Quantum at the Core of Canada’s New Defence Strategy

Canada’s new Defence Industrial Strategy signals a major shift: quantum is not only a research priority, but also a sovereign capability Canada must build, protect, and scale at home. The Strategy includes quantum computing and communications within the digital systems Canada aims to strengthen domestically, supported by a new Defence Investment Agency and a Build–Partner–Buy approach that prioritizes Canadian capability and greater control over critical technologies and IP. For BC’s quantum ecosystem, this alignment creates a clear call to action: accelerating secure pathways from research to deployment, expanding talent pipelines and secure facilities, and ensuring Canadian innovations translate into real-world resilience across defence, infrastructure, and the broader digital econom