Quantum technology gets space for global discussion in Calgary
The University of Calgary is launching an initiative that will have specialists from different fields gather and study the implications of quantum technology.
The effort is a collaboration between the university, the province and Mphasis, the initiative's first industry partner. The partnership has allowed the university to dedicate a 17,000-square-foot space north of its campus to the initiative.
Megan Lee, the managing director of Quantum City, said the place will act as a vessel for ideas on how quantum technology can be used in our daily lives.
'We want to be the place where people from around the world will gather to essentially turn the quantum technologies into solutions,' Lee said.
Quantum technology is the application of the principles of quantum physics, which is the study of matter and energy at their most fundamental levels. The technology can be used in different fields, including medicine (MRI machines are one example of this application), communication, energy and aerospace.
The technology is in its infancy, and the world is still waking up to its capabilities, Lee said. For instance, quantum technologies could be used for navigation without GPS. Such technologies can also radically diminish the time it takes to compute solutions, which could affect the operations of many businesses.
Quantum technology also comes with risks. A quantum computer could bypass the most sophisticated encryption systems, raising concerns about not only individual privacy but also the world's economic and political systems.
Ultimately, the initiative's goal is to understand how to ethically use this technology while finding ways to mitigate its risks.
'We want to create a vibrant ecosystem, and hence create an economic and scientific hub for science in Calgary,' Lee said.
'It's kind of like a Y2K — we knew it was happening, then we had time to prepare for it… so we can learn from that experience and be better prepared for the days when quantum technologies are here.'
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