🗞️ Heads up: With so much happening across the quantum sector, this issue is another long one. If your email cuts it off, click “View entire message” at the bottom so you don't miss any exciting news, updates, and opportunities!

In this issue:

• Welcome to Sean Lee, Acting CEO of QIC 👋
• QUANTUM NOW | DEFSEC Brought Together Canada’s Quantum and Defence Leaders 🇨🇦🛡️
• Canada Hosts NATO Quantum Industry Network for the First Time 🛡️🌐
• A Discussion on Science Diplomacy for Quantum Security 🌐🔐
• Canada–Singapore Quantum Engagement Gains Momentum 🇨🇦🇸🇬
• QIC Co-Leads Canadian Delegation to Korea 🇨🇦🇰🇷
• Check out the Quantum Sector Pitch Book 🔆
• Check Out the Latest QIC Community Achievements 👏
• Quantum News and Resources You Can Use 🗞️
• Looking for Your Next Role in Quantum? Browse QuantumJobs.ca 👀💼
• Upcoming Quantum-related Events 🗓️

👋 QIC Welcomes Sean Lee as Acting CEO

Big news from Quantum Industry Canada: please join us in welcoming Sean Lee as our new Acting CEO!

Sean joins us from TRIUMF, Canada's particle accelerator centre, where he continues to serve as Chief of Staff & Division Director, Communications & Engagement. He steps into the role following the conclusion of Lisa Lambert's tenure as QIC's inaugural CEO.

We also want to thank Lisa for everything she built during her time leading QIC. While she has moved on to a new opportunity, she will continue to provide strategic guidance to support a smooth leadership transition over the coming months.

Sean brings years of experience connecting science, policy, and partnerships, exactly the kind of steady hand QIC needs as the sector's momentum keeps building.

Sean brings extensive experience connecting science, policy, strategy, and partnerships at a time when Canada's quantum sector is expanding its global reach and translating its strengths into greater economic and strategic impact.

As QIC Board Chair Alexandra Daoud shared:

“Sean Lee brings a rare combination of executive leadership, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and public policy experience. Sean has spent his career helping organizations navigate complexity, build partnerships, and deliver results.”

Welcome, Sean. We're glad you're here!

👀 Read more here.​

🇨🇦🛡️ QUANTUM NOW | DEFSEC Brought Together Canada’s Quantum and Defence Leaders

On May 25th, a sold-out QUANTUM NOW | DEFSEC brought together more than 200 leaders from across Canada’s quantum, defence, security, intelligence, investment, and policy communities at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

What stood out wasn't just the program, but the room itself. Military leaders, government decision-makers, investors, prime contractors, allied representatives, and quantum innovators came together to focus on a shared challenge: how Canada moves from quantum promise to deployed capability.

The discussions underscored the growing importance of quantum to Canada’s defence and security agenda. As reflected in Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, quantum is moving beyond long-term planning and into decisions about operational requirements, industrial capacity, procurement, and collaboration with allies.

Session recordings are now available on QIC’s YouTube channel, with more videos to be added in the coming weeks. Check them out:

📹 Sizzle Reel: here​
📹 Full Playlist: here​
​📹 Rapid Showcase Videos: here
​📸 Event Photos: here​

🛡️🌐 Canada Hosts NATO Quantum Industry Network for the First Time

The day after QUANTUM NOW | DEFSEC, QIC welcomed a full house back to the Canadian War Museum for the Defence & Quantum Capability Forum (DQCF), a closed-door working session that brought together leaders from across the NATO Alliance to discuss the role of quantum technologies in defence and security.

The forum marked the first time the NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community Industry Network (NATO TQC IN) — the industry network supporting NATO's work on quantum technologies — has convened in Canada.

The meeting came at an important moment. Canada recently assumed the Vice-Chair role of the NATO TQC, while the new Defence Industrial Strategy identifies quantum as a sovereign capability critical to Canada's long-term security and industrial capacity. Together, these developments underscore Canada's growing role in shaping allied quantum priorities and strengthening transatlantic collaboration.

Discussions focused on NATO's near-term quantum priorities and how industry can help accelerate the development, adoption, and deployment of quantum-enabled capabilities across the Alliance.

📹 Sizzle Reel: here​
​📸 Event Photos: here​

🌐🔐 QIC Speaks on Science Diplomacy for Quantum Security

On June 15, QIC was proud to support and participate in the Science Diplomacy Grid's event, "Science Diplomacy for Quantum Security: Building Transatlantic Resilience." This event was also part of the 2026: Year of Quantum Security programming and hosted in partnership with ETSI, the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), and QIC, with financial support from Nokia & Honeywell.

Hosted at Nokia's Ottawa Innovation Campus, the event brought together senior leaders from across government, academia, industry, and standardization.

The event had a strong focus on international policy alignment, coordinating standards efforts around quantum safety, and how industry is gearing up to protect against the quantum threat to cybersecurity.

Lisa Lambert, QIC's outgoing CEO and now Strategic Advisor, spoke on the Executive Dialogue panel, "Science Diplomacy for Quantum Security", moderated by Ona Ambrozaite (Executive Director, Wisconsin Quantum Institute). Lisa was joined by Nipun Vats (ADM, ISED), Bridget Walshe (Associate Head, CCCS), and Lorian Martin-Bariteau (University of Ottawa Research Chair in Technology and Society).

The event also featured other speakers from the QIC community, with organizations like evolutionQ, Honeywell, ID Quantique (an IonQ company), and IQC being represented on stage.

📖 Learn more about the Science Diplomacy Grid and 2026: The Year of Quantum Security​

🇨🇦🇸🇬 Canada–Singapore Quantum Engagement Gains Momentum

Singapore is an important partner for Canada's quantum sector.

In May, QIC co-led the quantum component of a Canadian AI+Q (artificial intelligence and quantum) mission to Singapore, helping strengthen connections between Canadian companies and one of Asia's leading innovation hubs.

As a gateway to Southeast Asia, Singapore offers opportunities for collaboration across commercialization, technology adoption, and market expansion. Throughout the mission, Canadian companies engaged with government, industry, investors, and research organizations to explore partnerships in digital trust, quantum readiness, cyber resilience, advanced manufacturing, maritime technologies, health, and defence. QIC members Crypto4A, evolutionQ, and Open Quantum Design were among those representing Canada's quantum sector.

The mission also reinforced the growing momentum behind Canada–Singapore collaboration on emerging technologies, building on recent discussions between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

We're looking forward to welcoming a Singapore delegation to Canada this September as we continue strengthening ties between our two AI+Q ecosystems. 🇸🇬🇨🇦

Thank you to the participating Canadian companies and our partners at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the High Commission of Canada in Singapore, the Canada-ASEAN Business Council, Export Development Canada, and SGTech for helping make the mission a success.

➡️ See highlights from the Singapore mission​

🇨🇦🇰🇷 QIC Co-Leads Canadian Delegation to Quantum Korea 2026

International collaboration is becoming increasingly important to the commercialization of quantum technologies.

QIC recently co-led a 13-company Canadian delegation to Quantum Korea 2026 in partnership with Canada's National Quantum Strategy Secretariat and the Trade Commissioner Service at Global Affairs Canada.

As one of Canada's key Indo-Pacific partners, South Korea offers growing opportunities for collaboration across quantum research, commercialization, advanced manufacturing, and enabling technologies. Throughout the week, Canadian companies built relationships with Korean industry, government, and research organizations while showcasing Canada's quantum capabilities. QIC members Anyon Systems, BTQ, Open Quantum Design, softwareQ, Xanadu, Zero Point Cryogenics, and Quantum City were among those representing Canada's quantum sector.

Canada was also prominently represented at Quantum Korea, with a national pavilion and presentations highlighting the strength of Canada's quantum ecosystem, including a session by QIC's Philip Lafrance alongside representatives from peer quantum industry organizations around the world.

Thank you to the participating Canadian companies, our partners at Canada's National Quantum Strategy Secretariat, Global Affairs Canada and the Trade Commissioner Service, the Embassy of Canada to the Republic of Korea, and the Korea Quantum Industry Association (KQIA) for helping make the mission a success.

➡️ Check out out some highlights from the mission​

🇨🇦 Introducing Canada’s Quantum Sector Pitch Book

Canada's quantum ecosystem has a powerful new resource.

The Canadian Quantum Sector Pitch Book is now live, offering a clear, accessible view of the companies and organizations that make up QIC’s community.

What is it?

The digital resource features at-a-glance profiles covering who each organization is, what it does, and where its capabilities fit within Canada’s quantum ecosystem. Filters make it easy to identify companies, technologies, and areas of expertise relevant to specific interests or opportunities.

Who is it for?

Investors scouting opportunities, government officials mapping the landscape, international companies exploring partnerships, and anyone curious about Canada's quantum community can all use it to get oriented quickly.

We're continuing to add new pages on a regular basis, so expect this resource to deepen over time!

👉 Explore the Canadian Quantum Sector Pitch Book​

🏆 New Quantum City Global Challenge Call Launched: Quantum Enhanced Fibre-Optic Sensing

The global competition invites start-ups, researchers, students, and industry affiliates to explore how quantum optical technologies can improve the sensitivity, reliability, and scalability of fibre-optic sensing in real-world energy environments.

This Challenge is a direct opportunity to apply quantum capabilities to a defined, real-world industry problem with potential impact extending well beyond the energy sector.

📅 Submissions open: July 2026
📅 Submissions close: November 2026
🏆 Results announced: January 2027

➡️ Learn more and get involved​

👏 QIC Community Achievements and Spotlights

• Un financement est accordé à l’Accélérateur de création d’entreprises technologiques (ACET) pour qu’il puisse poursuivre son programme consacré à l’essor des entreprises technologiques innovantes en quantique. → Pour tous les détails​
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• Anyon Systems, CSMC, Lastwall, Nord Quantique, Photonic, Zero Point Cryogenics, and Xanadu were recognized Betakit's Most Ambitious issue. → Read more​
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• Anyon Systems expands it's international presence by establishing a new office in Azrieli Center, Tel Aviv. → Read more​
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• BTQ and Korea's ICTK have co-designed a security chip combining BTQ's cryptographic accelerator with ICTK's hardware technology. → Read more​
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• Le gouvernement du Québec accorde 5,6 M$ au C2MI et 4 M$ à l’Institut quantique de l’Université de Sherbrooke pour renforcer la microfabrication, le transfert technologique, la formation et l’expertise en technologies quantiques. → Pour tous les détails​
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• CSMC and Lastwall were recognized in The Canadian Explorers' 30 Startups for a Sovereign Canada. → Read more​
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• Dream Photonics received over $1.1M through Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) to accelerate the development of optical interconnects for AI and quantum chips. → Read more​
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• ISARA wins in the Critical Infrastructure category of the inaugural Cybersecurity Star Awards, by The Hacker News. → Read more​
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• Lastwall closed out a $16 million Series A extension round led by BDC Capital’s StrongNorth Fund. → Read more
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• Multiverse Computing's AI models have been selected as part of Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas 2026. → Read more​
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• Multiverse Computing and Coveo Solutions signed an MoU to deliver secure, sovereign AI solutions for governments and regulated industries across North America and Europe. → Read more
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• Multiverse Computing signed a strategic MOU with Cohere to advance on enterprise AI efficiency and deployment capabilities. → Read more​
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• Nord Quantique achieved a $1.4 billion USD unicorn valuation after recently receiving a $30 million USD investment. This new funding will serve to advance the company’s roadmap goals of achieving a fault-tolerant quantum computer in 2030. → Read more​
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• Nord Quantique reported a major advance in quantum error correction, reducing a key source of computing errors by roughly 100-fold. → Read more​
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• Pasqal and its Canadian subsidiary Aeponyx are launching The Centre of Competency in Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Packaging at C2MI in Bromont, Quebec. Backed by the government of Canada and in partnership with Phantom Photonics and HOP Technologies, the initiative brings academia and industry together to scale and standardize PIC packaging processes to support Canadian quantum computing and sensing capabilities. → Read more​
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• Alex Maierean, CEO and Co-Founder of Phantom Photonics, and Philip Lafrance, Manager of Sector Development & Operations at Quantum Industry Canada, were both recognized in The Peak's Emerging Leaders 2026, a list recognizing Canada's most promising young leaders. → Read more​
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• Quantum Bridge Technologies secured $8 million USD in Series A funding to scale its decentralized, quantum-safe cryptographic architecture and protect industries and critical infrastructures against quantum computing threats. → Read more
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• Qubic Technologies closed an oversubscribed $2.5M USD seed round, led by Two Small Fish Ventures, with participation from UC Investments, Quantacet, and UCeed. → Read more
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• Qubic Technologies Inc. secured its first commercial contract to sell its low-noise cryogenic amplifiers to Quantum Machines. In the same release, Qubic announced they have partnered with the Israeli Quantum Computing Center to test and evaluate technologies in real quantum computing environments. → Read more​
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• SBQuantum secured two contracts totalling $3 million CAD with the Department of National Defence, enabling the company to deliver arrays of its proprietary quantum magnetometers for testing and validation in defence-relevant environments. → Read more​
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• Le professeur Alexandre Blais, de l'Université de Sherbrooke et directeur scientifique de l'Institut quantique, a été nommé chevalier de l'Ordre national du Québec, la plus haute distinction honorifique décernée par l'État québécois. → Pour tous les détails​
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• Bell and Université de Sherbrooke signed an MoU to advance post-quantum cybersecurity and hybrid high-performance/quantum computing, while keeping sensitive data and innovation within Canada. → Read more​
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• Related to the above, Queen's University also signed an MoU with Université de Sherbrooke to advance Canadian sovereign quantum computing and supercomputing capabilities. → Read more​
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• Xanadu announced an algorithmic breakthrough in Quantum Read-Only Memory (QROM), a vital component for executing advanced quantum applications. → Read more​
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• Xanadu set a new industry benchmark in photonic chip packaging with a reduction in edge-coupling loss. → Read more​
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• Xanadu and Lockheed Martin are expanding their partnership, using Xanadu's PennyLane platform to upskill engineers from diverse technical backgrounds. → Read more​

🗞️ Quantum-related News and Resources You Can Use

📰🇨🇦 News, updates, and reports from across Canada

• In its Most Ambitious issue, Betakit published a feature on Canadian quantum cryptography pioneer Gilles Brassard. → Read it here​

🇨🇦🌐 The latest on Canada's global partnerships:

• Eight countries have signed on to the Canada-led Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), to be headquartered in Canada and targeting 2027 operations. The DSRB will help finance emerging sectors including quantum, AI, space, and cyber. → Read more​
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• Canada and France have signed a joint statement to deepen collaboration on quantum science and technology. The statement proposes a very broad approach to enhancing bilateral cooperation, including in research and development, knowledge exchange, market growth, supply chain resiliency, and workforce development. → Read more​
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• The International Council of Quantum Industry Associations (ICQIA), of which QIC is a founding member, expanded its membership by welcoming UKQuantum and the Korea Quantum Industry Association (KQIA) to the consortium of quantum consortia. → Read more​

📰🌐 More news, updates, and reports from around the world

• The OECD launched its Recommendation on Quantum Technologies, the first intergovernmental standard providing shared principles and policy guidance for development and use of quantum technologies. → Read more​
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• UNESCO released a report on the outcomes of the UN’s International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) 2025. The lengthy report claims that over 1300 IYQ events took place across 83 countries, with Quantum Industry Canada’s QUANTUM NOW | ICI Quantique (June 18-19, 2025) being one those highlighted. Beyond the summary of the years’ events, the report provides a deep-dive analysis into UNESCO’s global quantum survey and concludes with a forward-looking vision of a Global Quantum Initiative. → Read more​
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• U.S. President Donald Trump has signed two new Executive Orders relating to quantum
  • Executive Order 14413: "Ushering in the next Frontier of Quantum Innovation". Among other things, the EO establishes a US national effort to develop a quantum computer "powerful enough to initiate the era of quantum-enabled scientific discovery". → Read more​
  • Executive Order 14412: "Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks". Among other things, this action accelerates the timelines for migrating US government high value assets and high impact systems to use quantum-safe key establishment algorithms by end of 2030 and digital signatures by end of 2031. → Read more​

📣 Media mentions and thought leadership from across the QIC community:

• Crypto4A CEO and Co-founder Bruno Couillard was featured in an interview with CTV news on on Q-Day. → Watch the segment​
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• Lastwall's fundraise was covered by a few media outlets. → Read more in Betakit, The Logic, and The Canadian Defence Review​
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• Nord Quantique's fund raise was covered by multiple outlets. → Read more in The Globe and Mail, Betakit, and The Logic​
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• QEYnet CEO, Cordell Grant gave an interview to the Financial Post, describing quantum communications and QEYnet's mission. → Read more​
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• While on a trade mission to Singapore in late May, Quantum Industry Canada's outgoing CEO, Lisa Lambert, gave an interview with the Quantum Spectator to discuss Canada's quantum ecosystem. → Read more​
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• QIC outgoing CEO Lisa Lambert was invited to contribute a piece for G7 France: The 2026 Evian Summit, the authoritative background book for this year's G7 Summit. Her article titled "The Quantum Imperative: From Vision to Industrial Reality" is on p. 124-125. → Read it here
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• Quantum Bridge's recent fundraise made headlines. → Read more in Betakit and The Quantum Insider​
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• Founding and Managing Partners of VC firm Firgun Ventures published a guest post in The Quantum Insider highlighting four quantum computing unicorns founded in Canada: D-Wave, Nord Quantique, Photonic, and Xanadu. → Read it here​
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• Magnetics Business & Technology published a detailed overview of the recent milestones completed by SBQuantum, highlighting its selection in the MagQuest Challenge, its successful seed funding round, the spin-off of a sister organization, and the appointment of a new CEO to lead commercial growth. → Read more​​
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• The Logic published a profile piece on Zero Point Cryogenics and on the importance of cryogenics to quantum. → Read more​

👀💼 Looking for Your Next Role in Quantum?

If you’re exploring what’s next in your career, QuantumJobs.capowered 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 QuantumJobs.ca​

🗓️ Upcoming Quantum-related Events in Canada

• ​2026 IEEE Quantum Week in Toronto, ON on September 13-18, 2026
• ​qConnect 2026 hosted by Quantum City in Calgary, AB on October 21-22, 2026