Canada’s Minister of National Defence, David J. McGuinty, announced the launch of the Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub (DISH) in Calgary, Alberta, a University of Calgary-led consortium that will receive more than $20.3 million CAD over two years to move Canadian quantum research toward operational defense capabilities.
The hub’s mandate includes developing GNSS-independent navigation technologies and spoofing detection capabilities.
“Quantum will shape the next generation of defence capabilities, and Canada must be prepared to lead—not follow,” McGuinty said. “Through the Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub, we’re bringing together Canadian researchers, innovators, industry, and government to accelerate Made-in-Canada quantum technologies into mission-ready capabilities that strengthen the operational advantage of the Canadian Armed Forces while growing Canada’s sovereign defence industrial base.”
The Quantum DISH is established under Canada’s Bureau of Research, Engineering and Advanced Leadership in Innovation and Science (BOREALIS), a Department of National Defence framework for connecting government, industry and academic partners on defense innovation. It joins two existing BOREALIS hubs, the Maritime DISH pilot and the Uncrewed Systems DISH, and was selected through a competitive Call for Proposals held from February 18 to April 2, 2026.
GNSS resilience among four focus areas
The hub will organize work around four areas: quantum sensing, quantum communications, quantum algorithms and quantum hardware assurance. According to the Department of National Defence release, the work will support development of GNSS-independent navigation technologies, spoofing detection capabilities, quantum-secure communications and timing, decision-support tools, and testing and validation of quantum devices and systems ahead of deployment. The department said the hub is intended to reduce vulnerabilities in contested environments, including GPS spoofing, and to help maintain Canada’s technological advantage as global competition in quantum-enabled defense technology accelerates.
The consortium’s goal is to deliver validated prototypes to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Communications Security Establishment within two years.
Consortium and operation
The hub will be operated by the University of Calgary’s Quantum City initiative, under managing director Dr. Megan Lee. The 13-member consortium includes Lockheed Martin Canada, General Dynamics Mission Systems Canada, CAE, Dell Canada and Calian, along with academic partners the University of Saskatchewan, University of Alberta and University of Lethbridge, with the Saskatchewan institutions supported by the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation.
“Quantum City is uniquely positioned to build the cross-sector partnerships needed to advance quantum technologies for defence,” said Dr. Megan Lee, managing director of Quantum City. “By connecting defence stakeholders with researchers, innovators and industry leaders, the Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub will accelerate the development and deployment of quantum solutions to strengthen Canada’s defence and national security capabilities.”
Quantum is designated one of Canada’s sovereign capability priorities under its Defence Industrial Strategy. The Department of National Defence said DISHs are designed to provide secure, mission-oriented environments where trusted partners can collaborate on research, testing and validation of technologies for defense and national security use, addressing what it described as a persistent gap between defense innovation and defense procurement.
Lockheed Martin Canada is among the industry partners in the consortium. “We’re incredibly proud to be a supporting partner of Canada’s Quantum Defence Innovation Secure Hub, helping accelerate the transition of quantum R&D into field-ready capabilities for our Canadian Armed Forces,” said Kristen Leroux, vice-president and regional executive, Lockheed Martin Canada and Latin America. “By combining enterprise-level engineering rigour with the speed of innovation, our Lockheed Martin Canada team is ready and energized to collaborate with our DISH partners, empowering delivery of high-impact quantum technology from the lab to the field.”
