The Canadian government is betting big on quantum computing, and the chips are photonic. Ottawa announced a C$195 million loan (roughly $140.78 million USD) to Xanadu Quantum Technologies for a new photonics manufacturing and R&D facility, marking the largest government investment in quantum technology in Canadian history.
The facility will be built inside a former Campbell’s Soup factory in Etobicoke, Ontario.
From soup to qubits
The 158,000-square-foot facility, dubbed the “Inception” hub, is the centerpiece of what Xanadu calls Project OPTIMISM. The federal loan comes through Canada’s Strategic Response Fund, but the total funding package could reach C$390 million when provincial contributions are included.
Xanadu expects the project to create approximately 275 jobs. The first phase of the facility is targeted for completion by mid-2027, with the full build-out planned over five years.
