Backgrounder: Government of Canada supports growth and innovation in British Columbia’s quantum technology industry
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced over $11 million in Regional Quantum Initiative (RQI) funding to three innovative B.C.-based organizations.
The projects announced today include:
Regional Quantum Initiative
1QB Information Technologies, Inc. (1QBit)
$3,488,806
The funding will support the development and commercialization of 1QBit’s Topological Quantum Architecture Design (TopQAD™️). This innovative software suite will help the quantum industry by lowering the uncertainty in fault-tolerant quantum computing development, therefore reducing time for development, testing, and commercialization of quantum-related technologies.
Simon Fraser University
$4,300,000
The funding will add new quantum manufacturing infrastructure to help industry users develop new products, mitigate supply chain risks by manufacturing locally and train the highly-talented workforce to use the tools and produce commercializable outcomes.
University of British Columbia
$3,247,713
The funding will increase capacity to commercialize quantum technologies at the Stewart Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (SBQMI). The funding will expand the institute’s fabrication and computing capabilities, launch a new quantum foundry and develop a business scale-up strategy for small- and medium-sized enterprises. This project will help companies that use the institute to facilitate rapid prototyping of products, accelerating the path to market and increasing the likelihood of successful commercialization.