In this issue:

• Join us at the Empire Club of Canada on February 24 for a Special Conversation on Quantum, Defence, Security & Strategy 🗓️🍁
• QIC Joins the 2026 Year of Quantum Security (YQS2026) Initiative 🔐
• Looking for Your Next Role in Quantum? Browse QuantumJobs.ca 👀💼
• QIC Community Achievements and Highlights 👏
• More Must-read Quantum News 🗞️
• Upcoming Quantum Events in Canada 🗓️

🗓️🍁 Join us at the Empire Club of Canada on February 24 for a Special Conversation on Quantum, Defence, Security & Strategy

Quantum technologies are increasingly moving from concept to capability, and around the world, allies are grappling with what this shift means for security, competitiveness, and resilience.

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Empire Club of Canada will present Quantum Power and National Security: Canada’s New Strategic Imperative, a timely hybrid event examining how quantum technologies are shaping defence, economic strength, and Canada’s role among allies.

In her keynote address, Lisa Lambert, CEO of Quantum Industry Canada (QIC), will set the scene, exploring how quantum sensing, communications, cryptography, and computing capabilities are influencing Canada’s security posture and economic outlook, what sovereign capacity is required to protect critical systems, and how Canada can position itself as a strategic contributor among allies.

The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by The Honourable Erin O’Toole, P.C., C.D., featuring:

• Francesco Bova, Associate Professor, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and Chief Quantum Economist at the Creative Destruction Lab
• David Roy-Guay, Founder and CEO, SBQuantum
• Lieutenant-General Darcy Molstad, CD, Commander, Canadian Joint Forces Command

Event details

📅 Tuesday, February 24, 2026​
🕦 11:30 AM​
📍 Hybrid event (in-person in Toronto + virtual livestream)

In-person tables and individual tickets are filling quickly, with only a limited number remaining available. Virtual registration is also available for those joining remotely.

🎟️ Learn more and register​

🔐 QIC Joins the 2026 Year of Quantum Security (YQS2026) Initiative

Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) has joined the 2026 Year of Quantum Security (YQS2026), a global initiative accelerating readiness for the security implications of the quantum era.

Co-presented by The Quantum Insider, a QIC member, and Quantum Coast Capital, YQS2026 brings together industry, government, finance, and research leaders to move quantum security from awareness to action.

👉 Learn more about YQS2026​

👀💼 Looking for Your Next Role in Quantum?

If you’re exploring what’s next in your career, QuantumJobs.ca powered by Quantum Industry Canada brings opportunities from across Canada’s quantum sector into one place.

Whether you’re coming from research, engineering, software, hardware, policy, or business, the platform makes it easier to see who’s hiring, and what kinds of roles are emerging as the sector matures.
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​ 🔍 → Browse Canadian quantum sector job opportunities on QuantumJobs.ca ​

👏 QIC Community Achievements and Highlights

Here's our round-up of recent highlights from the QIC community:

• 01 Quantum Inc. launches $qONE token and a quantum-resistant blockchain migration toolkit. → Read more​
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• Japan's Hitachi Solutions Create has launched DoMobile Ver.5, integrating 01 Quantum’s PQC to secure remote access communications against quantum-era threats. → Read more​
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• BTQ and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) are launching a collaboration to build and test BTQ's QCIM security chip in silicon, moving the program into an important validation stage on the path to commercialization. → Read more​
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• BTQ launched the Bitcoin Quantum testnet, one of the first Bitcoin forks to be launched that is purpose built to prevent potential quantum computing threats. → Read more​
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• Crypto4A announced a new strategic partnership with Unsung Limited, the UK’s leading specialist in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), to deliver quantum-safe, crypto-agile PKI solutions purpose-built for governments, regulated industries, and other high-assurance environments where digital trust is mission-critical. → Read more​
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• cyberzero Inc. was selected as one of the ten companies to participate in third cohort of the Catalyst Cyber Challenge powered by Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst at Toronto Metropolitan University. → Read more​
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• Quantanaut, whose development was led by cyberzero's founder and CEO Brad McInnis, has been accepted into Stage 2 of the Catalyst Cyber Challenge Cohort 2. → Read more​
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• D-Wave acquired Quantum Circuits Inc. → Read more​
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• D-Wave announced proof-of-concept results from a collaboration with Anduril and Davidson Technologies to develop quantum applications for US air and missile defence. → Read more​
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• D-Wave announced that Florida Atlantic University has signed an agreement to purchase and install an Advantage2^TM annealing quantum computer at its Boca Raton campus. → Read more​
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• D-Wave has also selected Boca Raton as the location of its new corporate HQ and a key U.S. R&D facility. → Read more​
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• Equal1 raises $60M to accelerate quantum computing using existing semiconductor manufacturing. → Read more​
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• IonQ is making three U.S. acquisitions, including Seed Innovations (an AI-software and technology R&D specialist), Skyloom Global Corp. (developer of lightwave-optics technology), and SkyWater Technology (a pure-play semiconductor foundry). → Read more here, here, and here​
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• ISARA Corporation partners with Carahsoft to help U.S. federal agencies accelerate their journey to quantum-safe cryptography and cryptographic modernization. → Read more​
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• Ki3 Photonics was recognized again this year as a finalist for the SPIE Prism Awards (the "Oscars" of photonics). →Read more ​
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• Ki3 Photonics joined the Kirq quantum communications testbed powered by Numana as a collaborating partner. → Read more​
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• The Kirq quantum communications testbed powered by Numana expanded into Québec City. → Read more here and here + view photos from the press conference​
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• Nord Quantique and Photonic were named among the Top Ten Tech Companies to Watch by the Financial Post. → Read more​
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• Photonic raised $180M CAD in the first close of its latest investment round, led by Planet First Partners, with participation from new investors Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), TELUS, and others. → Read more​
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• OTI Lumionics shared their latest work on evaluating quantum advantage in computational chemistry in collaboration with Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology. → Read a recap here and read the full paper here​
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• QV Studio announced the very first graduates of its BUILD program, including SilQ Connect. → Read more​
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• Quantum Bridge Technologies received a $2.7-million investment from the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario to accelerate their mission to develop and commercialize quantum-safe security solutions. → Read more​
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• Xanadu released a new quantum algorithm for simulating non-adiabatic dynamics at metallic surfaces with unprecedented efficiency. → Read more​
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• Xanadu has partnered with Thorlabs to develop customized optical fibre components, combining Xanadu's photonic hardware expertise with Thorlabs' advanced manufacturing capabilities to address critical challenges in scaling photonic quantum systems. → Read more​
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• Zero Point Cryogenics was nominated for two Alberta Export Awards. → Read more​
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• Zero Point Cryogenics introduced its new offering, the Model L - Scattering: A beamline cryostat designed for neutron and x-ray experiments. Read more​

🗞️ More Buzzworthy Quantum Headlines and Resources

News, updates and reports from around the world:

• Israeli-U.S. firm Deep 33 launches a $150M USD fund targeting quantum and deep-tech infrastructure. → Read more​

🔐 The imperative to migrate to post-quantum cryptography is moving rapidly up the agenda for organizations worldwide:

• The G7 Cyber Experts Group (CEG) published a statement on finance sector coordination towards the transition to post-quantum cryptography. → Read more​
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• The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Accenture published, its 2026 Global Cybersecurity Outlook, examining the cybersecurity trends that will affect economies and societies in the year to come. The Outlook reports that organizations expect quantum technologies to be among the top three technologies to most significantly affect cybersecurity in the next 12 months. → Read more​
• Europol and partners published a joint report outlining a practical, risk-based roadmap for financial institutions to prepare for the transition to PQC. → Read more​
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• NordVPN experts outline five key cybersecurity risks in 2026 and how to prepare for them, including emerging quantum threats. → Read more​
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• The Ethereum Foundation has made post-quantum security a top strategic priority, launching a dedicated team and accelerating plans to transition the network to PQC. → Read more​
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• India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) published the ‘Implementation of Quantum Safe Ecosystem in India – Report of the Task Force., laying out a strategic roadmap for transitioning India’s digital infrastructure to quantum-resistant security. → Read the report​

And more about the field from think pieces, podcasts, and other content featuring the QIC community:

• Andrew Cheung, Founder & CEO of 01 Quantum Inc., joined an episode of The Quantum Economy Podcast (published by The Quantum Insider) to discuss what comes before Q-Day and why quantum security is no longer a distant concern, but a present-day challenge. → Listen here or watch here​
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• Daniel Sax, founder of Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation (CSMC), joined BNN Bloomberg to discuss the firms journey to develop an ambitious portfolio of strategic dual-use technologies. → Watch here​
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• Bruno Couillard, CEO and Co-Founder of Crypto4A, joined a line-up of experts from cryptography, security architecture, and risk to explain what comes next on an episode of the podcast Shielded: The Last Line of Cyber Defense. → Listen here​
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• Brad McInnis, CEO and Founder of cyberzero inc. and Quantonaut was interviewed about quantum readiness by the NATO Association of Canada. → Read the interview​
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• Une entrevue sur 107.7 Estrie avec Michel Pioro-Ladrière, directeur général de Distriq, met en lumière l’accélération de la zone quantique de Sherbrooke, sa croissance soutenue, l’expansion de ses espaces et son rôle clé dans le développement économique et l’emploi en technologies quantiques. → Écouter ici​
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• Les Affaires a publié un portrait de Kirq accompagné d’une entrevue avec Bernard Duval, PDG de Numana. → En savoir plus​
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• Katanya Kuntz, CEO and Co-founder of Qubo Consulting Corp. discussed quantum networks on the Impact Quantum Podcast. → Listen here​
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• Qubo Consulting Corp.'s Kantanya also recently joined the TopCyberPro.com podcast to offer a 101-level overview of quantum computing and other quantum technologies. → Watch here​
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• Open Quantum Design was profiled in Phys.Org. → Read more​
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• Phantom Photonics was profiled in an article by the Velocity incubator. → Read more​
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• Photonic's $180M fundraise was covered in The Globe and Mail, The Logic, and BetaKit.
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• Dr. Paul Terry, Photonic's CEO, recently wrote an article for AZoQuantum as part of their latest Quantum Perspectives series. → Read it here​
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• Photonic's Paul Terry also recently recently joined The Post-Quantum World podcast to discuss the company's latest developments. → Listen here or watch here​
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• Quantum Valley Ideas Lab spin-off WaveRyde's work on Rydberg sensors was profiled by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). → Read more​
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• The team at AzoQuantum sat down with David Roy-Guay, CEO and Founder of SBQuantum, to discuss how quantum diamond magnetometers are ditching the lab coat and heading into the wild. → Read more​
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• Futura-Sciences consacre un article au magnetomètre quantique développé par SBQuantum pour l’Agence spatiale européenne (ESA), mettant en lumière le potentiel de ces technologies de pointe pour l’observation de la Terre. → En savoir plus​
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• Christian Weedbrook, CEO and Founder of Xanadu, spoke with Matt Galloway from CBC's The Current about Canada’s growing investment in quantum technology. → Listen here​

📅 Quantum-related Events in Canada

• ​Quantum Days 2026 hosted by our network partner Deep Tech Canada in Victoria, BC February 18-20, 2026
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• ​Quantum Power and National Security: Canada’s New Strategic Imperative hosted by the Empire Club of Canada in Toronto on February 24, 2026
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• ​The Quantum Edge: What Business Leaders Need to Know Now hosted by Rotman in Toronto on March 10, 2026
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• ​ETSI/IQC Quantum Safe Cryptography Conference 2026 in Ottawa, ON June 16-18, 2026
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• ​qConnect 2026 hosted by Quantum City in Alberta, AB Oct 21-22, 2026