Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty lauded the “amazing evolution of technology” during a recent visit to the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo.
Flaherty met with scientists and toured the laboratories at IQC on the afternoon of September 9, as part of a day-long visit to Waterloo Region.
Keen to learn more about the future of computing and communications, the Minister got an up-close look at technologies including quantum cryptography and spin-based quantum computing.
Flaherty was joined during the visit by Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid and Kitchener Centre MP Stephen Woodworth. Feridun Hamdullahpur, Vice President Academic and Provost of the University of Waterloo, was on hand to personally welcome the visitors to the university.
IQC Director Raymond Laflamme said he was “delighted and honoured” the distinguished guests expressed such keen interest in the cutting-edge technologies being developed at the institute.
“IQC has already benefited greatly from federal and provincial support,” Laflamme said. "It is especially gratifying to have the opportunity to show off the scientific dividends of such ongoing support.”
Founded in 2002, the mission of the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is to aggressively explore and advance the application of quantum mechanical systems to a vast array of relevant information processing techniques.
A part of the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont., Canada, IQC creates a truly unique environment fostering cutting-edge research and collaboration between researchers in the areas of computer, engineering, mathematical and physical sciences.
At the time of this release, IQC has 17 faculty members, 22 postdoctoral fellows and over 55 students and research assistants, as well as a support staff of 18.
The Institute for Quantum Computing acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada through Industry Canada and the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Research and Innovation.