Today, the Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, announced the launch of the Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub (DISH) under the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS) in Calgary, Alberta.
Quantum technologies are expected to transform defence and security through advances in sensing, secure communications, navigation, computing, and decision support. The Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub (DISH) will provide a secure environment where government, industry, academia, and innovators can collaborate to rapidly develop, test, validate, and transition these technologies into operational capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces. The hub will strengthen Canada's technological advantage, improve operational effectiveness, and reduce vulnerabilities in contested environments, including threats such as GPS spoofing.
A University of Calgary-led consortium will receive $20.3 million over two years to establish and operate the Quantum DISH in Calgary. Bringing together organizations from Canada's quantum, defence, and innovation sectors, the consortium will help accelerate the transition of promising Canadian quantum technologies from research into mission-ready capabilities that support Canada's defence and security priorities.
Selected through a competitive Call for Proposals, the Quantum DISH expands Canada's growing network of Defence Innovation Secure Hubs under BOREALIS, joining the Maritime DISH pilot and the Uncrewed Systems DISH. Together, these secure, mission-driven hubs are strengthening Canada's sovereign defence innovation ecosystem by accelerating the development and deployment of critical technologies.
DISHs are secure, mission-oriented hubs established to enable collaboration between government, industry, and academia that represent an important step in Canada's broader effort to strengthen sovereign innovation capabilities. The Quantum DISH will focus on accelerating capabilities in quantum sensing, communications, algorithms, and hardware assurance to help the Canadian Armed Forces address emerging operational challenges, strengthen resilience, and maintain Canada's technological advantage.
Quantum is one of Canada's sovereign capability priorities under the Defence Industrial Strategy. As global competition accelerates, advances in quantum sensing, communications, computing, and navigation will play an increasingly important role in maintaining military readiness, protecting national security, and strengthening Canada's technological sovereignty.
