Quantum technologies have the potential to bring transformative benefits to societies worldwide. Through the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies, G7 leaders committed to boosting international cooperation between like-minded partners to realize the full potential of these technologies. 

As a step toward implementing this vision, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is leading an international joint call, which is anticipated to officially launch in late July of this year, with proposals due in late September. The upcoming funding opportunity aims to leverage complementary interests and research expertise across G7 and Nordic countries  to support bilateral or multilateral collaborative research projects in quantum science and technologies.

Participating international funders include:

• Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) 
• United Kingdom Research and Innovation - Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UKRI - EPSRC)
• NordForsk, which acts on behalf of the following Nordic organizations: Innovation Fund Denmark, Research Council of Finland, Research Council of Norway and the Swedish Research Council 
• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, German Research Foundation (DFG) *pending confirmation 

Additional funders may also join the call at a later stage.

Each project must include at least one Canadian researcher eligible to receive NSERC funds and at least one international collaborator eligible to receive funds from a participating international funder. The Canadian applicant must submit a single collaborative proposal on behalf of the Canadian and international research teams. As the lead agency, NSERC will conduct a merit review process for each proposal.

Collaborators and partner organizations from outside academia (industry, public or not-for-profit) are permitted but not required.

Each proposal may address any challenge in quantum science, but its objective must aim to advance research in any of the following quantum technologies:

• quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography
• quantum communications
• quantum computing
• quantum materials
• quantum sensing

NSERC will provide further information and instructions when the call officially launches in July.

For questions, please contact alliance_quantumquantique@nserc-crsng.gc.ca.

Canada’s contributions to this call are guided by its National Quantum Strategy and funded through early initiatives tied to its Defence Industrial Strategy. The investments of other participating international funders are guided by their own national quantum strategies or priorities, as applicable.