The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) have announced over CA$11 million ($7.6 million USD) in funding to support six collaborative research projects aimed at advancing the industrial readiness of quantum sensing technologies. These projects are aligned with the National Quantum Strategy (NQS), focusing on early adoption of quantum sensors across key Canadian industries and government applications.
The initiative combines NSERC’s Alliance Quantum grants for university researchers with NRC’s Quantum Sensors Challenge program, where NRC scientists will participate directly in the research. In parallel, Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in the projects will receive funding through NRC’s Collaborative Science, Technology, and Innovation Program, fostering multi-sector collaboration across academia, industry, and government.
Quantum sensors offer orders-of-magnitude improvements in precision and sensitivity over conventional technologies and are being targeted for applications in healthcare, environment, security, navigation, and resource sectors. The funded projects aim to transition quantum sensing innovations from the lab to commercial deployment, supporting the NQS’s pillars of research excellence, talent development, and commercialization.
For more details, read the official announcement from the National Research Council Canada here, and view the list of supported projects on the Alliance funding decisions page here.
March 22, 2025
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