National Quantum Strategy roadmap: Quantum sensing

a. Key challenges

Research, engineering and commercialization

Research and development efforts, such as miniaturization, prototyping and production scale-up are required to refine some types of quantum sensors to make them portable and usable by non-experts. Since there are a number of different sensor types, prioritization of investment may be required to build world leading quantum sensing capabilities in Canada. Future actions need to consider the areas of focus and investment where Canadian companies and researchers are or can lead/win on a world stage. At the same time, priorities may change, as breakthroughs in fundamental physics can result in novel quantum sensing techniques and platforms. Investments and activities will need to be nimble to reflect the rapidly evolving opportunities and challenges in this space.

Business investment in research and development is also critical to the advancement of quantum sensors. Galvanizing, coordinating and accelerating business led research for projects with long development times has historically been a challenge in Canada due to factors ranging from capital pressures to accessing expertise. Industrial research labs are also key players in the quantum ecosystem that will need to support commercial research efforts. Support could be provided for projects that are focussed on the applied research required to bring ideas to market. A special focus should also be given to research that would make quantum sensors field deployable, rather than being suitable only for a lab environment. Resource sharing schemes and leveraging partnerships with trusted allies can also help enhance technical capabilities in a cost-effective manner.

Programming and funding

Developing quantum sensors from ideation to prototype often requires three to five years at a minimum and $5-$10M per research project. To reach commercialization, additional long periods of continuous investment are required. Unfortunately, the duration of funding support offered by several federal innovation programs is much shorter than the time needed to develop quantum sensors. In other cases, the restrictive nature of program requirements (such as number of employees, years since incorporation or revenue thresholds) makes it challenging for early-stage entrepreneurs. As well, many programs are tailored towards providing loans rather than grants, which is challenging for startups. Consideration of longer funding duration, follow-up investments, cash advance and more flexible program requirements would better support the development of quantum technologies.

Access to funding through other Canadian sources, such as venture capital, angel investors, business incubators and other forms of private equity, are critical to building a vibrant quantum ecosystem, and are the largest source of funding for quantum companies. Without sufficient funding from start-up to scale-up there is a risk that Canadian quantum companies will be acquired by foreign companies, leading to a loss of intellectual property (IP), talent and returns to other countries.

b. Action plan

• develop new or more compatible quantum light sources, detectors and other enabling components along with optics-based quantum sensing technologies
• developing new, highly precise sensing devices, based on quantum effects, which will improve upon state-of-the-art measurement and calibration technologies
• develop commercially competitive quantum sensors across priority areas of the Canadian economy and national defence
• enable the mass production of chip-based quantum sensors

The action plan indicates short (0-3 years) and medium term (3-7 years) actions to develop quantum sensing technologies:

a. Key challenges

Infrastructure

Scaling up the production of quantum sensors may require access to special infrastructure such as fabrication facilities. Given the high costs of development and limited funds, it is imperative to start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to have access to low-cost fabrication services, such as multi-project wafers, during the development cycle, and be able to produce high-quality sensors when the technology is ready for commercialization. There is currently a shortage of these facilities in Canada. Developers typically run an iterative design process to test refined models before proceeding to mass production. Access to fabrication facilities could benefit this iterative process as well. The government could consider support to establish or enable access to shared infrastructure facilities for use by academia, non-profits and industry, as this will help reduce barriers to research and development.

Currently, fabrication of quantum sensors components mostly occurs at university fabrication facilities. However, these facilities do not have enough resources to fabricate at the scale necessary to enable start-ups to develop and commercialize quantum devices. There is an opportunity to support the development and transfer of mature processes from university labs to non-academic fabrication facilities, including existing fabs such as the C2MI, Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre, Applied Nanotools etc. or new fabs. Capturing more of the supply chain for development activities inside Canada can increase supply chain resiliency and security, generate economic growth, and foster innovation and collaboration. Discussions between the government and the quantum community can help determine the necessity and feasibility of a domestic footprint for quantum sensing components. In cases where key components are only available internationally, establishing agreements to secure Canadian access may be necessary. Enhancing our comprehension of the global supply chain and determining Canada's role within it will be necessary.

Securing supply chains

It will be necessary to procure, secure and expand upon domestic and international reservoirs of the raw materials needed for developing quantum technologies. This may include working with trusted allies to secure access to materials not available domestically for quantum applications and identifying quantum material resources within Canada to facilitate access via trusted industrial partners. New quantum materials may also lead to scientific breakthroughs, enabling novel quantum systems.

Cooling some types of quantum hardware requires helium-3, an isotope that has an unmatched level of efficiency in carrying away the heat. However, helium-3 is extremely rare and the main supply comes from aging nuclear warheads and heavy water reactors. In less than two decades, the global demand for and price of helium-3 has substantially increased. Furthermore, the distribution of helium-3 is highly regulated and is subject to strict government controls due to security concerns.

Similarly, the high-purity (chemical and isotopic) silicon wafers needed for some modalities are becoming increasingly restricted and expensive. Neon gas is a critical component in semiconductor production that is also becoming inaccessible.^{Footnote 2} Expanding access to alternative sources of purified silicon and neon gas is critical to scaling these technologies.

Intellectual property

Encouraging Canadian quantum innovators to protect and hold the rights to their intellectual property (IP) assets will stimulate growth, encourage innovation, attract investment and protect their businesses. Innovators will need to develop a global IP protection strategy.

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO), a special operating agency of ISED, provides online Education, tools and resources and delivers IP services in Canada. Its Intellectual Property Advisors help small-and-medium sized businesses understand the value of their IP and develop an IP strategy. Information about applying for IP rights, enforcement and commercialization, as well as relevant government programs, is also available through the IP Village. Financing and tailored advisory services are available through the NRC's IP Assist program, BDC Capital's Intellectual Property-Backed Financing and ISED's ElevateIP by way of several business accelerators and incubators targeting startups. Finally, businesses can find relevant IP assets held by Canadian public sector and not-for-profit organizations through the Explore IP database where users can easily contact IP holders to discuss and negotiate a licensing arrangement.

b. Action plan

• engage broader Canadian industry beyond first-movers on adoption of quantum sensors
• support commercialization and scale-up of Canadian quantum sensor solutions
• encourage Government of Canada adoption of quantum sensors

The action plans below indicate short (0-3 years) and medium-term (3-7 years) actions to commercialize quantum sensing technologies.

a. Key challenges

Market development and engaging end-users

Engaging with end-users will help develop a domestic market for quantum sensors, leading to further investments. This engagement will also help direct R&D to commercially relevant areas, improving possibility for commercialization, and raise awareness of the importance of adoption of quantum sensors among end-users.

While more work needs to be done to identify novel application areas, quantum sensing has the potential or is already having an impact in a variety of areas:

• Natural resources: Discovery and exploration of critical minerals, thus providing high-accuracy and high-fidelity data to make informed decisions/monitoring of natural resources and critical infrastructures
• Biomedical and healthcare:^{Footnote 3} New diagnostic tools that can detect health disorders such as cancer or dementia with more precision, earlier or in a less invasive way, leading to improved patient outcomes
• Biosensors and diagnostic tests: Sensor technologies that can be used in low-cost settings, for point-of-care diagnostics or environmental sensing in remote areas to directly benefit different end-users and communities
• Transportation: Improved position, navigation and timing capabilities can enable reliable navigation in new environments on land, in space and under water, potentially leading to improved transportation safety and efficiency, and autonomous vehicles
• Defense: Quantum-enhanced radar and LiDAR systems have the potential to enable detection of stealth objects and improve imaging resolutions, including underwater imaging
• Food security: Currently identified challenges in food security and productions could foster the development of new quantum sensors aligned with the Canadian agrifood sector regulatory requirements

Adoption

There is relatively low awareness and adoption of quantum sensing technologies among Canadian industries, despite the commercial availability of some quantum sensors. Work with the Council of Canadian Academies^{Footnote 4} and Statistics Canada will provide more information on the barriers and opportunities for adoption of quantum technologies. Adoption of quantum sensing technologies by key Canadian receptor industries will be paramount to success, along with exports to international markets.

To improve uptake, existing business collaborations and public-private partnerships should be leveraged to promote sensing technologies, for example, focussing on high value crops in agriculture where investments in advanced data collection have proved profitable during initial phases of technology development. Engaging with senior executives in end-user organizations to expose and educate them to the benefits of quantum technologies, such as through targeted training, will allow them to make informed decisions. Programs that de-risk the adoption of quantum technologies or provide lower cost access to infrastructure and personnel will incentivize adoption.

Training within firms is also crucial for the diffusion of this technology and widespread adoption.

The application of geo-spatial technologies in Canada is linked to the development and application of space based remote sensing technologies (e.g. Canadian Space Agency, NASA, EU Copernicus, European Space Agency, Group on Earth Observations). Multi-party discussions in these areas, such as through the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), may help identify user needs across a wide spectrum of communities in both private and public sectors.

Canada is also a leader in the development and application of sensing technology in agriculture through the networks of Smart Farms and educational institutes promoting the uptake of these technologies, and these can be leveraged to support adoption.

b. Action plan

a. Key challenges

Attraction, development and retention of a quantum workforce

A diverse, skilled and large quantum workforce will be needed to support the activities described in this roadmap. This includes highly qualified personnel with scientific skills to develop advances in fundamental quantum science, technical skills to develop quantum technologies and entrepreneurial skills to bring research from the lab to the market. Quantum-literate employees, entrepreneurs and researchers along with technicians trained in the installation, integration, operation, repair and maintenance of quantum technologies and associated components are also needed.

Partnerships and coordination between academia and industry on training will help ensure that future talent needs are met. This could include providing access to quantum technologies for students, identifying industry training needs, jointly developing curriculum and creating co-op/internship opportunities.

It will be critical for Canada to invest in developing and retaining quantum expertise, as well as accessing global pools of talent. Being internationally competitive on student, postdoctoral and industry compensation, and the work environment will be key. In addition, there is a need to increase the number of graduates with quantum-related skills. Efforts must also continue in addressing the underrepresentation of equity-seeking groups in scientific, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines (STEM).

Talent for quantum R&D also comes from a global marketplace and bringing that talent to Canada and retaining it can be challenging. Visa timing and costs can increase the complexity of this process. Canada must make it as easy and quick as possible to bring and keep those with quantum expertise.

In December 2022, the National Quantum Strategy Secretariat held two virtual workshops led by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada, which provided an overview of immigration programming and a Q&A session. More work will be needed to address this issue.

Ethical and social considerations

The broad usage of quantum technologies may impact many sectors of the economy. It will be necessary to identify social implications and ethical considerations. This could include:

• use of sensing technologies in public settings that could impact privacy or human rights
• development and export of technologies that could have dual uses in the civilian and military sectors
• equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in the quantum workforce and among those who would benefit from the technology
• environmental impacts of quantum sensors, encompassing both the effects of improved climate monitoring and environmental impacts of quantum sensor components and materials

Learning from ethical issues and regulations in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technology areas, and applying them to quantum technologies is key. This will help mitigate unintended consequences in the development of regulations. Further research on the social impacts of quantum technologies and development of an ethics framework will ensure these technologies benefit society and negative impacts are mitigated.

Research security

Safeguarding Canada's quantum research and its resulting assets from foreign theft, interference or misuse is essential for maintaining the country's economic stability, national security and technological advancements. Quantum research, and its underlying data and resulting technologies, are defined as "sensitive research" and could be used to advance a foreign state's military, intelligence or surveillance capabilities. Sensitive research includes "dual-use research", which refers to products, data, knowledge or technologies that have both purely scientific and military or intelligence applications. From a research security perspective, Canadian researchers may be developing or collecting knowledge or information for legitimate scientific purposes, but that information could be illicitly acquired or exploited by others with the intent to cause harm to Canada's national interests. Unauthorized access to quantum research and technology can undermine Canada's national security interests or those of its allies, including the disruption of the economy or critical infrastructure.

The Government of Canada remains committed to protecting quantum research and technologies against foreign interference, espionage and theft. Research security is a collective effort – researchers, academia, firms, funding organizations and governments have a shared responsibility to identify and mitigate any potential national security risks related to research. In consultation with the science and research community, the Government of Canada has taken several measures to protect the country's world-class research and continues to provide support and guidance for implementing research security due diligence. This includes a series of federal policies, such as the new Policy on Sensitive Technology Research and Affiliations of Concern and the National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships. Other advances that support the implementation of Canada's research security policies include the establishment of a Research Security Centre as well as $50 million in funding through the Research Support Fund for eligible post-secondary institutions to build their research security capacity. In addition, the Government of Canada continues to release and develop new tools and resources that are available through the Safeguarding Your Research portal.

Canada is focused on ensuring that Canada's research ecosystem remains as open and internationally collaborative as possible, in alignment with its foundational principles of transparency, merit, academic freedom and reciprocity. In so doing, this enhanced posture is meant to safeguard, but not limit, Canada's cutting-edge research by mitigating research security risks.

International partnerships and agreements

No country can succeed by doing it alone. Developing partnerships with like-minded countries will improve Canadian research and commercial outcomes. Promoting the Canadian quantum sector abroad and developing partnerships can help attract talent, secure access to global supply chains, further R&D, increase exports and advance adoption of quantum technologies. Efforts to date have included issuing joint co-operation statements with the UK and Japan, and negotiation of others is underway. As well, international missions with key markets will help Canadian companies to access new markets.

b. Action plan