Canada and the United Kingdom signed an agreement on Thursday to jointly advance a biomanufacturing program and conduct innovative research in the field of quantum science.
The program will be supported by a $32 million fund and will focus on developing and producing goods needed to efficiently respond to future health emergencies. The funding will be jointly distributed by the National Research Council of Canada and the government agency Innovate UK.
It will also build upon current and past biomanufacturing activities undertaken by the two countries like those from the NRC and help to support work Canada is currently engaged in through its Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy.
The strategy prioritizes cooperation with other countries that have similar goals and interests and Canada believes the U.K. is a particularly valuable partner because of its innovative pharmaceutical research, top-notch academic sector, investor community and infrastructure for clinical trials and manufacturing.
The agreement signed by ministers François-Philippe Champagne and George Freeman will also prioritize cooperation on in-depth research into quantum science and technology. Canada and the U.K. want to strengthen the supply chain for quantum products and build the talent pool needed for a substantial workforce in the field.
🚨#BREAKING@GeorgeFreemanMP and @FP_Champagne have signed agreements worth over £24m to deepen 🇬🇧🇨🇦cooperation in #Science and #Innovation
The package will see us work closely in;
💿Quantum
🧫Biomanufacturing
🌎 Climate changeFind out more 👉https://t.co/060bXQYgo2 pic.twitter.com/QVvHyq0Rok
— UK in Canada 🇬🇧🇨🇦 (@UKinCanada) June 8, 2023
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The partnership will help to support Canada’s National Quantum Strategy through sharing knowledge with the U.K. and will help to accelerate the development of quantum technologies like novel computers, precision sensors and reliable communication networks.
The National Quantum Strategy was announced in January this year and backed by an investment of $360 million.
“Today’s memorandum of cooperation on biomanufacturing and the joint statement on quantum science and technology are important steps in making the most of our world-class capabilities, which will drive innovation and economic growth in both our countries,” said Champagne.
“As we deepen our global science and technology collaborations with key R&D economies, I’m delighted to be in Canada to agree on a range of sectors in which to deepen our longstanding collaboration: from AI, biosecurity and engineering biology through to quantum, space sustainability and polar research,” said Freeman.
Canadian companies currently involved in the field of quantum science include Toronto’s Xanadu Quantum Technologies, Burnaby’s D-Wave Systems (NYSE: QBTS) and Photonic Inc.
In May, Quantinuum, a subsidiary of the U.K.’s Cambridge Quantum Computing and Honeywell International Inc.(NASDAQ: HON), launched the new H2 quantum processor — a significant development in the field.
rowan@mugglehead.com
