3 February 2022

The City of Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada) has obtained one of the first two innovation zones designated by the Gouvernement du Québec. Named Sherbrooke quantique (Quantum Sherbrooke), the new innovation zone will be deployed in the high potential sector of quantum sciences and technological applications.

Sherbrooke has already established a strong ecosystem of research institutes, emerging companies, and world leaders working in several fields related to quantum sciences—including quantum computing and technologies, and component development for quantum computers.

Private and public investments of more than $435 million have been confirmed for Quantum Sherbrooke Innovation Zone, and more is in the pipeline.

From this amount, $131 million is injected by the Gouvernement du Québec to support 13 projects, which include installing in Estrie IBM’s fourth quantum computer outside the United States—it will be one of the world’s best commercial quantum computers.

Other companies that have confirmed investments include 1QBit, Pasqal, and Eidos-Sherbrooke, which will inject $205 million in total over the next five years.

In terms of research, the Government of Québec will be providing $3.5 million through the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT) to set up scholarship and research grant programs to support the implementation of the Quantum Sherbrooke Innovation Zone.

World-class innovation zones aim to attract talent, entrepreneurs, major prime contractors and researchers from Québec and elsewhere to territories where industrial, entrepreneurial, knowledge-based, connected, and collaborative activities are located in a diversified environment conducive to quality of life and well-being.

Quantum Sherbrooke Innovation Zone is the product of a unique and promising collaboration between local leaders: City of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke Innopole, Université de Sherbrooke, Cégep de Sherbrooke, Productique Québec, and Centre de formation professionnelle 24-juin of the Centre de services scolaire de la Région-de-Sherbrooke.

“Sherbrooke’s partners are delighted that the quality of their collaborative work has been recognized through the creation of Sherbrooke quantique, an ambitious world-class innovation zone in a sector of the future. They can now accelerate and complement their discussions with a number of private partners—local, national, and international—taking advantage of tremendous additional leverage. The zone is already utilizing leading-edge research expertise, an attractive living environment, and unique training partnerships to attract, train, and retain talented people from all walks of life by developing a new sustainable economy.”
– Josée Fortin, Interim Director General of Sherbrooke quantique 

Adapted from the Gouvernement du Québec’s press release