This February, British Columbia’s quantum ecosystem takes the national stage as Quantum Days 2026 arrives in the province for the first time. Members of the UBC Blusson Quantum Matter Institute (UBC Blusson QMI) are thrilled to be part of the conference, contributing across all three days.
At 9:00 a.m. on February 18, UBC Blusson QMI Investigator and conference Chair Alannah Hallas will welcome participants during the opening ceremony.
On February 19 at 11:00 am, Andrea Damascelli will participate in a panel discussion on the National Quantum Strategy, exploring advances in quantum materials, the funding landscape supporting fundamental research, and regional strengths as quantum technologies mature.
Later that afternoon, at 3:20 pm, Joe Salfi will provide a presentation on the Consortium on Quantum Simulation with Spin Qubits (CQS2Q). The session will showcase the consortium’s collaborative approach and recent milestones in harnessing spin-based quantum systems to model complex physical phenomena.
On February 20 at 9:20 a.m., UBC Blusson QMI Scientific Director Marcel Franz will deliver a keynote titled Novel Quantum States: The Next Frontier of Scalable Computing, exploring how newly discovered quantum states could open pathways toward scalable quantum architectures.
At 3:00 p.m., Olivia Di Matteo will provide the program’s final keynote on Programming the Quantum Era: Algorithms, Applications & What’s Next, which demystifies how researchers write code for quantum machines and highlights the emerging application domains where quantum algorithms are poised to deliver transformational advantages.
Beyond research, policy and business, Quantum Days 2026 will also spotlight Canada’s emerging talent. The conference’s poster session will feature a diverse presence of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, underscoring the nation’s quantum training pipeline and its importance to Canada’s future.
Delegates will also have the opportunity to tour major research facilities in Victoria and Vancouver, including TRIUMF, UBC, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria, offering a closer look at the infrastructure supporting British Columbia’s quantum ambitions.
Quantum BC, a partnership led by the University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia, is proud to be a hosting partner for this year’s event.
Quantum BC will have a presence on the exhibition floor and career fair throughout the conference and invites attendees to connect with representatives to explore opportunities for training, collaboration and partnership.
UBC Blusson QMI’s Managing Director, Paola Baca; Facilities Director, Pinder Dosanjh; and Communications and Partnerships Manager, Zad Abbasi, will also be available throughout the event to discuss research capabilities, infrastructure, and partnership opportunities.
To view the full program, please click here.
Registrations will close on Feb 3, please register here.
