Xanadu Receives $3.75 Million CAD to Boost Quantum Research, Education

Insider Brief

• Xanadu receives $3.75 million CAD through the Regional Quantum Initiative to accelerate the development of quantum software for practical applications.
• The repayable contribution is aimed at helping companies advance and commercialize their quantum products.
• The funding will accelerate the development of PennyLane, Xanadu’s open-source, cloud-based software framework.

PRESS RELEASE — Xanadu (xanadu.ai), a world leader in photonic quantum computing, received a repayable contribution from the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to help companies advance and commercialize their quantum products. This funding, through the Regional Quantum Initiative (RQI), will accelerate the development of PennyLane, Xanadu’s open-source, cloud-based software framework for quantum machine learning, quantum chemistry, and quantum computing.

“Southern Ontario is well-positioned for quantum breakthroughs because we are home to world-leading research centres and high-potential quantum companies, like the ones we are celebrating today. Businesses in this sector are creating incredible technologies and our government is providing support so they can bring them to market faster, advancing Canada’s role as a world leader in quantum technologies,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

“With today’s announcement, our government is strengthening Canada’s position in quantum technology and helping to boost economic growth and create good jobs for Canadians. Through these investments, we will continue to build this sector and support made-in-Canada technologies that will have a major impact on industries like computing, communications, security and health care,” said Bryan May, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Small Business and to the Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario.

Viable applications of quantum computers are contingent upon achieving fault-tolerant quantum computation (FTQC). Great strides have been made in the field, and to continue the development of quantum computing technologies and ensure FTQC is achieved, the future quantum workforce must be well-trained.

Since 2016, Xanadu has been on a mission to make quantum computers useful and available to people everywhere. One key for that mission is accessibility to top-tier quantum education that will help build the future quantum workforce. To support this goal, Xanadu has worked with numerous universities across Canada and the world to create custom educational programs and has established a dedicated quantum community team that runs educational events, creates free educational materials, and engages directly with the community.

As a budget commitment in 2021, the Government of Canada launched its National Quantum Strategy in January 2023, which is underpinned by three pillars: research, talent, and commercialization. FedDev Ontario is one of the regional development agencies focused on supporting high-potential quantum projects and scaling promising Canadian companies.

Through RQI, Xanadu is receiving a repayable investment of $3.75 million to accelerate its core quantum software, PennyLane. This funding will create 22 new quantum jobs, further strengthening Canada’s quantum workforce. The objectives of this project include advancing the operating infrastructure to provide a broader cloud offering, as well as increasing community support and creating more user engagement materials.

“We are thrilled to receive this FedDev Ontario support to advance our quantum technology, build a larger quantum community, and further strengthen Canada’s position as a global quantum leader,” said Christian Weedbrook, Xanadu Founder and CEO.