CIX ANNOUNCES INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Monday, November 21, 2011


CIX ANNOUNCES INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Geordie Rose, founder and CTO of D-Wave will be recognized for his ambitious approach to building quantum computing technology

Toronto, ON (Nov. 21, 2011) - The Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) is thrilled to announce that Dr. Geordie Rose, founder and Chief Technology Officer of D-Wave Systems Inc. of Burnaby, British Columbia, will be receiving the inaugural CIX Innovator of the Year Award for 2011.

With this award, CIX recognizes an individual Canadian who has demonstrated the most compelling technology or business innovation within the sectors of ICT and digital media. Nominations are put forth by the CIX Advisory Board members and are considered and evaluated by the CIX Co-Chairs.

"Dr. Geordie Rose has created truly incredible technology as the inventor of the world's first functional quantum computer - this is a rare example of a breakthrough that will literally change the way we perceive computing going forward" said Rick Nathan, CIX Co-Chair and Managing Director of Kensington Capital Partners, "After more than 10 years of research and development, 2011 was the break-out year for the Company."

The development of a quantum computer processor has been a longstanding goal of physicists and computer scientists who, until recently, focused primarily on academic research. This transformative technology is comparable in scope to the shift from vacuum tubes to transistors to silicon chips, with vastly more processing power and the ability to solve complex problems that are simply not possible through today's advanced supercomputers based on conventional processors. Applications currently under development include machine learning, protein folding, image recognition, and search as well as powerful analytics for 'big data' sectors like energy usage, consumer behavior or stock market trading.

In selecting the Innovator of the Year, CIX recognized the key milestones achieved in the past 12 months, Including:

· The first commercial sale of the D-Wave One System, to Lockheed Martin Corporation, validating the commercial business model of the quantum technology.

· Recognition by Nature, the prestigious international scientific research journal, where Dr. Rose and his colleagues published peer reviewed research demonstrating the role of quantum mechanics in the D-Wave Processor.

· The launch of the new Quantum Computing Center based on the D-Wave One System at the Viterbi School Engineering at the University of Southern California.

The CIX Innovator of the Year Award will be presented to Dr. Rose at the Canadian Innovation Exchange on December 1, at the MaRS Centre in Toronto.

About Geordie Rose

Geordie Rose is known as a leading advocate for quantum computing and physics-based processor design, and has been invited to speak on these topics in venues ranging from the 2003 TED Conference to Supercomputing 2011. His innovative and ambitious approach to building quantum computing technology has received coverage in MIT Technology Review magazine, The Economist, New Scientist, Scientific American and Science magazines, and one of his business strategies was profiled in a Harvard Business School case study. He has received several awards and accolades for his work with D-Wave, including being short-listed for a 2005 World Technology Award. Dr. Rose holds a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of British Columbia, specializing in quantum effects in materials. While at McMaster University, he graduated first in his class with a BEng in Engineering Physics, specializing in semiconductor engineering.

About CIX

Taking place December 1st, 2011 at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, the Canadian Innovation Exchange (CIX) is the foremost destination for key leaders in the innovation economy to learn from one another, explore new relationships and accelerate the development of the ground-breaking technologies, products and services propelling the Canadian economy into the future. This one day forum attracts the people behind innovative new technologies ? entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, service providers, government, and media - for an unparalleled program of visionary keynotes and panel discussions, facilitated networking opportunities, and the CIX Top 20 - a showcase of Canada's hottest innovative companies working in Digital Media and Information and Communication Technology. For more information, visit www.canadianinnovationexchange.com

About Achilles Media

CIX is produced by Achilles Media Ltd., an international business-to-business media and facilitation company serving the media and investment industries. Achilles Media communities include: the Banff World Media Festival; nextMEDIA World Events; History Makers International; and the Digi Awards. For more information, visit www.achillesmedia.com.

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