About the Institute
- The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is a leading institute for quantum information research based at the University of Waterloo
- IQC is one of the world’s largest concentration of quantum information research
- Officially launched in 2002, with Prof. Raymond Laflamme as executive director and Michele Mosca as deputy director
- The institute is the result of a strong partnership between private philanthropy, the public sector and academia
- IQC was launched thanks to the vision of Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis, who have donated more than $100 million since 2002
IQC research aims to harness and control the properties of quantum mechanics to develop powerful new technologies spanning computing, communications, sensing and other fields- Harnessing quantum phenomena such as “entanglement” and “superposition” are known to provide incredible technological benefits
- The first wave of practical quantum technologies are already emerging from IQC labs and entering the marketplace
- As of January 1, 2017, IQC personnel includes 26 faculty members, three research assistant professors, 36 postdoctoral fellows and over 100 students
Core areas of research
- Quantum Information Theory
- Quantum Algorithms
- Quantum Complexity
- Quantum Cryptography
- Quantum Error Correction & Fault Tolerance
- Spin-based Quantum Information Processing
- Nanoelectronics-based Quantum Information Processing
- Optical Quantum Information Processing
About the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre
IQC’s permanent headquarters, the state-of-the-art Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, opened on September 21, 2012. The 285,000-square-foot facility is custom-built for quantum research:
- Shared between the Institute for Quantum Computing and the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN)
- Meets the highest scientific standards for control of vibration, humidity, electromagnetic radiation and temperature
- Shared cleanroom/fabrication facility enables design of structures billionths of a metre in size
- Highly convertible “mind spaces” accommodated conferences, lectures and more
- Six-storey atrium with floating staircase provides common ground for scientists of all disciplines to meet and collaborate
Vertical windows of varying reflectivity/transparency on IQC side metaphorically signify quantum superposition; honeycomb pattern on WIN side represents strong natural nanostructures.
