In a groundbreaking stride towards quantum exploration, the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Science proudly announces the acquisition of three prestigious grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance Consortia Quantum grants program. These grants, totaling a staggering $15 million over five years, solidify uOttawa’s position as a leader in quantum research and highlight its commitment to advancing quantum science across Canada.
Meet our Consortia Leaders:
Professor Anne Broadbent, from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, leads the Québec Ontario consortium on quantum protocols (QUORUM). QUORUM’s mission is to redefine the limits of the quantum internet (QI) by improving algorithms and bridging the gap between hardware and software. The consortium partners with quantum science startups to develop disruptive QI software technologies for more efficient computation, secure communications, and distributed computations, while training professionals in quantum information.
“QUORUM opens exciting avenues for quantum internet research. Our collaboration with startups and access to cutting-edge technologies accelerates research and software applications, benefiting both students and companies at the forefront of the quantum revolution.”
— Professor Anne Broadbent
Professor Robert W. Boyd, from the Department of Physics, leads the second grant: Quantum Enhanced Sensing and Imaging (QuEnSI). This consortium unites ten of Canada's top research scientists in quantum sensing from five Canadian universities and four non-academic partner institutions. QuEnSI aims to engineer quantum-enhanced sensing and imaging systems that achieve sensitivity beyond current and theoretical limits and to train the next wave of quantum technology experts for Canada’s burgeoning industry.
Sensing and Imaging devices are all around us, from cell phones to satellites, microscopes to MRIs, and self-driving cars to gravitational wave detectors. An average smartphone has well over a dozen sensors. Applying quantum methods can increase sensitivity, and, in many cases, reduce the size and power consumption of these devices. Pushing past existing barriers and exploring new limits will keep Canada at the forefront of these advanced technologies.
"Our consortium represents a large fraction of the research groups capable of advancing quantum sensing and imaging in Canada. Our faculty is now a central anchor for these efforts nationally. The work we are doing will undoubtedly impact the lives of all Canadians, mainly through better sensor performance and by training the next generation of quantum technologists, but also through novel applications we cannot yet imagine."
—Professor Robert Boyd
Professor Adina Luican-Mayer, also from the Department of Physics, pilots the Programmable Quantum Simulators based on 2D materials (PQS2D) consortium. This project aims to build a quantum simulation platform using programmable devices from 2D materials to simulate complex quantum systems. The goal is to help understand and control quantum many-body systems, develop high-quality 2D materials and devices, and optimize quantum materials for electronics and optoelectronics applications.
"The PQS2D consortium is a collaborative effort bringing together nine research groups across five Canadian universities with four non-academic partners. Together, we are developing a novel type of quantum simulation platform based on 2D materials, while training the next generation of quantum experts. The PQS2D consortium is at the forefront of quantum research in materials, devices and simulation, and we are eager to see the transformative impact of our work on quantum technologies."
—Professor Adina Luican-Mayer
These grants showcase the Faculty of Science's robust research capabilities and support the newly inaugurated Nexus for Quantum Technologies (NexQT) Institute at uOttawa. By consolidating researchers' talents and skills, uOttawa is driving innovation and commercialization initiatives in quantum science. The faculty's success in securing these grants underscores its commitment to shaping the digital world and advancing Canada's position in quantum research, technology, and talent.
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