It seems there’s a big international race to develop quantum technologies. Artificial intelligence and space exploration may get more publicity but quantum technologies appear to be rapidly reaching a point at which they will achieve the same level of public interest and recognition. (Or not, I’m not always successful with my predictions.) Meanwhile, interested Canadian science policy wonks can read the Council of Canadian Academies’ (CCA) report, Quantum Potential.

Usually, I would launch into a commentary about the report (which I should have gotten to months ago when it came out in November 2023) but first, the expert panel and, by extension, Canada’s quantum scene, which continues to fascinate me. Aside from a few miscellaneous comments at the end of part one, the great bulk of the report commentary is in part two [link to be added when part two published].

Canada’s quantum scene and the CCA’s expert panel

Things have changed since I first mentioned the then upcoming report on quantum technologies from the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA). There was a report title change and some personnel changes on the expert panel (for my original announcement, see the July 26, 2022 posting (scroll down to the “Quantum Technologies and the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA)” subhead).

Change #1

The Expert Panel on Quantum Technologies is now called the Expert Panel on the Responsible Adoption of Quantum Technologies. Second, Stephanie Simmons who was announced as a member of the expert panel is not listed as such in the report published November 2023. Instead she is listed on p. 12 in the PDF version or p. xii in the paper version as a peer reviewer. Between May 2022 when she was announced as a member of the expert panel and January 2023, she was appointed as co-chair of Canada’s new National Quantum Strategy. Here’s more from the Simon Fraser University (SFU) January 13, 2023 news release, Note 1: Simmons is still listed there as a member of the expert panel with its previous name. Note 2: Links have been removed,

SFU physicist Stephanie Simmons will help steer Canada’s new National Quantum Strategy as co-chair of its advisory council. The strategy, launched today by the federal government and supported by a $360 million commitment, will help shape the future of quantum technologies in Canada.

Simmons, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Silicon Quantum Technologies at SFU and is also founder and chief quantum officer at Photonic, will co-chair the council with physics and astronomy professor Raymond Laflamme, founding director of the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo.

The role will mean working with top officials and experts in Canada and abroad to strengthen Canadian research, talent and commercialization.

The national strategy aims to reinforce Canada as a world leader in the continued development of technologies, including support for Canadian developers and early adopters of new quantum sensing technologies, and equipping the country with a secure quantum communications network and post-quantum cryptography capabilities.

The field of quantum technology is considered key to fueling Canada’s economy, long-term resilience and growth, especially as technologies mature and more sectors harness quantum capabilities.

Last fall, Simmons was recognized with a prestigious Arthur B. McDonald Fellowship, one of only six awarded nationally. The $250,000 fellowship is awarded by NSERC to academic researchers who focus on the natural sciences and engineering, to support their research as they become leaders in their fields.

Simmons works collaboratively with the Quantum Algorithms Institute (QAI), hosted at SFU’s Surrey campus. She was also recently appointed to the Council of Canadian Academies Expert Panel on Quantum Technologies.

Launch of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy

This Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED January 13, 2023 news release provides at least one small surprise,

Strategy will see major investments in quantum research, talent and commercialization

January 13, 2023 – Waterloo, Ontario

Quantum science and technologies are at the leading edge of research and innovation, with enormous potential for commercialization and game-changing advances, including more effective drug design, better climate forecasting, improved navigation and innovations in clean technologies. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the continued growth of this emerging sector as it helps drive Canada’s economy and supports highly skilled, well-paying jobs.

Today [January 13, 2023], the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced the launch of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, which will shape the future of quantum technologies in Canada and help create thousands of jobs. Backed by an investment of $360 million committed in Budget 2021, the strategy will amplify Canada’s existing global leadership in quantum research and grow Canada’s quantum technologies, companies and talent.

Minister Champagne was joined at the launch by Dr. Raymond Laflamme [emphasis mine], professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Canada Research Chair in Quantum Information at the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, and Dr. Stephanie Simmons [emphasis mine], associate professor in the Department of Physics and Canada Research Chair in Silicon Quantum Technologies at Simon Fraser University and founder and Chief Quantum Officer of Photonic Inc. Drs. Laflamme and Simmons [emphasis mine] will serve as co-chairs of a new Quantum Advisory Council, which will provide independent expert advice on the implementation of the strategy.

The National Quantum Strategy is driven by three missions in key quantum technology areas:

• Computing hardware and software—to make Canada a world leader in the continued development, deployment and use of these technologies
• Communications—to equip Canada with a national secure quantum communications network and post-quantum cryptography capabilities
• Sensors—to support Canadian developers and early adopters of new quantum sensing technologies

The missions will be advanced through investments in three pillars:

• Research—$141 million to support basic and applied research to realize new solutions and new innovations
• Talent—$45 million to develop and retain quantum expertise and talent in Canada, as well as attract experts from within Canada and around the world, to build the quantum sector
• Commercialization—$169 million to translate research into scalable commercial products and services that will benefit Canadians, our industries and the world

Efforts under the strategy are already under way. To reinforce Canada’s research strengths in quantum science and help develop a talent pipeline to support the growth of a strong quantum community, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is delivering an investment of $137.9 million through its Alliance grants and Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) grants.

Mitacs will deliver $40 million to support the attraction, training, retention and deployment of highly qualified personnel in quantum science and technology through innovation internship experiences and professional skills development.

The Quantum Research and Development Initiative (QRDI), a new $9 million program coordinated and administered by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), is being established to grow collaborative, federal quantum research and development. QRDI will bring government—offering expertise and infrastructure—and academic and industrial partners together to work on advancing quantum technologies under the three missions of the National Quantum Strategy.

To help translate quantum science and research into commercial innovations that generate economic benefits and support the adoption of made-in-Canada solutions by businesses, the NRC is receiving $50 million to expand the Internet of Things: Quantum Sensors Challenge program and roll out its Applied Quantum Computing Challenge program. As well, Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters are receiving $14 million to carry out activities as part of the Commercialization pillar.

In addition, the government’s flagship strategic procurement program, Innovative Solutions Canada, is receiving $35 million over seven years to help innovative Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises grow, scale up, develop intellectual property, export and create high-value jobs in the quantum sector.

The quantum sector is key to fuelling Canada’s economy, long-term resilience and growth, especially as technologies mature and more sectors harness quantum capabilities. Jobs will span research and science; hardware and software engineering and development, including data engineering; manufacturing; technical support; sales and marketing; and business operations. The government will continue working with Canada’s quantum community to ensure the success of not only the National Quantum Strategy but also the Canadian scientists and entrepreneurs who are well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.

…

Interesting that Raymond Laflamme remained chair on the panel while Simmons shifted to becoming a peer reviewer for the report. At a guess, it was too much work to do both so they somewhat split responsibilities. He did the heavy lifting with the expert panel while she did the heavy lifting with the national strategy.

As for Canada working with the United Kingdom to develop innovative quantum products and more, I wonder why the UK in particular. I must remember to look for hints as to why, when (or possibly if I have time) in another Council of Canadian Academies report, “Navigating Collaborative Futures,” published February 14, 2024 (Valentine’s Day, eh?).

Getting back to the ISED news release, I didn’t see anything pertaining to intellectual property (IP). It seems to be an odd gap. Perhaps it’s covered in the report, which I haven’t read yet.

Change #2

Jacqueline Bartlett, Associate Professor, Tech Sector, Faculty of Business, Memorial University of Newfoundland was added to the panel.

Change #3

Jacqueline Walsh, Instructor; Director, initio Technology & Innovation Law Clinic, Dalhousie University, is not listed as a member of the expert panel in the final report.

Summing it up

Stephanie Simmons a professor of physics drops off the expert panel and so did Jacqueline Walsh, law professor, Dalhousie University while Jacqueline Bartlett, a professor of law from Memorial University becomes a member of the panel for a net loss of one. So, the person with legal credentials is effectively replaced while the physicist is not.

I don’t recall seeing any other expert panels (for previous reports I’ve reviewed) losing members. Of course, the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) has stepped up its production of reports considerably. and it’s understandable that there might be more attrition on the expert panels.

Still, I’m struggling to find a way to describe Canada’s quantum community and the best I can do is that it’s the most visibly volatile science community in the country.as observed in my July 26, 2022 posting (scroll down to the ‘Canadian quantum scene’ subhead).

Quantum Potential

In a November 20, 2023 Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) news release, The Expert Panel on the Responsible Adoption of Quantum Technologies announced the launch of its completed report,

Quantum technologies are poised to play a major role in Canada’s future, from its national security to its economic standing. While Canada is among the global leaders in quantum research, it nevertheless faces challenges in the adoption of these technologies as they approach market readiness. Quantum Potential, a new expert panel report from the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA), outlines a responsible approach to quantum-technology adoption — a critical step toward ensuring Canada’s global competitiveness in the decades ahead.

“A century of quantum physics research propelled a technological revolution that now supports the foundations of modern society,” said Raymond Laflamme, chair of the Expert Panel on the Responsible Adoption of Quantum Technologies. “As quantum technologies emerge, it’s essential to think carefully about how policy should shape their adoption by end users — and how Canada might best navigate the accompanying challenges and opportunities.”

Quantum Potential considers quantum computing, sensing, and communications, three categories of quantum technology at varying levels of maturity. While these technologies may strengthen digital infrastructure, improve data security, and optimize processes across a range of economic sectors, they also pose significant risks, such as misuse by malicious actors. Risks associated with quantum technologies span ethical, legal, social, and policy realms; without sufficient consideration, they may compromise public trust in quantum technologies, limit research funding, and stifle innovation.

The adoption of quantum technologies in Canada may require programs designed to stimulate demand – including government procurement, pro-competition policies, and the cultivation of a quantum-ready workforce. To date, government support has encouraged the development of quantum technologies, with significantly less attention to stimulating technology diffusion and adoption.

As part of its assessment, the expert panel reviewed the Government of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy, released early this year. Quantum Potential spotlights ethical, legal, social, and policy issues posed by quantum technologies as critical considerations for their responsible adoption by public and private sectors across Canada.

“While the timeline for widespread adoption of quantum technologies may be unclear, Canada’s quantum readiness depends on our deepest consideration of the risks and benefits these technologies pose,” said Eric Meslin, President and CEO of the CCA. “Quantum Potential provides essential guidance toward a future shaped by a new wave of innovative technologies.”

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, and three other supporting federal departments asked the CCA to assess opportunities and challenges related to the adoption of quantum technologies in Canada. Quantum Potential explores the commercialization potential of quantum technologies, articulates Canada’s position within the global quantum value chain, and examines those conditions and policy levers that might promote their responsible adoption.

If you want the Main findings, there’s a graphic representation (one page) here.

Now for the report. (Yes, I’ve now read it.) For anyone who wants to read the whole report themselves, Quantum Potential was published November 2023.

Quick overview of the international aspects (two panel members) & the questions

There was some international input in the person of two expert panel members, Elham Kashefi, Professor of Quantum Computing, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh; Chief Scientist, UK National Quantum Computing Centre; Directeur de recherche au CNRS, LIP6 Sorbonne Université (Paris, France) and Mauritz Kop, Founding Director, Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum
Technology, Stanford University (Stanford, CA). Again, the main international inputs on an expert panel are from the UK (and, nominally, France) and the US.

Out of a total of 13 expert panel members, four are women. Only one is a physicist, one is a professor of quantum computing, and the other two are a professor of business and a business consultant, respectively. (It’s not great but the number of women on the expert panel seems to be a reflection of the numbers in the field. “When it comes to attracting women researchers to quantum fields in Canada, ‘there is huge competition for the relatively few female candidates in quantum technologies, but this has not necessarily translated into more women entering relevant programs of study’ [ISED, 2022d].” [p. 101 in the paper version and p. 129 in the PDF version]) As for geographical representation, that’s relatively even-handed although the far north (as almost always) is not represented. Perhaps with the founding of a university on traditional Inuit lands (see November 27, 2024 CBC story about Inuit Nunangat University), the lack of northern representation can be addressed in the future.

The peer reviewers include James Der Derian, Director/Professor, Centre for International Security Studies, University of Sydney (Sydney, Australia) and Jacob Taylor, NIST Fellow, National Institute of Standards and Technology (Cambridge, MA). This time the international scene is represented by Australia and the US (again). Swapping out someone who represents the UK (and, nominally, France) with someone representing another Commonwealth country doesn’t seem all that exciting.

It can be difficult to find people who bring in diverse perspectives. It’s human nature, people tend to recommend others in their own circles and most of us do not have diverse networks. It would be nice if the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) could break out from a pattern (of over 10 years) of US-centrie and UK/Commonwealth-centric representation. However, there’s something else that may affect attempts to get a wider range of experiences represented on the panel, current geopolitical tensions.

I have never before seen a Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) acknowledgement in a CCA report,

Unnamed officials of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) [from page xiv in the print version and page 14 in the PDF version]

As for the government departments that requested the report, two are identified: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) plus three other unidentified departments (p. xv of the paper version or p. 15 of the PDF version of the report).

Executive summary

Here’s one of the better executive summaries that I’ve seen in these reports, from Quantum Potential,

…

Answering the Charge

In light of current trends affecting the evolution of quantum technologies, what opportunities and challenges do these present in Canada?

Scientific and engineering obstacles currently impede the commercialization and adoption of most quantum technologies. Although existing quantum computing prototypes have scientific value and promise some computational advantage, large-scale quantum computing is unlikely to reach technological maturity in the next 10 years [emphasis mine]. Similarly, in the domain of quantum communications, quantum key distribution (QKD) needs to overcome significant limitations on distance, speed, and cost to reach the commercialization stage [emphasis mine]. In the near term, most efforts to strengthen the security of communications against decryption by quantum computers will likely prioritize classically based quantum-resistant cryptography (QRC). Among the different quantum technologies, sensors may be the closest to commercialization and adoption, but they still face a number of technical and cost-related challenges.

In light of these trends, any estimates that forecast the adoption timelines and economic benefits of quantum technologies are still speculative and can contribute to a hype narrative. While hype is not inherently bad [emphasis mine] (e.g., it can help drive research and development), a failure of quantum technologies to deliver on exaggerated or sensationalist promises could undermine public trust in innovation, reduce research funding, and deter end-users from adopting solutions that can be beneficial for their organizations. The extent to which the economic potential of commercially available quantum technologies is realized in Canada depends on the adopting sectors. Some sectors often cited as early adopters (e.g., pharmaceuticals, chemistry) make relatively small contributions to Canada’s gross domestic product [emphasis mine]. To better realize the economic potential of quantum technologies, diffusion and adoption strategies could target the applications of quantum in sectors of particular economic importance to Canada, such as natural resources and healthcare.

In addition to offering economic benefits, quantum technologies could enhance the security of infrastructure and data, improve the precision of measurements, and optimize and simulate various processes. QRC [quantum-resistant cryptography] and quantum sensors — two technologies that are closer to commercialization [emphases mine] — have applications in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications. The main function of QRC (and QKD) in any sector is protecting the security of stored and transmitted data from decryption by a future quantum computer. The opportunities offered by quantum sensors, on the other hand, depend on their applications in different industries. They can be used, for example, to develop navigation systems for submarines (defence), to detect soil conditions (agriculture), to monitor the integrity of infrastructure (energy), and to detect and identify underground deposits without drilling or excavation (mining; oil and gas). The purported benefits of quantum computing lie in its ability to optimize and simulate processes and predict events [emphasis mine]. For example, quantum computers can be used to run simulations that could help researchers understand chemical reactions and design better catalysts, to optimize logistics and supply chain management in the transportation and defence sectors, and to develop more accurate predictictions [sic] and recommendations in the healthcare and finance sectors.

What are the enabling conditions to ensure broad access to and market readiness for quantum technologies in Canada?

International dependencies and the scarcity of components and materials can create bottlenecks in the path to market readiness for quantum technologies in Canada [emphasis mine]. Some raw materials (e.g., Rubidium-87, Calcium-43, Barium isotopes, Helium-3) and manufactured components required to fabricate quantum technologies (e.g., specialized nanofabrication and microfabrication techniques and materials, cryogenic devices) are scarce and can only be obtained from a handful of foreign suppliers. While a roadmapping process can help identify potential bottlenecks in the path to commercialization, the provenance of certain components or materials is unknown in some cases. International co-operation is instrumental in securing the supply chain for the production of quantum technologies in Canada. Domestic production of components used in many quantum technologies (e.g., photonics devices) could give Canadian quantum companies some leverage [emphasis mine] in global supply chains and international partnerships.

Quantum hubs encompassing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), business support services, and research institutes have emerged in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. They can rely on a number of technology transfer strategies — the sale or licensing of intellectual property, the establishment of companies, and the transfer of personnel from academia to industry — to advance the market readiness of quantum technologies. Promising technology transfer practices, however, are difficult to identify due to a lack of quantitative and qualitative data assessing their effectiveness. Moreover, clustered distribution of quantum expertise can lead to regional disparities. Some regions do not have quantum hubs and are absent from the commercialization pillar of the NQS. This can frustrate the diffusion of technologies across the country and exacerbate inequities among regions and communities.

What are the main socioeconomic, regulatory, and ethical challenges related to the adoption of quantum technologies in Canada?

The adoption of quantum technologies involves a number of interrelated ethical, legal, social, and policy implications (ELSPI). The panel analyzed these implications through an approach (Quantum ELSPI) that takes a pro-innovation stance on quantum technologies and seeks to maximize benefits and mitigate risks related to their adoption, which presents both new and familiar challenges. For example, the potential for quantum computing to decrypt frequently used
encryption systems presents privacy and national security risks on a scale never seen before. Malicious actors could use quantum computers to hack personal data and compromise the security of the infrastructure underpinning important societal functions, such as healthcare, financial, and industrial systems. Even if quantum technologies are used solely for legitimate purposes, some actors may exploit the inherent scientific complexity of quantum mechanics to facilitate the spread and public acceptance of misinformation about quantum technologies. This may erode public trust, limit research funding, slow the evolution of quantum technologies, and stifle technology adoption by end-users.

Some existing social and ethical challenges will be exacerbated by quantum technologies’ ability to optimize familiar processes, including surveillance, automated decision-making, and natural resource mining. To the extent that quantum-enabled automated decision-making systems are trained on bad data, they may amplify discriminatory practices against underrepresented and
racialized people and groups. Moreover, quantum-enhanced scrutiny and contextualization of information about people (also known as the process of sensemaking) can minimize privacy protections and optimize machine-learning instruments that commodify personal data. Finally, some types of quantum sensing present risks to privacy due to their ability to conduct remote searches and public surveillance. Privacy law may protect people against some forms of quantum-based surveillance, but legal reforms will be necessary to address the heightened risk of the identification of previously anonymized data (i.e., data re-identification) for the purposes of predictions, surveillance, and decision-making.

Limited access to quantum technologies can amplify the digital divide among people, regions, and countries. Big technology firms are establishing their dominance in the quantum sector, particularly in quantum computing, by acquiring smaller firms or offering quantum computing as a service. The concentration of quantum computing in the hands of only a few companies may lead to access disparities between economically advantaged and disadvantaged groups, and among users in different countries and regions of the world.

The abuse of market power by large quantum companies located in foreign jurisdictions is particularly relevant for Canada, whose economic growth relies on SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises]. Prohibitive costs and a lack of expertise prevent domestic SMEs from adopting innovative technological solutions to grow their business. Canada’s competition policy as well as various protections afforded by intellectual property law may enable major market players to achieve and maintain their dominance in the quantum sector, creating obstacles for Canadian SMEs willing to adopt quantum technologies.

A responsible approach to the adoption of quantum technologies within the framework of Quantum ELSPI consists of state-sanctioned and self-regulating measures that anticipate, prevent, and mitigate harms and risks. This approach draws on a historic analysis of policy responses to other innovations having a systemic impact on society (e.g., semiconductors, artificial intelligence, nuclear technology, nanotechnology), while recognizing the unique properties of quantum technologies. It aims to engage stakeholders, civil society, and international partners in the adoption process, and to address central aspects of that adoption, such as public perception, public trust, and regulatory gaps. Resulting measures and guardrails could include quantum impact assessments (comparable to algorithmic impact assessments), reforms to data protection and privacy law, balancing equitable and controlled access to certain quantum technologies, soft law mechanisms, and responsible research and innovation (including public engagement and education campaigns [emphasis mine]).

What does the current evidence and knowledge suggest regarding promising and leading practices that could be applied to drive and accelerate the adoption of quantum technologies in Canada?

Canada’s innovation policy has historically prioritized the supply side of the innovation process, minimizing the importance of demand-side strategies for technology diffusion and adoption by industry. In the domain of emerging technologies such as quantum, policies tend to prioritize supply-side instruments to a greater extent due to a relatively small number of technology applications and end-users. The adoption of quantum technologies by the public and private sectors may require policies and programs designed to stimulate the demand for innovation (Figure 1). These can include public-private co-operation (including government procurement and other specialized programs, as well as public-private partnerships), regulation, pro-competition oversight and policies, industry-led initiatives, and building a quantum-ready workforce for the adopting sectors. These instruments enable the government to determine the direction of innovation policy and use it to address ethical, socioeconomic, legal, and governance issues.

…

Evidence shows that government procurement is an important policy instrument to incentivize the adoption of new technologies, but existing procurement programs aimed at innovative SMEs are underutilized and do not meet their spending objectives. In addition to procurement, specialized government programs and agencies could facilitate the uptake of quantum technologies in various sectors. The experiences of foreign jurisdictions such as Finland and Germany demonstrate that technology diffusion is the key mandate of successful government programs. Moreover, the potential of government initiatives is contingent upon building strong inter-firm consortia and integrating advanced end-users into technology diffusion networks. Foreign jurisdictions leading in the quantum space (e.g., European Union, United States) are developing specialized industry associations or consortia. Domestically, Quantum Industry Canada unites both producers and users of quantum technologies to, among other things, facilitate the commercialization and adoption of quantum technologies by Canadian companies.

Hybrid cross-sectoral organizations involving governments, industry, and academia (also known as the triple-helix model) have been successful in facilitating technology adoption in some foreign jurisdictions, including Germany and the Netherlands. Such cross-sectoral collaborations can help identify applications for, and accelerate the adoption of, quantum technologies in specific
sectors and help raise awareness of the ELSPI aspects of technology adoption across multiple stakeholders. In Canada, collaborative efforts among academia, industry, and government in biomanufacturing and life sciences could serve as a model for a domestic approach to cross-sectoral partnerships in quantum technologies.

National as well as sector- and technology-specific roadmaps can help stakeholders identify and address various challenges impeding the adoption and commercialization of quantum technologies. In the panel’s opinion, the roadmapping process is one of the most promising technology adoption strategies contained in the NQS. The experiences of foreign jurisdictions (e.g., Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, European Union) show that the
development of national roadmaps usually involves different orders of government and focuses on opportunities for collaboration among stakeholders in the private sector and academia.

Another public-private collaborative approach to encouraging the uptake of quantum technologies is a sector-specific or government advisory board that facilitates discussions among various stakeholders — developers, users, governments, and academia. While government advisory boards (e.g., Quantum Advisory Council in Canada, National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee in the United States) tend to prioritize quantum technology development, alternative models could focus on technology adoption by providing financial assistance to co-operative projects designed by sector-specific boards to, among other things, develop adoption-supporting technological capabilities and infrastructure. This could help identify sector-specific strengths and weaknesses and cultivate relationships among stakeholders within the sector.

Quantum technology companies may implement some industry-led approaches to facilitate technology adoption. These include business-to-business partnerships among technology producers and end-users and the provision of professional support services (e.g., cloud-based quantum computing, education and training, customized applications). A key advantage of this approach is that it gives new or inexperienced end-users access to specialized technology and expertise in a cost- effective way, thereby promoting open innovation.

Many sectors often cited as potential adopters of quantum technologies (e.g., finance, telecommunications, mining, healthcare) are subject to federal and provincial/territorial regulation. Various regulatory interventions, including cybersecurity standards and data privacy rules, may incentivize the adoption of quantum technologies that ensure regulatory compliance. Policies that confer too much discretion on the administrative state, however, could have unintended chilling effects on privacy and human rights. Moreover, regulation cannot substitute for the important role of competition in driving quantum technology adoption. In sectors with high levels of vertical integration, such as telecommunications, pro-competition policy reforms and regulatory oversight could have a spillover effect that helps drive the adoption of quantum technologies.

In order to sell technologies internationally and embed themselves in global supply chains, domestic companies must comply with international technology standards. The lack of standardization is inhibiting the adoption of QRC. In some cases, select countries and the private sector can influence the standards- setting process to advance the international adoption of national or company-specific standards. A coordinated domestic approach is instrumental in ensuring Canada’s meaningful participation in international standards-setting forums.

Even though a variety of programs and instruments can stimulate the diffusion and adoption of quantum technologies, evidence demonstrates significant shortages in a quantum-ready workforce for both developing and adopting sectors. This shortage is likely to increase with the development of new applications and use cases, but there is a lack of reliable projections on personnel needs. Training and education as well as immigration are two complementary strategies to prepare, attract, and retain highly qualified personnel.

When it comes to education, training in quantum technology is largely offered at the graduate level. While some positions in the quantum industry require a PhD, many others (including engineers, software developers, and technicians) do not. A variety of alternative education and training opportunities (including programs offered at the undergraduate and college levels, work-integrated learning, programs for senior executives in the adopting sectors, and hands-on industry
training) can be considered when designing educational curricula. Information about skills needed in the adopting sectors could inform industry-focused programs. Strategies for developing a quantum workforce would benefit from prioritizing the recruitment of groups currently underrepresented in quantum-related disciplines (and in science, technology, engineering and math more broadly)

Canada also depends on immigration to build its quantum-ready workforce. Existing programs for foreign workers and international students (e.g., Global Talent Stream, Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program) can help attract and retain talent. Foreign-trained workers and international students, however, face a number of immigration-related obstacles, such as a lack of National Occupational Classification codes for quantum-based occupations, high tuition fees, immigration processing backlogs, and onerous study and work permit fees. Canada’s Express Entry program does not account for a variety of work experiences acquired by international students during their studies, thereby creating systemic barriers to international graduates seeking permanent residency. As an alternative, flexible and agile immigration programs, similar to ones that fuelled the development of the telecommunications sector in the 1990s, could give Canada a leg up when competing for the international talent necessary to stimulate technology adoption and shape quantum innovation on a global level. [pages xv – xxiii in the print version and pages 15 – 23 in the PDF version]

I’m happy to see mention of public engagement and education campaigns and I have thoughts but that’s for later in part two [link to be added when part two published] when I discuss the report.