Qblox and the Institut quantique (IQ) of the Université de Sherbrooke have launched a groundbreaking scientific collaboration in the global quantum ecosystem. The IQ has been designated a Qblox Excellence Center, establishing a collaborative hub to advance quantum research and infrastructure, with the ultimate goal of deploying quantum computing at scale.
Designed to encourage graduate and postdoctoral research, the partnership provides access to cutting-edge technologies for future scientists. The two companies hope to address the difficult problems related to scaling quantum systems by fusing the cutting-edge academic research of the IQ with the industry-leading control technology of Qblox.
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A Vision for Distributed Heterogeneous Quantum Computing
A common long-term goal to lead the way in distributed heterogeneous quantum computing lies at the core of this partnership. To get from experimental laboratory setups to large-scale, functional quantum computers, this idea constitutes the fundamental infrastructure.
The collaboration will spearhead a phased co-development effort that combines the world-class research on transduction and hybrid quantum systems at the Institut Quantique with Qblox’s cutting-edge quantum control stacks. The goal of this collaboration is to identify and eliminate technical obstacles that impede the advancement of fault-tolerant quantum computing. The program aims to address industry bottlenecks through industry-academic collaboration, enabling future innovations that will shape the industry.
Equipping the Quantum FabLab
The quick modernization of the IQ’s Quantum FabLab (QFL) is a crucial part of this deal. Qblox’s cutting-edge modular control electronics system, a hardware suite renowned for its adaptability and scalability, is now installed in the building.
The university’s innovative research on a variety of qubit platforms is supported by this modular hardware. These systems will be used by IQ researchers to create and improve:
- Superconducting qubits
- Spin qubits
- Hybrid quantum systems
The importance of this technology was highlighted by Mathieu Juan, Scientific Director of the Quantum FabLab and associate professor at the Université de Sherbrooke. He said that the control electronics are enabling a “new level of flexibility” within the lab. Juan claims that this access enables the team to greatly increase their capacity to carry out research across many qubit modalities while helping to design control systems that satisfy the changing demands of the international research community.
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Training the Next Generation
Beyond technical research, workforce development is a major focus of the cooperation. Both Qblox and the IQ understand that a consistent flow of highly qualified engineers and researchers is essential to the expansion of the quantum industry.
Hackathons and scientific workshops will be jointly organized to achieve this goal. The purpose of these activities is to give students firsthand, practical experience with Qblox hardware. The program intends to provide the upcoming generation of quantum experts with the useful skills required to develop the subject by teaching students on the same technology utilized in the most cutting-edge quantum computing platforms in the world.
Leadership Perspectives on Global Collaboration
The CEO of Qblox, Niels Bultink, emphasized the need for close cooperation between business and top academic institutions to advance the state of the art. He pointed out that by accepting the Institut Quantique into the Qblox Excellence Center Program, the businesses are fostering an atmosphere where “cutting-edge control technology” and “pioneering academic research” may work together to address the most challenging issues in the industry. Bultink took delight in helping the Université de Sherbrooke with their “incredible work.”
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About the Partners
One of the top suppliers of fully integrated, scalable, and modular quantum control electronics is Qblox. Their goal is to enable fault-tolerant systems in the future by seamlessly integrating into high-performance computing (HPC) settings while powering today’s cutting-edge quantum computing platforms. Qblox services over 200 partners globally with a global workforce of over 150 workers.
The Institut Quantique (IQ) of the Université de Sherbrooke promotes quantum science globally with its advanced infrastructure and collaborative environment. The IQ teams aim to create innovative technologies that benefit society, the economy, and various industries through multidisciplinary training and innovation.
Building on a Momentum of Innovation
This statement comes after Qblox made a number of high-profile developments in the quantum field. In collaboration with QuantWare and Q-CTRL, the business introduced the Quantum Utility Block in late 2025 to offer a quicker route to quantum utility. Furthermore, Qblox has recently partnered with QuantrolOx to expedite QPU bring-up and with NVIDIA to speed up utility-scale quantum computing. The newest development in Qblox’s goal to build a strong infrastructure for the quantum future is the new collaboration with the Université de Sherbrooke.
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