In a significant step toward the future of secure communications and advanced defence capabilities, Canadian start-up Photonic Inc. has been awarded a $1 million CAD grant under the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) programme. The grant comes as part of the NORAD Modernization Science and Technology Contest, a competitive initiative spearheaded by Canada’s Department of National Defence to bolster North America’s strategic technological edge. Photonic, a quantum computing company based in Vancouver, is developing modular, scalable quantum computers leveraging the power of silicon photonics. With this funding, the company plans to advance its quantum repeater and networking technology, tackling a crucial bottleneck in the evolution of quantum communications. The project aligns directly with Canada’s broader goal of modernising NORAD infrastructure while strengthening its partnership with the United States in continental defence. A focus on quantum repeaters and defence innovation At the heart of Photonic’s proposal is the ambition to overcome the limitations of current quantum repeater design. Quantum repeaters are critical components for building long-distance quantum networks, enabling the secure transmission of quantum information across vast distances without degradation. Today’s quantum communications face severe range limitations, as quantum states cannot be cloned or amplified in the same way as classical signals. Without effective repeaters, the dream of a truly secure quantum internet—and by extension, distributed quantum sensing systems—remains out of reach. By addressing these limitations, Photonic seeks to deliver robust performance benchmarks that could redefine next-generation quantum sensing and communication systems. For North America, such systems are more than just a technological curiosity—they represent a vital strategic capability in an era defined by cyber threats, data espionage, and contested global infrastructure. Entanglement First architecture and Canada’s industrialisation of quantum According to Stephanie Simmons, co-founder and chief quantum officer at Photonic, this recognition is more than just financial support—it validates the company’s groundbreaking “Entanglement First” architecture. Unlike conventional approaches that build quantum computing around computation-first frameworks, Photonic’s method prioritises entanglement distribution at scale, ensuring its platform is naturally suited for distributed computing and secure networking applications. “We are proud that Photonic was selected for this pivotal programme,” Simmons said in a statement. “This selection highlights the networking capabilities of our innovative Entanglement First architecture for distributed quantum computing and networking. We look forward to advancing the industrialisation of quantum technologies in Canada and helping to improve North American defence by enabling large-scale quantum deployment.” Her remarks underscore an important strategic shift: Canada is positioning itself not merely as a participant in global quantum development but as a leader in industrialising scalable quantum technologies. By nurturing companies like Photonic, the country aims to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world deployment, ensuring homegrown innovations translate into both economic growth and strategic resilience. Low-overhead error correction and telecom integration Another pillar of Photonic’s project is its innovative approach to error correction. Quantum systems are notoriously fragile, with quantum states easily disturbed by environmental noise. Photonic is developing repeaters that benefit from low-overhead error correction using QLDPC (quantum low-density parity-check) codes, including the SHYPS family of codes it introduced earlier in 2025. These codes reduce the hardware burden traditionally associated with stabilising quantum information, paving the way for scalable deployment. Equally important is the company’s emphasis on telecom wavelength compatibility. By ensuring its quantum repeaters can operate seamlessly over existing fibre-optic infrastructure, Photonic is lowering barriers to adoption. This integration means defence networks and civilian communications infrastructure alike could benefit from quantum-level security without requiring prohibitively expensive overhauls. NORAD modernisation and future-proofing North America’s defence The grant is not just about advancing technology for technology’s sake—it is deeply tied to the modernisation of NORAD, the joint U.S.-Canada aerospace defence command responsible for protecting the continent from threats ranging from missile strikes to cyberattacks. As part of its strategy, NORAD has been seeking innovations that future-proof North America’s defence systems against emerging challenges, including quantum-era cyber warfare. By supporting Photonic’s project, the Canadian Department of National Defence is betting on the transformative role of quantum-secure communications. In a geopolitical climate where state and non-state actors alike are investing heavily in quantum research, maintaining a technological edge is paramount. Photonic’s repeaters and scalable networking technologies could eventually underpin distributed quantum sensor networks, providing unparalleled advantages in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and secure command-and-control systems. Beyond defence: wider applications of quantum networking While the defence applications are clear, Photonic emphasises that the potential impact extends far beyond military systems. By establishing secure and scalable quantum networks, the company is laying the foundation for breakthroughs in climate resilience, advanced material science, and global secure communications. The same technologies that protect sensitive military data could also safeguard global financial systems, enable cross-border scientific collaboration, and accelerate innovation in fields as diverse as energy and pharmaceuticals. This dual-use nature of quantum technologies highlights why governments around the world are racing to fund quantum start-ups. For Canada, supporting Photonic is a strategic decision that not only bolsters defence but also positions the country at the heart of a new global technology economy. The global race to harness the power of quantum networking has intensified in recent years, as governments and private sector leaders alike recognize its potential to transform both national security and economic competitiveness. Canada’s decision to fund Photonic through the IDEaS NORAD Modernization programme is not taking place in isolation but is part of a wider international effort to establish early dominance in a field that is expected to redefine the digital world. By aligning its innovation policies with strategic defence priorities, Canada is positioning itself as a credible player in a geopolitical contest that spans the United States, Europe, China, and beyond. In the United States, significant investments have been made under the National Quantum Initiative Act, with billions of dollars flowing into research consortia, universities, and start-ups dedicated to quantum computing and networking. The U.S. Department of Defense and agencies like DARPA have long viewed quantum-secure communications as a strategic priority, given the potential of quantum technologies to disrupt encrypted communications and create vulnerabilities in existing systems. The transnational nature of NORAD makes Canada’s investment in Photonic all the more significant, as it signals not only a domestic commitment to quantum readiness but also a willingness to take on leadership roles within the North American defence alliance. Europe has similarly launched massive programmes under its Quantum Flagship initiative, which has allocated billions of euros to support quantum research across member states. Countries like Germany and the Netherlands are building large-scale quantum communication testbeds, while the United Kingdom has invested heavily in both academic centres of excellence and commercial ventures. China, meanwhile, has captured global attention with its headline-grabbing achievements, including the launch of the Micius satellite in 2016, which enabled quantum key distribution experiments over thousands of kilometres. Beijing has continued to fund ground-based quantum networks at unprecedented scale, raising concerns in Western defence circles that it may gain first-mover advantage in quantum-secure infrastructure. Against this backdrop, Canada’s support for Photonic is particularly notable because it demonstrates a deliberate strategy to integrate start-up-driven innovation into its defence posture. Rather than relying solely on academic laboratories or large government projects, Canada is betting on the agility and scalability of private companies that are closer to market-ready deployment. This approach mirrors successful models seen in Silicon Valley, where government contracts and grants helped accelerate the rise of firms that later transformed entire industries. By giving Photonic the resources to prove its technologies in a defence context, the IDEaS programme is effectively seeding an ecosystem that could become a cornerstone of Canada’s technological sovereignty. What sets Photonic apart in this competitive landscape is its focus on industrial scalability and integration with existing communication infrastructure. While many quantum networking projects around the world remain confined to small-scale demonstrations in controlled laboratory environments, Photonic is developing repeaters and modular architectures designed to plug into the telecom systems already in place. This pragmatic approach shortens the path from proof of concept to deployment, making it more attractive not only to defence planners but also to commercial stakeholders in telecommunications, finance, and data security. By ensuring that quantum networking can operate over fibre-optic cables that crisscross North America and the globe, Photonic is lowering the barriers for adoption and accelerating the timeline for real-world impact. Moreover, the company’s emphasis on error correction through QLDPC codes such as SHYPS represents a crucial breakthrough in addressing one of the biggest hurdles facing the field. Error rates have historically been a limiting factor for scaling quantum systems, with fragile qubits often collapsing before meaningful computation or communication could be achieved. By introducing more efficient methods of stabilizing quantum states, Photonic is demonstrating that the transition from experimental setups to commercially viable products is not only possible but imminent. This has implications not only for defence applications but for a wide array of industries that rely on secure and high-fidelity data transfer. The defence dimension, however, remains central to Canada’s strategic calculus. Quantum networking offers the promise of unhackable communication channels based on the laws of quantum mechanics. In an era where cyberattacks are increasingly sophisticated and adversaries are exploring post-quantum cryptographic methods, establishing such channels could provide a decisive edge. Secure quantum links between NORAD command centres, military bases, and surveillance systems would fundamentally change the resilience of North America’s defence infrastructure. For Canada, which plays a vital role in the joint aerospace and maritime defence of the continent, contributing a homegrown solution through Photonic is both a matter of national pride and strategic necessity. This momentum also has diplomatic significance. As Canada invests in Photonic, it is strengthening its role as a trusted partner to the United States in co-developing advanced technologies for mutual security. At the same time, it signals to allies in NATO and other alliances that Canada is not merely a consumer of defence technologies but an innovator capable of contributing to shared technological frontiers. In a world where security is increasingly defined by access to advanced computing, networking, and artificial intelligence, this contribution enhances Canada’s international standing and bargaining power. Looking ahead, the successful implementation of Photonic’s quantum repeater and networking project could establish Canada as a hub for quantum-secure communication systems. Such leadership would not only boost the nation’s technological reputation but also attract further investment from both domestic and foreign partners seeking to benefit from Canada’s expertise. With the world moving rapidly toward quantum readiness, the country’s support of Photonic is a bold step that demonstrates foresight, strategic clarity, and a commitment to aligning innovation with long-term security and economic prosperity.