In February 2023, experts, entrepreneurs, and policymakers gathered at the University of Toronto (U of T) to discuss Canada’s new National Quantum Strategy and the university’s role in supporting it. With quantum technologies rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing advanced technology sectors, the federal government launched the $360-million strategy to support the sector in an increasingly competitive global market.
Attended by federal and provincial government stakeholders, the discussion drew on the findings of a report commissioned by U of T and prepared by Deloitte Canada, comparing Canada’s centres of quantum research. The GTA was the country’s strongest quantum hub, supported by U of T’s global research leadership, the report found.
The findings from the Deloitte report were presented during the U of T event, which was hosted by the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy as part of its New Frontiers for Policymakers series that promotes dialogue between decision-makers and U of T researchers on how to advance public policy priorities. The report’s analysis of Canada’s centres of quantum research ranked the country fourth in the world in the strength of its research in quantum science and technology.
“Quantum is a field where you need many different types of thinkers and knowledge to innovate and lead. The breadth of expertise across quantum fields is one of the university’s strengths,” said Anna Dyring, Quantum Strategic Initiative Lead at U of T’s Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Control (CQIQC).
CQIQC promotes research collaborations in the rapidly evolving interdisciplinary fields of quantum information and quantum control. The Centre’s activities and network encompass U of T’s Departments of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Material Science & Engineering as well as extensive industry collaborations.
CQIQC has been active in finding ways to promote academic and industry collaboration and applications for quantum technologies including the hugely successful Academic Industry Meeting Day (AIMdayTM) in Quantum Technologies it hosted in December 2022.
AIMdayTM focused on bringing quantum companies and researchers together around real industry problems. Over 50 researchers and industry leaders participated in the event tackling 14 different questions that were proposed prior to the event by the eight participating companies. Following the event, four companies moved into further discussions with participating researchers, resulting in some blossoming collaborations. For instance, Alán Aspuru-Guzik, a professor in U of T's Department of Chemistry and a CQIQC faculty member, has been collaborating with teams at NVIDA and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to simplify quantum simulations that help scientists explore molecules.
The next major CQIQC event is its biennial global research conference. In collaboration with the Fields Institute, CQIQC will host the 10th International Conference on Quantum Information and Quantum Control (CQIQC-X) in August 2024, which will gather academic and industry researchers from different fields to discuss current issues in quantum information sciences.