On 26 March, 15:00-16:00, we are delighted to host Christian Sarra-Bournet from Distriq (Québec Quantum Innovation Zone) and Olivier Labrèche from Mila (Québec's Artificial Intelligence Institute) for a webinar where they will present how they build up the ecosystem there.
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Abstract
Distriq, Québec’s Quantum Innovation Zone in Sherbrooke
This has rapidly become a cornerstone of the province’s quantum innovation landscape, driving research, commercialization, and industrial development. Officially designated in 2022 and backed by major provincial and federal investments, Distriq integrates world‑class research capabilities, cutting‑edge infrastructure, entrepreneurial acceleration, and strategic partnerships to position Québec as a global leader in quantum technologies. Acting as a hub connecting academia, industry, and government, Distriq plays a pivotal role in structuring Québec’s broader quantum strategy and strengthening coherence across the ecosystem. This presentation will explore these dynamics in detail, illustrating how Distriq functions not only as a powerful local engine of innovation but also as a key connector aligning Québec’s strengths with Canada’s wider quantum ambitions—ultimately contributing to a competitive, integrated, and internationally engaged quantum economy.
Mila, Quebec's Artificial Intelligence Institute
Founded by Professor Yoshua Bengio—a central architect of the modern AI revolution—Mila is the world’s largest academic research center dedicated to deep learning. Today, the institute unites over 1,500 researchers and professionals, 150 faculty members, and a robust network of 150 partner organizations. While Mila consistently drives fundamental scientific discovery, it is equally committed to the ethical and socially responsible advancement of artificial intelligence.This presentation will explore how Mila successfully bridges academia and industry to foster a dynamic innovation ecosystem. It will specifically highlight Mila's pioneering expertise at the intersection of quantum computing and AI, while outlining strategic plans to support research and development on next-generation compute platforms, which will include Quantum Processing Units (QPUs) and novel chips.
About the presenters
Christian Sarra-Bournet is the co-founder and the Executive Director of the Institut quantique (IQ) at Université de Sherbrooke since its inception in 2015. IQ is a research community of 300+ members that brings together experts in quantum materials, quantum information, and quantum engineering. Christian was one of the architects of the From Quantum Science to Quantum Technologies initiative, an ambitious project selected as one of five for Canada's inaugural Canada First Research Excellence Fund competition, which was pivotal in the genesis of the Canadian quantum national strategy. He has since made significant contributions to quantum science and technology research and training, notably establishing Canada's first IBM Quantum Innovation Center and the world's first francophone bachelor's degree in quantum information science at Université de Sherbrooke.
Christian is also the scientific director of Distriq, the quantum innovation hub of the city of Sherbrooke and serves on the governing boards QVStudio, a quantum startup accelerator and Prompt (one of Quebec's nine industrial research clusters specializing in information and digital technologies). He also sits on the scientific advisory committee of the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ) Nature and Technology sector, and the Cybersecurity and Digital Expert Committee of the Ministère de la Cybersécurité et du Numérique.
Christian holds dual Ph.D. degrees in Materials Engineering from Université Laval, Canada, and in Electrical Engineering from Université de Toulouse, France.
Olivier Labrèche is a Senior Partnerships Advisor at Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute. With a foundational background in avionics software and telecommunications, he transitioned to applied machine learning in 2018, successfully deploying AI solutions across the retail, banking, and energy sectors. Since joining Mila in 2024, Olivier has spearheaded initiatives to cultivate quantum expertise and drive collaborative, industry-backed research at the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum computing. He holds an M.Sc. in Communications Engineering from the Technical University of Munich and a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from McGill University.
If you are intersted to join us, please sign up
here.
