Latest news with #NationalQuantumStrategy
Business Wire
9 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Photonic to Open Quantum R&D Facility in the UK
VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Photonic Inc., a Canada-based leader in distributed, fault-tolerant quantum computing, today announced their intent to establish a quantum research and development (R&D) facility in the UK—marking a significant milestone in the company's international growth and a win for both Canadian and UK innovation. Photonic Inc. announces plans to expand R&D capacity with a new facility in the UK. Share Over the next three years, Photonic will open a new quantum R&D facility in the UK, creating over 30 high-paying jobs and investing more than £25 million—while advancing Canada's leadership in quantum innovation at home and abroad. Photonic's expansion into the UK marks a strategic step in the company's global growth. While its headquarters, core research, and foundational technologies remain rooted in Canada, the UK investment introduces complementary capabilities—including targeted R&D—that enhance and extend Photonic's innovation pipeline. Together, these efforts create new opportunities for cross-border collaboration, talent development, and global market access—while contributing to national security, economic development, and scientific excellence in both countries. 'Our expansion into the UK is a win-win—strengthening our ability to scale globally while reinforcing Canada's position as a leader in secure, scalable quantum technologies,' said Dr. Stephanie Simmons, Founder and Chief Quantum Officer at Photonic. 'Ever since earning my doctorate in quantum computing at the University of Oxford, I've admired the UK's trailblazing approach to quantum. I am really excited by the ambition laid out in the next phase of the UK Government's National Quantum Strategy, and we are looking forward to supporting the government in delivery of its Quantum Missions. Quantum has enormous potential to drive societal impact and economic growth—and Photonic is committed to unleashing that potential through deep, collaborative partnerships between our two countries.' 'Photonic is a Canadian homegrown success story and a shining example of the world-class innovation emerging from our national quantum ecosystem,' said Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation. 'Its UK expansion reflects our shared ambition to build a trusted transatlantic quantum future. We're proud to support Photonic as it scales internationally while anchored in Canada—creating jobs, advancing the commercialization of quantum technology, and strengthening Canada's quantum leadership.' 'Photonic's decision to expand their presence in the UK is a clear vote of confidence in the UK's fast-growing quantum sector, which is leading advances on everything from sensing for healthcare to quantum computing,' said UK Science Minister Lord Vallance. 'This £25m investment will create jobs and generate economic growth, while deepening collaboration between the UK and Canada on this vital technology.' Photonic's growth has been supported by Canadian and UK partners alike. The company has received investment from Canada-based BCI and Inovia Capital and from UK-based Amadeus Capital Partners and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), while also participating in a joint funding initiative between Canada's National Research Council and Innovate UK. About Photonic Photonic Inc. is a leading quantum company developing commercial-scale quantum computers and quantum networks to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges across materials science, drug discovery, climate change, security, and more. Photonic's Entanglement First™ architecture is designed to deliver at scale, leveraging optically-linked silicon spin qubits with high connectivity. This approach enables entanglement distribution for powerful computation, efficient error correction, and seamless integration into existing data centre and telecom environments. Headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with operations in the United States and the United Kingdom, Photonic has over 150 employees and is backed by leading investors and multinational partners. To learn more, visit
Forbes
02-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Quantum Talent Wars: The Hidden Crisis Threatening Tech's Next Frontier
Quantum computing promises revolutionary breakthroughs across industries, but a critical skills ... More shortage threatens to leave unprepared businesses behind. Quantum is the next big thing in computing. But while there's clearly a lot of hype, I do believe it could potentially be a solution to some pretty important problems. From vastly decreasing the time it takes to formulate new drugs to creating greener energy, there will be huge opportunities for businesses to break new ground. There's a big problem, though: there's a severe shortage of people with the skills businesses will need for quantum computing to achieve anything like its full potential. For example, the UK's National Quantum Strategy specifically highlights this skills gap as a challenge that needs to be addressed for quantum computing to deliver prosperity and security. So, what skills will be needed, what roles will businesses need to fill, and why is it essential for leaders to take action now when truly useful quantum computing could be years away? Quantum computing, which harnesses the mind-bending possibilities of quantum physics to carry out some calculations at speeds far higher than classical computers, has huge implications for businesses. Experts will be needed in quantum hardware and software, quantum algorithms, and the science of interpreting data at the scale at which quantum can process it. For some calculations, this can be hundreds of millions of times faster than classical computers. Aside from these hard technical skills, specialists in many fields like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, finance, logistics and cybersecurity will need to understand the possibilities that quantum holds for them. This doesn't mean they have to become quantum scientists. But people will need to be comfortable with the idea of using a new generation of quantum tools and technologies. This expertise in applied quantum computing will be critical for businesses that deal with many kinds of data analytics and building simulations, including those that model biological systems, weather patterns and financial markets. Business executives and leaders, too, will need to understand how the arrival of quantum computing will affect the skills they need. There will be a strong demand for individuals in leadership roles who not only know what quantum can do but can also build cultures conducive to innovation and apply it to hitting strategic goals. Some people, like Nvidia CEO Jensen, believe it will be a long time before practical quantum computing is viable. Industry as a whole doesn't necessarily agree, though, with investment in research and skills steadily increasing and real-world use cases emerging. In my opinion, there are several important things that any business that could be affected by quantum computing should be doing now. One is to develop a quantum strategy. This means assessing how it will impact your sector and identifying the opportunities for growing the business or improving outcomes. Another is to invest in education and training. This involves upskilling existing employees to understand the implications and opportunities. It can be done through online courses, in-house training, or by partnering with education providers. Google, Microsoft and IBM offer courses aimed at business professionals. Businesses also shouldn't overlook the benefits that come with networking and collaborating with experts. Identify who the leaders are in the field when it comes to adopting quantum in your industry, build partnerships, and consider engaging with outside consultants. And finally (for now), ensure that you lay the foundation for a culture that encourages a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to quantum, including the skilling elements we're looking at today. This means encouraging everyone to talk about what they're doing and share the lessons they learn. These are all steps that companies should be taking now, at the learning stage, to avoid potentially missing out when opportunities arise. A report this year from the World Economic Forum found that most organizations are woefully underprepared for the quantum-powered future. Businesses that wait for the technology to become mainstream before taking action to address the skills gap are setting themselves up to be at a disadvantage to faster-moving competitors. I believe that thinking of quantum computing as just another emerging technology is a mistake. AI relies on vast computing power, and many AI calculations could be significantly accelerated on quantum hardware. So, there could come a time when being on the cutting edge of AI requires quantum expertise. Without the ability to train and attract the right talent and a framework in place for them to build on, businesses will miss out. But those who understand the future that's coming and move to put the right skills and training in place now are set for success.
