Canada’s
National Quantum Strategy Survey
Executive Summary
Prepared for Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Canada (ISED) by Nanos Research
March 2024
This publication may be reproduced for
non-commercial purposes only. Prior written permission must be obtained from
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. For more information on
this report, please contact ISED at: publicopinionresearch-recherchesurlopinionpublique@ised-isde.gc.ca
© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as
represented by the Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024.
Catalogue Number:
IU4-434/2024E-PDF
International Standard Book Number
(ISBN): 978-0-660-71027-3
Aussi disponible en français sous le titre Sondage
sur la Stratégie quantique nationale du Canada.
Numéro de catalogue : IU4-434/2024F-PDF
Numéro international normalisé du livre (ISBN) : 978-0-660-71028-0
Quantum
science, an emerging field at the forefront of research and innovation, holds
immense potential to revolutionize various industries. From developing
life-saving drugs to creating next-generation batteries, quantum technologies
are set to reshape how we design and develop many things. Canadian scientists
and entrepreneurs are poised to capitalize on these opportunities and become
leaders in this fast-growing field.
The
National Quantum Strategy (NQS) is an initiative to bolster Canada's quantum
sector and ensure its prominent position among global frontrunners. The NQS
revolves around three key pillars: research, talent and commercialization.
Through strategic investments and targeted support, the NQS endeavours to
achieve key missions in quantum computing hardware and software, communications
and sensors.
Launched
on January 13, 2023, the NQS aims to catalyse the growth of Canada's quantum
sector and solidify its leadership in this transformative field. Specifically,
the NQS seeks to amplify Canada's existing strength in quantum research, foster
growth of quantum technologies and establish Canada as a global leader.
To
fulfil its responsibilities and ensure the effectiveness of the strategy, the
NQS Secretariat has committed to addressing data gaps and tracking progress. The
NQS Secretariat hired Nanos Research to conduct a quantitative survey,
targeting two key groups: Canadian businesses operating in the quantum field and
academics specializing in quantum. The primary
objective of this research is to gain deeper insights into the Canadian quantum
ecosystem.
Objectives
· Filling identified data gaps and tracking key
performance indicators;
· Assessing critical aspects of the quantum
ecosystem, such as inter-sector collaboration, quantum products and service
adoption, the evolving quantum job market and quantum community awareness of
NQS programming; and,
· Providing a more comprehensive and data-driven
understanding of the quantum landscape in Canada.
The survey was conducted online and was
deployed to a list provided by ISED and a total of 112 individuals
participated. The sample included 66 individuals in businesses/non-profits in
the quantum sector (46 unique businesses) and 46 academics (23 unique
universities/institutes) in the quantum sector. For business/not-for-profits,
only one response per organization was included. The survey had a response rate
of 26%.
The survey consisted of two streams: Stream
1: Industry/Non-profits and Stream 2: Academics. The questionnaire consisted of
separate modules for each stream with questions asked that are relevant to
each, as well as several core questions which were the same for both streams.
The
fieldwork was conducted between February 21st and March 1st,
2024. Details on the rate of participation can be found in Appendix A, and the
questionnaire is provided in Appendix B.
The contract value was $73,746.31
(HST included).
Supplier name:
Nanos Research
PWGSC contract number: CW2343345
Original contract date: 2024-12-27
For more information,
contact ISED at publicopinionresearch-recherchesurlopinionpublique@ised-isde.gc.ca
I hereby certify, as a Representative of Nanos
Research, that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada
political neutrality requirements outlined in the Government of Canada’s Policy
on Communications and Federal Identity and Directive on the Management of Communications.
Specifically, the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting
intentions, political party preferences, party standings with the electorate,
or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leaders.
Nik Nanos
Chief Data Scientist and
President
Nanos Research
nik@nanos.co
(613) 234-4666 x237
The
survey consisted of two streams: Stream 1: Industry/Non-profits and Stream 2:
Academics. The following key findings and report contain findings from the two
streams, and it is noted throughout which stream the findings relate to.
Research and collaborations
Industry and academic respondents most often report they or their organization conducts
research and development related to all of the quantum areas, in roughly
similar proportions. Quantum sensors was identified as an area of R&D for 48%
of academics; and 39% of industry respondents, quantum communications and
cryptography by 44% each of academics and industry respondents, and quantum
computing hardware (41% of academics; and 46% of industry respondents) and
quantum materials (37%).
Almost all industry (95%) and academic (96%) respondents
report collaboration with other players in the ecosystem. Academic respondents most often report
collaborating with universities and colleges in Canada the most (87%), followed
by universities and colleges in other countries (78%), companies located in
Canada (67%), and Canadian research institutes (61%). Only four percent of
academics report they do not collaborate with any of these entities. Similarly,
industry respondents most often report collaborating with universities and
colleges in Canada (85%), as well as companies located in Canada (77%),
companies located outside of Canada (71%) and Canadian federal government
laboratories (64%). Just five percent of industry respondents report their
organization does not collaborate with any of these entities.
Both industry and academic respondents rate collaborations
with universities and colleges in Canada as important (academics: mean score of
8.5 out of 10; industry: mean score of 7.9), however, industry respondents also
rate companies inside (mean of 8.2) and outside of Canada (mean of 8.1) as most
important. Academics are more likely to think collaborations with universities
and colleges outside of Canada is important (mean of 7.9) than industry
respondents (mean of 6.1).
In terms of the main benefits to these
collaborations, both academic and industry respondents often mention innovation,
advancing knowledge and the sharing of new ideas as the primary benefits (35%
of academics; 37% of industry respondents). Additionally, both groups mention
that the main output from these collaborations has been ongoing research
collaboration or just ongoing collaboration (93% of academics; 79% of industry
respondents).
Talent
Fifty-seven per cent of academic respondents
report their department has tried to hire a new faculty member in quantum in
the past six months, while more than two in three industry/non-profit
respondents report their organization has tried to fill positions in the last
six months for which a quantum science and technology background is important
(69%). Industry respondents report the search took place primarily within
Canada (89%), followed by the US (44%) or Europe (40%) and close to eight in
ten say their organization is likely (61%) or somewhat likely (18%) to hire
candidates in the next six months.
Sixty-one per cent of industry respondents report
their organization found qualified Canadian candidates that met their needs
(61%), and 64% report their organization filled some (42%) or all (22%) of the
positions they were hiring for. Industry respondents said the most effective
recruiting tools were social media (including LinkedIn) (64%), job posting
websites (i.e., monster.ca, Indeed) (38%) and a recruiting agency (27%).
When industry respondents were asked what the
biggest barriers are to hiring for their organization, top responses included a
lack of qualified candidates (36%), candidate expectations (i.e., salary and
benefits) (27%) and immigration barriers (22%). Industry respondents feel the
biggest shortages of qualified candidates in the sector are in quantum
computing hardware (49%), quantum communications and cryptography (47%),
quantum software (46%) and quantum sensors (44%).
Industry respondents noted women were the top
reported underrepresented group present in their organization’s workforce
(86%), followed by racialized persons (72%) and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community (49%).
The biggest challenges to have a diverse workforce included: few diverse
candidates available to fill jobs and a lack of qualified candidates in a field
that is already not diverse (43%), and that skills and talent are more
important (19%).
Nine in ten academic respondents say they are
likely (80%) or somewhat likely (11%) to remain in Canada in the next five
years to pursue their research and say funding opportunities (mean score of 8.9
out of 10) and quality of life (mean of 8.8) are the top factors that are most
important when choosing where to conduct their research. Similarly, a majority
of industry respondents say their company or organization is likely (71%) or
somewhat likely (14%) to remain in Canada for the next five years.
Regarding underrepresented groups included in the
workforce of their academic department, respondents most often report that
women are represented in their department (58%), followed by racialized persons
(42%), 2SLGBTQIA+ community members (33%), and persons with disabilities (22%),
while 27% report none of these groups are represented.
In terms of the main challenges related to hiring
a more diverse workforce, the top response for both industry and academics is
that there are few diverse candidates available to fill jobs and a lack of
applications (43% of industry respondents; 41% of academics).
Commercialization of
research
Over half (55%) of the respondents in both
industry and academic streams report they have filed a patent related to
quantum technology. Additionally, more than three in four industry and academic
respondents report they have engaged potential end users of their product and/or
service within the past year (78%), with industry respondents more likely to
report having done this (88%) than academic respondents (64%).
When asked about the level of interest potential
end users have in adopting quantum technologies, nearly all industry and
academic respondents say end users are interested (63%) or somewhat interested
(34%), but they are less likely to say end users are comfortable (20%) or
somewhat comfortable (49%) with adopting quantum products or services.
Examining barriers to end users adopting quantum
solutions, industry respondents most often said that use cases are still being
proven and not adopted widely yet (21%), it is too early for adoption, and their
work or technology is not ready yet (20%) and that there is a lack of knowledge
and understanding of the technology by end users (20%). When academics were asked
about barriers preventing the commercialization of their research, a similar
sentiment was shared, as they also often said that it is too early and the work
or technology is not ready yet (27%), followed by not being interested in
commercializing it (18%).
Awareness and use of federal
programs
Overall, both industry and
academic respondents rate themselves as knowledgeable (71%, score of 7-10) of
how federal programming can support quantum research and development (mean of
7.4 out of 10).
Survey respondents indicated a high level of awareness
of many federal quantum related programs supporting commercialization, for
example, a majority of industry and academic respondents report having heard of
the NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) (87%), followed by the
NRC Challenge Program (84%) and the Innovation for Defence Excellence and
Security (IDEaS)(81%). Industry and academic respondents who had heard of these
programs were most likely to report having applied for and received funding
from IRAP (37%), Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) (36%) and Regional
Development Agency funding (30%). Industry and academic respondents noted that
the application or approval process for these federal programs supporting
commercialization are too long or complex (20%) and there are too many
requirements, and they should be relaxed (10%).
In terms of federal programs that support research, both
industry and academic respondents were most likely to report having heard of
the NSERC Alliance Quantum federal program (87%), while two in three report
they have heard of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (67%) and just
over one in ten report awareness of the Bank of Canada PIVOT program (12%). One
in three of industry and academic respondents who have heard of the NSERC
Alliance Quantum program report they applied for and received funding (32%; 21%
report they have applied, and the decision is pending), while two in ten say
the same for the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (20%). When asked for
comments on their engagements with these federal programs, industry and
academic respondents mentioned the Alliance program doesn’t fund companies or
the private sector (24%) and nine percent said CIFAR doesn’t have open calls
for funding, and it is invitation only.
For federal programs that support talent, nearly all industry
and academic respondents reported having heard of the Mitacs program (98%),
while more than three in four had heard of NSERC Create (77%). More than half
of industry and academic respondents who have heard of Mitacs report they have
applied for and received funding (59%), while three in ten have received
funding from NSERC Create (31%; 11% report they applied but did not receive
funding). One in four industry and academic respondents each commented that the
federal programs supporting talents are good programs and they have applied
successfully (25%), that the programs are difficult to apply for or have too
many requirements (25%), that the programs don’t apply to industry and they
must go through academia to apply (25%).
Views
on the National Quantum Strategy (NQS)
Nearly all industry and academic respondents (98%)
reported being aware of that Canada released its National Quantum Strategy
(NQS) in January 2023, with close to one in two of those aware of the strategy,
saying they are satisfied with the three main aspects of the NQS: making Canada
a world leader in the continued development, deployment and use of quantum
computing hardware and software (54% satisfied, score of 7-10), ensuring the
privacy and cyber security of Canadians in a quantum enabled world, through a
national secure quantum communications network and a post-quantum cryptography
initiative (51% satisfied) and enabling the government and key industries to be
developers and early adopters of new quantum technologies (47% satisfied).
Over two in three industry and academic respondents
who have heard of the NQS agree (22%) or somewhat agree (47%) that the NQS
missions create clear priorities for quantum in Canada, while one in four
somewhat disagree (16%) or disagree (10%). When asked why they have that
opinion (either positive or negative), industry and academic respondents
mentioned the objectives being very broad (26%), not enough funding or issues
with funding (13%) and the implementation being slow or having issues with
implementation (12%).
A majority of industry and
academic respondents aware of the NQS (86%) report they have received
information from the Federal Government concerning events related to the NQS,
including workshops, roundtables and missions.