Evidence of meeting #13 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was research.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Professor and Scientific Director, Quantum Institute, Université de Sherbrooke, As an Individual
My answer will be incomplete because, as was mentioned during the previous hour, it really differs from one university to another and takes on a very local character. In this regard, each university's situation is unique.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
I am very interested in electric and battery-powered cars.
What are the possibilities in that regard? Are you able to initiate a knowledge transfer or knowledge appropriation to contribute to the energy transition and the value chain of batteries? What could you tell us about that?
Professor and Scientific Director, Quantum Institute, Université de Sherbrooke, As an Individual
I could tell you two things.
First, we need to look at new materials, quantum materials, that would potentially have better properties. Those materials don't exist yet, but we could imagine them. That would be one area to research.
Second, quantum computers could be used to simulate those materials and those processes, to improve batteries. That is something that is under discussion. It is not yet possible to do it using the current generation of quantum computers.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
I like your answer.
In the meantime, are you afraid that certain materials may become scarce? Obviously, we can think of critical and strategic minerals.
Professor and Scientific Director, Quantum Institute, Université de Sherbrooke, As an Individual
Very much so. My comments do not answer that important aspect of the question. It would be projecting, but we can hope that this work will one day help us find an alternative approach that does not use rare metals, which are difficult to obtain.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Thank you, Mr. Blais. It was a privilege to speak with you.
Professor and Scientific Director, Quantum Institute, Université de Sherbrooke, As an Individual
And thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you.
Mr. Masse will ask the last questions.
You have the floor for two minutes.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'll start with Mr. Blais really quickly and go across the board.
This is the first time we've studied the question of quantum computing at the House of Commons. Could you give us some quick advice as to where this committee should go next? If you were to prioritize one or two things, what would they be? What advice could you give us?
I would appreciate that advice.
Professor and Scientific Director, Quantum Institute, Université de Sherbrooke, As an Individual
That's a good question and it is very broad, so I could give several answers.
First, thank you for taking the time to do this study.
I am going to go back to the strategic choices made in the national strategy. In that strategy, we have to make sure not to scatter the dollars all over. We have to make choices, which may be difficult, but which are necessary.
And again, we have to think about talent and visas, as I said earlier. That is something that is completely outside the national strategy but that will have an immediate tangible effect for the entire community.
Thank you. I am sure my colleagues will have something to add.
Executive Director, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, As an Individual
Maybe I can add to that. That is really going in the same direction Dr. Blais said.
The national quantum strategy should be more than funding programs that have “quantum” in their title. The important thing is the coordination between academics, government and industry. We need to have this vehicle that really comes together, makes its focus points and says what it is we should be doing.
Building on the strength that you already have is also what you need to take into account. You need to talk especially about what our national priorities are. For example, cybersecurity and being quantum safe are very important. You need this coordination, and I think that is a very important thing for sure, to make sure that the strategy takes this coordination into account.
Professor and Scientific Director, Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, University of Calgary, As an Individual
I have just one comment. That's what the Americans call “soup to nuts”. The soup would be the creation side, the academic. The nuts would be the final beneficiaries, those getting benefit out of it.
I think it's important to keep an eye on and always to keep aware of that full menu, from soup to nuts.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you, Mr. Masse.
Mr. Sanders, Mr. Lütkenhaus, and Mr. Blais, the committee thanks you enormously for being with us. It has been very enlightening. We still have a long way to go, but it is important to look at quantum computing and all its possibilities. I would like to thank you for the light you have shed and I wish you a very lovely weekend.
I would also like to thank all the committee members, interpreters, clerks, analysts and technical support officers.
Have a good weekend, everyone.
The meeting is adjourned.