Quantum partnerships: From innovation to global advantage

Quantum Computing’s New Horizon: British Columbia Leads the Charge with Photonic and SFU

Editor-in-Chief Tyler Orton introduced Mr. Paul Terry, Chief Product Officer of Photonic, and President Joy Johnson of Simon Fraser University (SFU). Mr. Terry announced Photonic’s significant $200 million US financing round, valuing the company at $2 billion US. This highlights the strong connection between Photonic and SFU, home to the Silicon Quantum Technology Lab, co-led by Photonic co-founder Stephanie Simmons.

Mr. Terry explained that Photonic, a BC-based company with 170 employees, develops quantum computers and networking. Their technology uses electron spin on chips, leveraging superposition and entanglement. A single Photonic chip offers more computing power than all current Earth’s computers, promising a future of nearly infinite compute capabilities.

President Johnson detailed SFU’s role in quantum innovation, citing its investigator-owned IP policy, which allows researchers like Dr. Simmons to own their spin-out companies. SFU’s advanced lab facilities, backed by government investment, are also accessible to companies like Photonic, fostering a collaborative environment for research and development.

Photonic’s strategy focuses on providing quantum services, democratizing access for thousands of companies, rather than selling expensive machines. Mr. Terry noted SFU’s history of pioneering technologies, including supercomputer architecture and MPLS (the internet’s foundation), with quantum computing being the third major innovation from SFU collaborations.

The most impactful application for quantum computing is in chemistry, an area challenging for traditional supercomputers. This includes life sciences, genomics, proteomics, battery technology, and corrosion. British Columbia’s existing expertise in these chemistry-related fields positions the province to lead the next wave of economic growth driven by quantum applications.

President Johnson outlined BC’s ambition to become a quantum computing hub, attracting top talent like quantum networks leader Thomas Genuine, who joined SFU to partner with Photonic. The focus is on fostering a collaborative ecosystem where all entities thrive, supported by government recognition of the sector’s immense potential.

The federal government’s $900 million defense industrial strategy underscores quantum’s sovereign importance. Mr. Terry emphasized that quantum computing will define the next three decades, making governments worldwide keen to secure access. He noted quantum technology is now more regulated than nuclear weapons due to its power to break encryption.

President Johnson addressed the “dual use” aspect, where technologies like vaccines serve both civilian and defense needs, requiring universities to balance innovation with ethical considerations. Mr. Terry concluded by identifying AI, quantum, and fusion as three technologies set to transform the world in the next 3-4 years, offering unlimited compute power and near-zero energy costs.

Quantum programming, requiring highly specialized content experts, will drive innovations in personalized medicine and material science. British Columbia’s unique, extensive cancer information database, dating back to 1977, provides a significant competitive advantage for developing these advanced quantum applications.