August 21, 2025
Quantum tour makes Waterloo their first North American stop
The QuanTour initiative sends a quantum device to labs around the world, making an exclusive stop at the Institute for Quantum Computing
A world-travelling quantum device is making its only North American stop at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo.
QuanTour celebrates the advancements in quantum science and technology and the power of collaboration in recognition of the International Year of Quantum (IYQ) Science and Technology, which commemorates 100 years since the initial development of quantum mechanics. QuanTour is run by the German Physical Society and has sent a device called a quantum dot single-photon source to 14 labs across Europe.
Quantum Photonics Devices Lab researchers Tarun Patel, Catalina Morales Gutiérrez, Sayan Gangopadhyay (L-R) inspecting the quantum dot upon arrival.
A quantum dot is a light source that produces single photons — the smallest quantity of light. These devices could play a key role in realizing a quantum internet to connect devices such as quantum computers and users in a quantum encryption network.
The Quantum Photonic Devices Lab at IQC is one of the stops for QuanTour, which will be at IQC for two weeks in August. The lab is run by Dr. Michael Reimer, IQC faculty member and professor in Waterloo’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Matteo Pennacchietti
Matteo Pennacchietti, a PhD student in Reimer’s lab, is one of the key researchers working on the QuanTour source in Canada.
“It’s significant to us that QuanTour made our lab the first North American stop. It shows our expertise in quantum dots and a demonstration of our strong ties within the global quantum community,” Pennacchietti says. “We are excited to have the dot at our lab to test and validate as it’s a different type of device that we are used to working with. There’s a lot we can learn from experts in Europe; and vice versa.”
The IQC couples world-leading fundamental research, workforce training and commercialization support to create meaningful advancements in the field of quantum science. As one of the world’s top quantum research institutes, IQC was an ideal destination for the tour.
Reimer’s team has done extensive experiments and published groundbreaking research on nanowire quantum dots, made by the National Research Council Canada (NRC). That research, published last year, was the first to efficiently produce nearly perfect pairs of entangled photons , which are particles of light that remain connected even across large distances.
The quantum dot being prepared for installation.
“Quantum dots are envisioned to extend the distance of secure quantum communication to a global scale or link remote quantum computers and that research was a true testament to Canadian quantum expertise and capabilities,” Reimer says. “The field is advancing fast. We are seeing quantum technologies scale into real-world applications and are at a place where the QuanTour device is being shipped in a briefcase across the Atlantic after being tested in labs across Europe with reliable results. It’s an exciting time right now.”
Catalina Morales Gutiérrez joined Reimer’s group last fall as a master's student at IQC and in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. She was one of the three researchers from the lab that installed the dot when it arrived in Canada in early August.
“What makes me excited about quantum information science is the potential it has to transform modern technology,” Morales Gutiérrez says. “It’s really inspiring to be a part of such a positive collaboration like QuanTour, and it’s a great example of how science can advance quickly and responsibly.”
Researchers Tarun Patel, Catalina Morales Gutiérrez, Sayan Gangopadhyay (L-R) installing the QuanTour quantum dot in Dr. Michael Reimer’s lab at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). Researchers looking at the successful installation of the dot in a cryostat.
IYQ is a year-long, worldwide initiative celebrating the contributions of quantum science to technological progress over the past century. It is raising global awareness of the field’s importance to sustainable development in the 21st century and aims to ensure that all nations, including Canada, have access to quantum education and opportunities. IQC is proud to be a participating partner of IYQ alongside other world-leading institutes and industry players in quantum science and technology.
