DIGITAL, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, has announced new co-investments aimed at advancing the commercialization and adoption of Canadian quantum technologies. With nearly $5 million in co-investments, the initiative seeks to support the piloting of quantum solutions in real-world environments, leveraging investments from Canada's National Quantum Strategy and contributions from industry partners.
The investments are projected to attract an additional $7 million from partners, reinforcing Canada’s position in quantum technologies. Since 2018, DIGITAL has contributed to the development of over 185 products and the creation of more than 730 IP assets and patents.
“DIGITAL is advancing life sciences and sustainable natural resource industries through the development and deployment of digital technologies,” said Sue Paish, CEO of DIGITAL. “We're excited to bring together SMEs, technology leaders and customers to grow the potential of Canadian quantum commercialization with these latest investments within sectors that are key to our economic prosperity and security.”
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, noted the significance of quantum science in driving research and innovation. He emphasized that projects supported by the National Quantum Strategy can transform various sectors while providing economic benefits and promoting the adoption of Canadian solutions.
The co-investments target a diverse range of quantum applications within crucial economic sectors. Notable collaborations include:
- Verge Ag, in partnership with D-Wave, the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute, the University of Northern British Columbia, and Mitacs, aims to model complex agricultural scenarios using quantum computing for enhanced decision-making.
- Quantum Bridge Technologies, working with Metropolitan Technologies, Thales, and the University of Toronto, seeks to develop cryptography solutions resilient to threats posed by quantum computing on critical infrastructure.
- Xanadu Quantum Technologies, in collaboration with Open Quantum Design and Haiqu, plans to create an open-source quantum computing platform to facilitate broader access and innovation.
DIGITAL emphasizes a collaborative innovation approach that unites businesses, academia, and government to tackle significant challenges in industry and society. The goal is to enhance Canadian industry’s capacity to lead in the digital landscape while preparing a skilled workforce for the growing digital economy.