🗞️ 🇨🇦 Quantum, Eh? | Closing a landmark IYQ + building momentum for 2026
|
As 2025 draws to a close, we’re marking a truly landmark International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) was proud to serve as an official strategic partner in this global initiative, helping spotlight quantum not just as a scientific breakthrough, but as a foundational driver for modern economies and security. The calendar may be turning, but the momentum is only growing. Here’s a look at how the year closed out, and what’s already building toward 2026. Happy 2026, and onward! In this issue:
🍁 Canada Backs Quantum Computing at ScaleEarlier this month, the Government of Canada announced the Canadian Quantum Champions Program (CQCP), a new effort to accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum computing capabilities. Under the program’s first phase, Anyon Systems, Nord Quantique, Photonic, and Xanadu have each signed agreements of up to $23 million to advance quantum computing systems with clear pathways toward industrial relevance. CQCP builds on decades of Canadian leadership in quantum information science, technology, and early commercialization. What changes now is focus: ensuring Canada builds scalable, sovereign capability that can be integrated into real systems and trusted supply chains. The CQCP announcement, led by The Honourable Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, reflects a broader global shift toward industrialization, system integration, and long-term strategic value in quantum technologies. This is not a standalone move by the Government of Canada. Quantum was identified as a priority in Canada Strong: Budget 2025, with further direction expected in the forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, where quantum computing, sensing, communications, and enabling technologies are increasingly treated as foundational. Why it mattersQuantum leadership today is defined by the ability to build and sustain deployable capability. CQCP reinforces Canada’s intent to anchor advanced quantum computing at home, through domestic companies positioned to scale and integrate into critical systems. It’s a step along a clear trajectory: aligning Canada’s quantum strengths with the demands of industrialization, security, and real-world deployment — on Canadian terms. 🔗 Read QIC's statement on the program. 🇨🇦 Quantum at the G7: Canada Sets the FrameDuring Canada’s G7 Presidency, quantum technologies were elevated onto one of the world’s most influential economic and security platforms, marking a meaningful shift in how the field is treated at the highest levels of government. Quantum featured prominently across the 2025 G7 year, including most recently at the G7 Industry, Digital and Technology (IDT) Ministers’ Meeting in Montréal, where Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) CEO Lisa Lambert was invited to frame a dedicated session on quantum and quantum-safe technologies. This built on momentum from earlier in Canada's presidency, when quantum appeared on the G7 Leaders’ agenda for the first time and resulted in the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies. The significance goes beyond visibility to positioning. Canada helped shape how quantum was discussed: as foundational infrastructure tied to competitiveness, security, trusted supply chains, and long-term resilience. That framing reflects Canada’s pioneering role in quantum, and its ability to lead through diplomacy and substance. Why it mattersWith quantum established as G7 priority, it becomes part of how leading economies coordinate policy, investment, and security planning. Canada used its presidency to help set that shared frame, shaping global conversations that will outlast any single summit. Thank you to colleagues across the Government of Canada, the QIC community, and G7 partners whose briefings, insights, and collaboration helped move quantum to the centre of the G7 conversation. 🔗 Read the G7 IDT Ministerial Declaration 🔗 Read more about QIC CEO Lisa Lambert's participation in the G7 IDT Ministers' Meeting 🌏 Quantum in the Asia-Pacific: From Leadership to Economic DialogueThat agenda-setting extended beyond the G7 and into the Asia-Pacific, where quantum is increasingly part of core economic discussions. As part of Canada’s engagement with the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and APEC Korea 2025, Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) CEO Lisa Lambert and Greg Dick, CEO of Open Quantum Design, represented Canada’s quantum sector within the official Canadian business delegation, alongside senior Canadian officials. Lisa and Greg delivered a “Quantum 101” session for ABAC members, orienting business and policy leaders to where quantum is becoming relevant to competitiveness, risk, and long-term infrastructure planning. Lisa also joined a panel on emerging technologies, examining how AI, quantum, and data infrastructure are converging across the digital economy. With APEC economies accounting for more than 60% of global GDP, the engagement positioned Canada as a trusted quantum partner in regions actively planning their next phase of growth. Why it mattersQuantum is now showing up where economic strategy is shaped, not just where technology is discussed. By engaging early and substantively, Canada reinforced quantum as a sector where it can lead, partner, and compete across trusted global markets. Thank you to everyone across the Government of Canada, the ABAC AI and Digital Innovation Working Group, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and the QIC community who supported Canada’s engagement and helped advance shared understanding of quantum. 🔗 Read more on Canada's leadership in bringing quantum into the world's top economic forums in 2025. 🏛️🛡️ Quantum in Parliament’s Defence Industrial Strategy DiscussionsQuantum featured prominently in Canada’s defence policy conversation this fall, as Lisa Lambert, CEO of Quantum Industry Canada (QIC), was invited to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology as part of its study on Canada’s forthcoming Defence Industrial Strategy. Her testimony focused on the role of Canada’s quantum sector as a strategic asset, one that contributes simultaneously to national security, defence modernization, and long-term economic strength. The message was clear: quantum technologies are no longer peripheral to defence planning. They are increasingly central to how countries think about capability, resilience, and economic security. Why it mattersThe appearance reflects a broader shift underway in Canada and among its allies, where quantum computing, sensing, communications, and enabling technologies are being treated as foundational inputs to future defence and security architectures. 🔗 Read or watch Lisa's testimony 🇨🇦→🇬🇧 Canadian quantum delegation visits the UKIn early November, Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) co-led a Canadian quantum delegation to the United Kingdom, aligning with UK Quantum Week and the NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community (TQC) Industry Network meetings. This mission was delivered in close partnership with Canada’s National Quantum Strategy Secretariat and the Trade Commissioner Service, whose collaboration and coordination were instrumental to its success. It was an exceptional week, and a big credit to the UK quantum community for the ambition, openness, and quality of engagement throughout. The mission brought together Canadian organizations from across the quantum ecosystem for high-value meetings with UK industry leaders, researchers, investors, and government counterparts. Programming included targeted discussions, site visits, B2B matchmaking, and participation in the UK’s flagship National Quantum Technology Showcase. The focus was practical and forward-looking: strengthening commercial pathways, accelerating co-innovation, and deepening ties across trusted quantum supply chains spanning computing, sensing, communications, and enabling technologies. We’re grateful as well to our partners on both sides of the Atlantic— across government, industry, and research — who helped make the week impactful and productive. Why it mattersCanada and the UK share a long history of partnership in science and technology. Together, we’re now building the next chapter of the quantum era. This mission underscored our shared priorities in innovation, security, and industrial growth, while opening new pathways for collaboration across our quantum ecosystems at a moment when trusted partnerships matter more than ever. 🔗 Read highlights from the mission Thanks to all the organizations who joined us to form Team Qanada to the UK: Anyon Systems, Dream Photonics, Enterprise Quantum, evolutionQ, Honeywell, Institut Quantique de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Ki3 Photonics Technologies, Multiverse Computing, Nanoacademic Technologies, Numana, Open Quantum Design, SBQuantum, UBC Blusson Quantum Matter Institute, and Xanadu. 👏 QIC Community Achievements and HighlightsHere's our round-up of recent highlights from the QIC community:
🗞️ More Buzzworthy Quantum Headlines and ResourcesCanadian quantum in the spotlight:
From around the world:
And more about the field from think pieces, podcasts, and other content featuring the QIC community:
👀💼 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 actually emerging as the sector matures. Many people use the quieter end-of-year stretch to scan the landscape, bookmark roles, or get a clearer sense of where their skills fit. This is a good moment to take a look. 📅 Quantum-related Events in Canada
|
Quantum Industry Canada
Your compass to navigating Canada's quantum technology scene.
In this issue: Introducing Canada's quantum job board 💼 Why Canada’s top CEOs are paying attention to quantum 🍁 Canada on the Quantum World Congress stage 🇨🇦 🌐 QUANTUM NOW recordings available on YouTube 🎥 QIC community achievements and highlights 👏 More must-read quantum news 🗞️ Upcoming quantum events in Canada 🗓️ 📣 🚀 Introducing QuantumJobs.ca: Canada’s quantum job board View the latest job postings at QuantumJobs.ca Quantum isn’t a someday technology platform. It’s a fast-growing...
From Kananaskis to Brussels, quantum is gaining global profile, and Canada’s playing a starring role. In the past few weeks alone, quantum has surged into the spotlight, landing squarely on some of the most influential agendas in policy, business strategy, investment, and national security. Here’s what’s been happening — and how Canadian ideas, companies, and collaborations are helping shape what’s next (eh). In this issue: Canada’s New Defence Plans Signal Quantum’s Strategic Role 🇨🇦 🛡️...
🌍 Quantum moves to the main stage of global strategy — and Canada is helping lead the way 🇨🇦 This morning, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's office announced the official priorities of the 2025 G7 Presidency ahead of the Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta — and quantum is among them. This is a powerful signal that quantum is now recognized as a strategic technology platform by the world’s most influential economies. This is a pivotal step for Canada and for the global quantum economy...