The launch comes amid growing concern that advances in quantum computing could undermine the encryption methods currently used to protect financial transactions, healthcare records and critical communications networks. Experts warn that sufficiently powerful quantum computers could eventually break widely used cryptographic systems, creating new security risks across the digital economy.
Kirq is Canada’s only quantum‑safe technology test bed and is designed to simulate real‑world operating conditions. The platform allows organisations to test quantum‑secure technologies, identify vulnerabilities in existing networks and evaluate solutions before they are deployed at scale. The Québec City site is hosted at Université Laval’s Centre for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL) and the National Optics Institute (INO), part of Canada’s largest concentration of expertise in optics and photonics.
“Quantum computing will reshape cybersecurity,” said Bernard Duval, president and chief executive of Numana. “We are in a race against time for new encryption to be tested at Kirq and implemented before bad actors and state‑sponsored hackers have quantum computing power. Kirq gives organisations a way to understand their vulnerabilities and make informed upgrade decisions before it’s too late.”
With the addition of Québec City, Kirq now operates a connected loop linking Sherbrooke, Montréal and Québec City, alongside several sub‑locations. The test bed is open to start‑ups, small and medium‑sized enterprises, large companies, academic institutions and international partners, serving sectors including financial services, healthcare, defence, telecommunications and critical infrastructure. Industry participants include companies such as Toshiba, Nokia, Bell and Telus.
At Université Laval, COPL will oversee the site’s implementation and operation, supporting testing, validation and technology demonstrations using advanced photonics and quantum research infrastructure. INO will act as co‑designer, host and technical facilitator, with a focus on validating quantum photonics technologies for secure terrestrial and satellite communications.
“This test bed allows us to test how next‑generation secure communications technologies work across real networks, including connections between ground‑based and satellite systems,” said Alain Chandonnet, president and chief executive of INO.
The expansion of Kirq aligns with Canada’s National Quantum Strategy and federal plans to migrate government IT systems to quantum‑safe cryptography by 2035. Industry partners say the initiative will help translate national policy goals into practical, deployable solutions.
“The Kirq test bed provides Québec with a unique platform to accelerate innovation in quantum communications,” said Jeffrey Maddox, chief executive of Nokia Canada, adding that the collaboration strengthens the province’s role as a strategic hub for quantum technologies.