OTTAWA — The Government of Canada has opened new funding challenges focused on quantum technologies and digital trust through its Innovative Solutions Canada program, seeking proposals from Canadian businesses to develop and test emerging technologies for public-sector use, according to federal program documents released this month.
The challenges, administered by Innovative Solutions Canada, are aimed at advancing quantum technologies and strengthening trust and verification in digital government services. The funding opportunities were listed among the program’s open competitions with application deadlines in mid-June, according to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED).
Under the quantum challenge, the federal government said it is seeking pre-commercial prototypes that could help improve Canada’s ability to assess, test and adopt emerging quantum technologies. The program identifies potential applications in areas including sensing, communications and computing, with an emphasis on supporting public safety, security and economic development.
A separate challenge focused on trust and verification in digital government seeks technologies that can strengthen confidence in online interactions by ensuring identities, credentials and system-to-system exchanges are verifiable and interoperable across government services, according to program documents.
“We are seeking pre-commercial innovative prototypes” that can help government organizations evaluate and adopt emerging technologies, the program documentation states.
The initiatives form part of Canada’s broader effort to support domestic innovation through government procurement and testing programs. Innovative Solutions Canada operates challenge and testing streams that provide opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses to develop technologies addressing government needs. According to federal information, the program uses contracts and grants to support research, development and prototype testing.
The launch comes as Canada increases its focus on advanced technologies, including quantum computing, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. Last month, federal officials highlighted quantum technologies and digital innovation among Canada’s priorities during meetings of G7 digital ministers in Paris, according to an ISED news release.
In addition to the testing-stream opportunities, the government recently opened a challenge seeking solutions for scalable quantum networks and distributed sensing through the development of quantum repeater technologies. That initiative is intended to support long-distance quantum communications and multi-node quantum networks, according to ISED.
Applications for the quantum and digital trust testing challenges closed on June 17, according to the program website. Federal officials have not yet announced successful applicants, and details on future evaluations and potential prototype testing remain pending.
