31 October 2019

A major player in quantum computing, 1QBit, is expanding its activities in Canada with the opening of an office in Sherbrooke, in partnership with the Université de Sherbrooke and its Institut quantique.

1QBit is a world leader in quantum computing software and hardware optimization. In addition to its head office in Vancouver, the company has offices in Waterloo and now Sherbrooke – the three major centers of quantum computing research in the country.

“Our continued growth in the last seven years has come largely due to our effectiveness in investing in the development of Canada’s top quantum researchers,” said Andrew Fursman, CEO of 1QBit.

The company wants to take advantage of its proximity to the Institut quantique to recruit researchers and graduates at the master’s and PhD level.

1QBit is currently looking to fill nearly a dozen internship positions, via Mitacs, in preparation for the opening of its new Sherbrooke office, in January 2020. For more information: https://1qbit.com/careers/current-openings/.

“This is tremendous news for the evolution of the Sherbrooke quantum eco-system, we couldn’t think of a better partner to be the first quantum computing company to establish a presence in the region,” said professor Vincent Aimez, Vice President, Partnerships and Knowledge Transfer, Université de Sherbrooke. “1QBit has the vision for how to deliver real value with quantum computing and they have built a strong reputation for championing the development of Master’s and Ph.D. interns in a very rewarding research environment.”

“Our commitment to IQ researchers and students, as well as to the broader Sherbrooke quantum eco-system is to accelerate the identification of viable opportunities to solve some of the world’s most complex problems with quantum computing,” said professor Alexandre Blais, scientific director of Institut quantique. “1QBit’s global leadership in this area will have a substantial impact across many quantum computing research disciplines in Sherbrooke.”

At Espace TI

1QBit benefited from the local expertise of Sherbrooke Innopole for its location in Sherbrooke, in Espace TI premises.

Josée Fortin, Executive Director of Sherbrooke Innopole, is delighted to welcome 1QBit to this exclusive coworking space for companies and IT professionals in Sherbrooke: “1QBit is the first quantum physics company to move in Espace TI. The arrival of this world-class player demonstrates that Sherbrooke has the talents, the expertise, the infrastructure, in short the ecosystem necessary to accelerate and materialize the quantum revolution, both in terms of research and business. We are pleased that 1QBit has chosen Sherbrooke to develop its technology, which has the potential to be applied to multiple industries.”

> 1QBit press release

Photo credit: Martin Blache – Université de Sherbrooke