Harnessing the fundamental rules of the universe
Waterloo joins global quantum community to celebrate World Quantum Day
Every April 14, the global quantum community celebrates World Quantum Day. It’s a day that resonates strongly in Waterloo, home to Canada’s densest cluster of quantum talent, researchers, students and industry partners. Here, they work in close proximity, using the universe’s fundamental rules of quantum science to create new technologies, shaping Waterloo’s Quantum Valley.
The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo is a world leader in the second quantum revolution. Founded in 2002, as part of a broad vision of Mike Lazaridis and his wife, Ophelia, it was one of the earliest global centres of quantum information research and technology. Since then, Waterloo has emerged as Canada’s full-stack quantum ecosystem, anchored by IQC.
Waterloo’s Quantum Valley thrives because of its close-knit community of partnerships, including collaborations between IQC and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. Interdisciplinary talent spanning mathematics, physics, computer science, engineering, and entrepreneurship converge to enable researchers to take discoveries from theory to prototype to market within a single ecosystem. It has also become home to research sites such as the Quantum Valley Ideas Lab and a National Research Council Collaboration centre, while attracting global technology leaders, including Google and Xanadu.
“We have more than 400 quantum researchers within the Waterloo area, using state-of-the-art facilities, that create a vibrant research environment and an ecosystem that became the blueprint for quantum hubs globally. Connecting talent, research, venture capital and industry is crucial to create the critical mass needed to advance breakthrough research and innovation.”
- Dr. Norbert Lütkenhaus, executive director of IQC and professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy.