The federal government has announced a $20.3 million investment over two years to establish a Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub in Calgary, with a University of Calgary-led consortium selected to operate it.

The hub, known as the Quantum DISH, will provide a secure environment for government, industry, and academic partners to develop, test, and transition quantum technologies into operational capabilities for the Canadian Armed Forces. It will focus on four areas: quantum sensing, quantum communications, quantum algorithms, and quantum hardware assurance. Applications include GPS-independent navigation, spoofing detection, and quantum-secure communications.

"UCalgary has a long history of excellence in strategic studies, military scholarship, and applied research in defence and security-related fields," said Dr. Edward McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary. "The consortium of post-secondary and industry partners that will innovate in this new facility is truly world class, and we look forward to working alongside the Government of Canada to translate quantum technologies into real-world solutions that will strengthen Canada's sovereignty."

The Quantum DISH is part of Canada's growing network of Defence Innovation Secure Hubs under BOREALIS, the Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science, joining an existing Maritime DISH pilot and an Uncrewed Systems DISH. The federal government says quantum technologies are identified as a sovereign capability priority under Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy.

The hub was selected through a competitive call for proposals.