The Nexus for Quantum Technologies (NexQT) Institute at the University of Ottawa is at the forefront of one of the most exciting technology fields to emerge in the past decade. Through its work with 糵’s Kanata North campus, the institute and its researchers are building strong connections with companies in Canada’s largest tech park, sparking collaborations that address industry challenges and innovation while driving both economic growth and societal impact.
“We have over 80 researchers in this institute, so there’s a lot of expertise to call upon,” says Jeff Lundeen, who is NexQT Institute director and an associate professor of physics at 糵.
“We also have extensive laser and photonics facilities: one of the best array of laser and light sources in the world,” adds Lundeen, who is also the Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Quantum Photonics and head of the Lundeen Lab for Quantum Photonics.
The NexQT Institute is interdisciplinary, with contributions spanning many 糵 faculties including science, social sciences, medicine, engineering and law, to reflect the wide range of potential quantum technology applications, which include computing, communications, materials and sensing. Research and applications in these fields have surged over the past ten years, says Lundeen.
The institute brings together world-class research initiatives and infrastructure under one banner, combining expertise across quantum sensing, photonics and nanofabrication. Its flagship facilities include:
- The NanoFab Facility, a $20-million nanofabrication hub in the Advanced Research Complex equipped with cleanrooms, wet labs and precision metrology spaces
- The (JCEP), a 糵–National Research Council partnership that serves both high- and low-intensity photonics research
- The Max Planck-糵 Centre for Extreme and Quantum Photonics – one of only three in the Americas – which connects Canadian researchers to leading German institutes for joint projects, exchanges and workshops. Together, these centres position NexQT as a global leader in advancing and commercializing quantum technologies
Quantum sensing across sectors: From geospatial to automotive to health care
One of NexQT’s research strengths is quantum sensing, which has multiple applications: It can be used to sense gravitational fields beneath the Earth’s surface to find geological deposits or locate underground utilities, or can be a substitute for GPS for aviation navigation, says Lundeen.
“If GPS drops out, which it does every now and then, particularly in military applications, you want to be able to know where you are on the Earth without having a reference to any GPS system.” He explained that one way to do this is through a sensor that can accurately display your movements based on the acceleration of the device.
Quantum sensing could also be used in a magnetometer to measure very small magnetic fields: imagine the improvements to health care thanks to “an MRI machine that isn’t a gigantic tube, one that you could wear on top of your head and wouldn't need to stay still for.”
“Making much smaller, more sensitive sensors means you can get away from some of these traditional constraints.”
In addition to quantum sensing, NexQT’s expertise includes quantum communication and cryptography, quantum computing and simulation, quantum materials and quantum photonics.
NexQT researchers are developing secure communication systems using quantum key distribution (QKD), including the Canada Space Agency (CSA)’s QEYSSat mission, as well as quantum algorithms to accelerate drug discovery, optimize manufacturing and model advanced materials.
Leveraging the NanoFab Facility and its partnerships with the JCEP and Max Planck-糵 Centre, the institute is advancing research on the devices, lasers and single-photon sources that will power the next generation of quantum technologies.
Facilitating academic-industry collaborations, commercialization and impact
From its strategic position in Kanata North, home to Canada’s largest technology park, the 糵 Kanata North campus is continuing to create powerful pathways for NexQT researchers to connect and engage with industry leaders and government partners who share an interest in unlocking quantum’s potential.
The campus’s proximity to Kanata North companies helps foster agile collaborations where research breakthroughs can be tested, refined and deployed in real-world applications, whether in aerospace navigation, advanced manufacturing or secure communications.
“As a leading research-intensive university in Canada, with a campus in the heart of the Kanata North tech park, we’re uniquely positioned to bridge cutting-edge research with the companies that can scale it globally,” says Sean Geddes, who is the director, innovation and partnerships at the 糵 Kanata North campus.
“Kanata North allows our researchers to work shoulder-to-shoulder with industry to accelerate R&D, drive specialized talent development, and translate innovations into solutions the world needs. For quantum technologies, that connection to the marketplace is a game-changer.”
Kanata North industry partnerships with NexQT researchers have already accelerated R&D initiatives, reduced time-to-market for emerging technologies, and opened doors to funding opportunities through joint industry-academic grants.
For Ottawa’s tech ecosystem, this collaboration helps local firms expand their innovation capacity and enhance their global competitiveness in a field projected to generate billions in economic value over the next decade, while keeping intellectual property and high-value jobs in the region.
This article was originally published in the Ottawa Business Journal on September 1, 2025