The Quantum Ecosystem

Alberta's quantum ecosystem is rapidly growing, with distinct participants playing crucial roles in this important economic area

“Since the birth of quantum science more than 100 years ago, quantum technologies have been the source of many game-changing innovations, including semiconductors and lasers. In the coming years, new breakthroughs will further transform how people work and live. Canadian quantum researchers and companies are well positioned to realize this disruptive potential as the capability to design and engineer quantum states increases”.
National Quantum Strategy

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Read the latest news about Quantum City and the quantum ecosystem.

Research Excellence

Alberta is home to leading institutions—the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge—recognized for excellence in both theoretical and applied quantum research. With key research networks like Quantum Alberta and Quantum Horizons Alberta, innovation in quantum science and technology continues to advance, further strengthening expertise in the field.

Discovery Research

The University of Calgary’s Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in quantum science is driving progress by transforming theoretical breakthroughs into emerging quantum technologies. At the University of Calgary, the Institute for Quantum Science and Technology (IQST) leads cutting-edge research in key areas of quantum science and technology, provides world-class education and training, and strengthens collaboration with both academic institutions and industry partners. The Quantum Major Innovation Fund (QMP) project has further accelerated research, fostered partnerships and supported technological advancements, reinforcing Alberta’s position as a leader in quantum innovation.

Innovation & Commercialization

Alberta’s quantum ecosystem thrives on entrepreneurship and commercialization support. The University of Calgary drives startup growth through the Hunter Hub, Innovate Calgary, and UCeed—Canada’s largest university-based fund. QAI Ventures accelerates quantum startups with resources, programs, and funding. Quantum City connects researchers and businesses, while Alberta Innovates and private investors provide critical support. qLab offers advanced quantum infrastructure and the University of Alberta’s nanoFAB enables micro- and nanoscale fabrication. Together, these initiatives foster a dynamic environment for quantum innovation and commercialization.

Industry Adoption

Alberta is a leader in industry adoption of quantum technologies and solutions implementation, with a strong ecosystem that connects research, startups, and key economic sectors such as agriculture, energy, finance and telecommunications. Programs like the Quantum City Global Challenge Series and Solutions Studio offerings accelerate the transition from quantum technology to practical solutions for real-world applications. With world class research facilities, strong institutional support and a growing network of investors and technology adopters, Alberta is well-positioned to drive industry transformation through quantum advancements.

Building Partnerships for Quantum Innovation

Quantum City is a proud affiliate of Quantum Industry Canada (QIC), joining a national network dedicated to advancing quantum innovation and commercialization. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to connecting researchers, startups, and industry partners to drive real-world quantum solutions.

Name	Sector	Quantum Field	Institution	Faculty	Department	Research Areas	Link	Title	Email
Adam Bene Watts		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Mathematics and Statistics	Quantum Algorithms, Quantum Circuit Complexity, Complexity Theory, Quantum Information		Assistant Professor	adam.benewatts@ucalgary.ca
Alex Brown		Quantum Chemistry, Quantum Computation	University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Chemistry	Quantum Chemistry, Quantum Computation		Professor
Aninda Sinha		Quantum Foundations	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum Field Theory, String Theory, Quantum Computing		Professor
Athan Zovoilis			University of Lethbridge	Faculty of Arts and Science	Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry			Assistant Professor
Barry Sanders	Telecommunications, Cybersecurity, AI Training, Financial Service/Investing, Logistics/Supply Chain management, Healthcare, National Security, Pharmaceuticals	Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Implementations of Quantum Information, Nonlinear Quantum Optics , Algorithmic Quantum Simulation, Long-Distance Quantum Key Distribution, Evolutionary Algorithms and Swarm Intelligence for Quantum Control and Metrology, Coherent Quantum Transport in Protein Complexes	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/barry-sanders	Professor	sandersb@ucalgary.ca
Carlo Maria Scandolo		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Mathematics and Statistics	Quantum Information, Quantum Resource Theories, Foundations of Quantum Mechanics	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/math/profiles/1-9063259	Associate Professor	carlomaria.scandolo@ucalgary.ca
Christoph Simon		Quantum Communication	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute	Quantum Optics, Quantum Internet	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/christoph-simon	Professor	csimo@ucalgary.ca
Claudia Gomes da Rocha	Healthcare	Quantum Sensing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute	Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Neuromorphic Systems and Brain-Inspired Technologies, Materials Science and Nanoscience, Quantum Materials and Sensing, Complex Systems	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/claudia-gomes-da-rocha	Assistant Professor	claudia.gomesdarocha@ucalgary.ca
Connor Paddock		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Computer Science	Quantum Complexity Theory, Nonlocal Games, Quantum Information Theory		Assistant Professor
Daniel Oblak	Telecommunications, Cybersecurity	Quantum Communication	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum Information Science, Quantum Cryptography Long-Distance, Quantum Communication, Quantum Memory, Quantum Optics	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/daniel-oblak	Associate Professor	doblak@ucalgary.ca
Daniel Trad	Cybersecurity, Telecommunications, Pharmaceuticals		University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Earth, Energy, and Environment	Geophysics	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/daniel-trad	Associate Professor	daniel.trad@ucalgary.ca
David Feder		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Atomic Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Optical Physics, Quantum Information Technology, Ultracold Atomic Gases	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/david-feder	Associate Professor	dfeder@ucalgary.ca
David Hobill		Quantum Computing			Emeritus, Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum Information Science General Relativity Black Holes, Modelling Biological Systems	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/phas/profiles/486-146336	Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy	hobill@ucalgary.ca
Daya Gaur		Quantum Computing	University of Lethbridge	Faculty of Arts and Science	Department of Mathematics and Computer Science	Approximation Algorithms, Quantum Computation		Professor
Dennis Salahub		Quantum Materials	University of Calgary		Department of Chemistry	Molecular Simulation, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Density Functional Theory (DFT), Materials and Biomolecular Modelling	https://www.ucalgary.ca/labs/multiscale-computational-chemistry/people/dennis-salahub	Professor Emeritus of Chemistry	dsalahub@ucalgary.ca
Erika Janitz		Quantum Sensing	University of Calgary	Schulich School of Engineering	Department of Electrical and Software Engineering	Quantum Computing, Quantum Sensing, Quantum Network, Quantum Optics, DNA, Dimond Defects	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/erika-janitz	Assistant Professor	erika.janitz@ucalgary.ca
Frank Hegmann		Quantum Sensing	University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics	Photonics, Nanophysics, Ultrafast Phenomena of Materials		Professor
Frank Marsiglio		Quantum Materials, Quantum Sensing	University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics	Nanoscale Superconductivity, Electron Correlations in Solids		Professor
Gil Porat		Quantum Sensing	University of Alberta	Faculty of Engineering	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering	Photonics and Plasmas, Nonlinear Optics, Atomic Physics		Associate Professor
Heliudson de Oliveira Bernardo		Quantum Foundations	University of Lethbridge	Faculty of Arts and Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum Cosmology, Quantum Gravity		Assistant Professor
Herman Barkema	Healthcare		University of Calgary	Faculty of Veterinary Medicine		Clinical Science, Epidemiology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Production Animal Health	https://vet.ucalgary.ca/contact-us/herman-barkema	Professor, NSERC Industrial Research Chair	barkema@ucalgary.ca
Hubert de Guise		Quantum Computing	Lakehead University		Department of Physics	Theoretical Physics Mathematical Physics	https://www.lakeheadu.ca/users/D/hdeguise	Professor	hdeguise@lakeheadu.ca
Hugh Williams		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary		Department of Mathematics and Statistics	Computational Number Theory Cryptography Design and Development of Special-Purpose Hardware Devices History of Mathematics and Computation	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/math/profiles/101-152983	Professor Emeritus of Mathematics & Statistics
Jack Tuszynski	Healthcare	Quantum Computing, Quantum Chemistry	University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics	Computational Biophysics		Professor
John Davis		Quantum Materials, Quantum Sensing	University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics	Nanomechanics, nanoscale geometries, nanoscale superconductivity		Professor
Joseph Maciejko			University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics	Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Many-Body Systems, High-Energy Physics		Professor
Khabat Heshami		Quantum Computing	University of Ottawa, National Research Council of Canada		Department of Physics	Quantum memory, Quantum Cryptography, Quantum Optics	https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-science/professors/khabat-heshami	Research Officer, Adjunct Professor	Khabat.heshami@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Leonid Belostotski		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Schulich School of Engineering	Department of Electrical and Software Engineering	High-sensitivity Radiometers and Receivers	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/leo-belostotski	Professor	lbelosto@ucalgary.ca
Lindsay LeBlanc		Quantum Sensing	University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics	Ultracold Quantum Gases		Professor
Milana Trifkovic	Utilities	Quantum Materials	University of Calgary	Schulich School of Engineering	Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering	Advanced Material Design, Nanoparticle-Stabilized Emulsion and Emulsion Gels, Polymer Blends and Polymer Blend Nanocomposites, 4D (3D Plus Time) Imaging of Fast Dynamic Chemical Processes, Scale-Dependent Rheology of Complex Fluids and Soft Matter, Quantum Dots Derived from Waste Materials, Solid State Batteries	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/milana-trifkovic	Professor	mtrifkov@ucalgary.ca
Nasser Moazzen-Ahmadi		Quantum Materials, Quantum Sensing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Atomic and Molecular Clusters	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/phas/profiles/486-146345	Professor	nmoazzen@ucalgary.ca
Paul Barclay		Quantum Sensing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum Nanophotonics Dimond Photonics, Nanophotonic Quantum Sensor, Cavity Optomechanics, Solid State Quantum Optics	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/paul-barclay	Professor	pbarclay@ucalgary.ca
Peter H�yer		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Computer Science	Quantum Algorithms, Quantum Computing, Quantum Cryptography, Quantum Complexity Theory	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/cpsc/profiles/102-3607	Associate Professor	hoyer@ucalgary.ca
Peter Kusalik		Quantum Materials	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Chemistry	Molecular Simulation and Theoretical Studies, Generation and Characterization of Nanobubbles	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/peter-kusalik	Professor	pkusalik@ucalgary.ca
Peter Tieleman		Quantum Materials	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Biological Sciences	Biocomputing	https://ucalgary.ca/biocomputing/home?utm_source=tieleman&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=redirect	Professor	tieleman@ucalgary.ca
Pierre Kennepohl		Quantum Materials	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Chemistry	Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Chemical Synthesis and Catalysis, Materials Chemistry	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/chem/profiles/1-9668525	Professor	pierre.kennepohl@ucalgary.ca
Ray DeCorby		Quantum Materials, Quantum Sensing	University of Alberta	Faculty of Engineering	Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering	Photonics and Plasmas, Microphotonic Device Fabrication		Professor
Reginald Paul	Utilities	Quantum Materials			Emeritus, Department of Chemistry	Fuel Cells, Electrified Interfaces	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/chem/profiles/145-457	Professor Emeritus of Chemistry	rpaul@ucalgary.ca
Rei Safavi-Naini	Cybersecurity	Quantum Communication	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Computer Science	Cryptography, Information Security and Privacy	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/rei-safavi-naini	Professor	rei@ucalgary.ca
Renate Scheidler		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Department of Computer Science	Algorithmic Number Theory Number Theoretic Cryptology	https://cspages.ucalgary.ca/~rscheidl/	Professor	rscheidl@ucalgary.ca
Richard Zach		Quantum Computing		Faculty of Arts	Department of Philosophy	Formal Logic, History of Analytic Philosophy, Philosophy of Mathematics	https://phil.ucalgary.ca/profiles/richard-zach	Professor	rzach@ucalgary.ca
Robert Benkoczi		Quantum Computing	University of Lethbridge	Faculty of Arts and Science	Department of Mathematics and Computer Science			Professor
Robert Thompson			University of Calgary			Quantum Information Science; Experimental Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics; Low Density Gas Physics Ion-Molecule Interactions Ionic Metallofullerenes Coherence Effects in Optical Processes Ion-Trap Mass Spectrometry	https://research.ucalgary.ca/research/office-vice-president-research/vpr-exec-team/robert-thompson	Associate Vice-President (Research)	thompson@phas.ucalgary.ca
Robert Wolkow		Quantum Materials, Quantum Computing	University of Alberta	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics	Atom Scale Fabrication, Atom Scale Chemical Physics, Quantum Computing		Professor
Robin Cockett		Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Computer Science	Distributive Categories, Restriction Categories, Linearly Distributive Categories, Differential Categories; Categorical Proof Theory, Semantics of Computation, Semantics of Concurrency; Categorical Programming, Quantum Programming.	http://pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~robin/	Professor	robin@ucalgary.ca
Saurya Das		Quantum Foundations	University of Lethbridge	Faculty of Arts and Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum Cosmology, Quantum Gravity, Quantum Information Theory		Professor
Shabir Barzanjeh		Quantum Communication	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Electro-Optomechanical Systems, Superconducting Circuit, Quantum Sensing, Quantum Photonics	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/phas/profiles/1-9996099	Assistant Professor	shabir.barzanjeh@ucalgary.ca
Shahadat Hossain		Quantum Computing	University of Lethbridge	Faculty of Arts and Science	Department of Mathematics and Computer Science			Professor
Shahpoor Moradi	AI Training	Quantum Computing	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum Computing	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/shahpoor-moradi	Assistant Professor	moradis@ucalgary.ca
Simon Trudel		Quantum Materials	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Chemistry	Nanoscaled Materials, Novel Magnetic Nanomaterials, Heterogeneous Catalysts	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/chem/profiles/145-2389	Professor	trudels@ucalgary.ca
Timothy Friesen		Quantum Materials	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Testing Fundamental Symmetries at Low Energies, Antimatter, Exotic Atoms, Particle Traps, Non-Neutral Plasmas	https://contacts.ucalgary.ca/info/phas/profiles/486-146105	Assistant Professor	timothy.friesen@ucalgary.ca
Urbasi Sinha		Quantum Communication	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy	Quantum information, Quantum communication, quantum photonics		Professor
Viki Kumar Prasad		Quantum Communication	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Chemistry	Computational chemistry, Quantum chemistry, Machine learning, Quantum computing
Wenyuan (Mike) Wang		Quantum Communications	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Physics and Astronomy,	Quantum Cryptography, Quantum Communication, Optical Quantum Computing	https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/wenyuan-wang	Assistant Professor	wenyuan.wang@ucalgary.ca
Yujun Shi		Quantum Materials	University of Calgary	Faculty of Science	Department of Chemistry	Laser Analytical and Spectroscopic Techniques, Semiconductor, Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition (HW-CVD), Quantum Dot, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Physical Chemistry	https://yujunshigroup.wixsite.com/yshi	Professor	shiy@ucalgary.ca