for the quantum, defense and aerospace industries.

The company filed for an initial public offering with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in March 2021.

IonQ acquired SkyWater earlier this year in a deal worth $1.8bn.

The SkyWater agreement secures the supply chain for D-Wave's next-generation superconducting processors at a fab it already knows.