This article first appeared in The Hill Times.
The quantum age we helped pioneer has reached a pivotal moment as Canada resets its global trade relationships and economic priorities
While political and economic uncertainties dominate today’s headlines, a technological revolution that will reshape the global economy isn’t waiting. In this critical moment, Canada holds a powerful advantage cultivated over a generation that can become a new engine of prosperity: we’re a quantum powerhouse. Yet, as the United States and other innovation leaders charge ahead to harness quantum’s twin promises of economic might and national security, Canada risks squandering our hard-won early advantage.
We already live in a quantum-enabled world. The lasers that power everything from barcode scanners to fiber-optic communications, the global positioning system, MRI scanners, and the transistors in all our digital technologies—exist because of the study of quantum mechanics.
But that was just the beginning. A new wave of quantum innovation stands poised to rival the digital revolution in its transformative power, reshaping everything from advanced manufacturing to life-saving medicine, from ultra-secure communications to financial systems, and unlocking possibilities we have yet to imagine.
Our National Research Council projects that quantum technologies could create over 209,000 Canadian jobs and add more than 3% to our GDP by 2045. Our researchers and companies have already cracked open new frontiers in quantum computing, sensing, and communications, giving Canada both the world’s second-highest number of quantum enterprises and the highest concentration per capita. The quantum industry was born in Canada, and our startups have been setting the pace with relentless innovation ever since.
But while advanced economies aggressively invest in quantum, Canada risks falling into a familiar trap: pioneering breakthroughs only to watch others reap the rewards. Despite being the first nation to recognize quantum’s potential and make strategic research investments—years before our competitors—we’re now slowing down precisely when we should be doubling down.
The nations that master quantum capabilities will be tomorrow’s economic and technology leaders. NATO and AUKUS recognize this reality and are advancing their quantum agendas. Canada possesses the expertise to be both a linchpin security partner and global industrial leader, but only if we act decisively now. Otherwise, we risk becoming bystanders in the very revolution we helped ignite.
The U.S., China, the U.K., Japan, Australia, and the European Union are investing billions, attracting top quantum talent, and fortifying their domestic industries with unwavering support. Their governments are funding industrial R&D, procuring quantum technologies, and securing sovereign control over these critical capabilities. Meanwhile, Canada has committed a meager $169 million to commercialization support for our homegrown quantum firms—a fraction of what innovation leaders are investing in single companies.
This funding gap, magnified by aggressive incentive packages and infrastructure investments abroad, threaten our quantum advantage. Canadian quantum companies showcase remarkable ingenuity, going toe-to-toe with global players with vastly deeper pockets and robust government backing. But even world-class innovation can only stretch resources so far. Our brightest minds and most promising ventures field relocation offers daily. They want to stay but without adequate domestic support, we’ll lose them to jurisdictions that recognize quantum’s strategic value.
Traditionally, Canada shines in research but stumbles in commercialization. If we’re to realize Canada’s full quantum potential and secure our place in the global quantum economy, we must do more than invent the future of quantum—we must own it. We must ensure our world-leading companies have the resources to compete globally while reinforcing our talent advantage, making Canada the clear choice for quantum professionals to build careers and scale companies.
Another critical step is modernizing Canada’s cybersecurity as our financial systems, critical infrastructure, and national security rely on encryption that quantum computers will eventually break. Adversaries are already harvesting encrypted data today to decrypt later—we cannot afford to wait. The U.S. and Australia have set firm timelines to transition to quantum-secure systems. Canada must do the same to safeguard our digital sovereignty.
Leading economies recognize quantum as the cornerstone of future prosperity and power. Canada must too, treating it as a strategic industry vital to both economic competitiveness and national security.
As Canada resets its global trade relationships and economic priorities, the quantum age we helped pioneer has reached a pivotal moment. The question is whether we’ll lead it or remain trapped in the pattern of pioneering but not prospering. The world isn’t waiting. Neither should we.
Lisa Lambert is the CEO of Quantum Industry Canada.
Photo credit: Anyon Systems
