Canada Opens $5.5 Million Quantum Networking Challenge to Advance Quantum Repeaters

The Quantum Insider reports on a Government of Canada challenge, run through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, offering up to $5.55 million across two streams: quantum repeater technology and Arctic optical ground stations. Both target the distance problem that has to be solved before a national secure quantum communication network is practical.

Our take

Repeaters and Arctic ground stations are the long term track, and Canada is right to fund them. They do nothing for the traffic crossing an Alberta pipeline network tonight. That traffic is protected by post-quantum key delivery into the equipment already in the field. Fund the science. Inventory the estate. Do both in the same budget year.