Program directory · National Research Council Canada
Quantum and Nanotechnologies
- Department
- National Research Council Canada
- Program code
- BNQ28 (NRC)
- Core responsibility
- Science and Innovation
- In Departmental Plans
- 2024-25 – 2026-27 · New since an earlier plan
What it does
The Quantum and Nanotechnologies program aims to accelerate knowledge generation and support the creation of new Quantum- and Nano-enabled solutions to make Canada a global leader in the development of future technologies for diverse applications. This is achieved by advancing cutting-edge science, and accelerating and de-risking innovation in quantum, photonic, electronic and nanomaterials. The program identifies emerging trends in these fields and translates them into technology platforms of strategic relevance to Canadian industry and society. These technology platforms, supported by core capabilities in quantum and material science, as well as quantum and photonic device design, fabrication and testing, lead to the transformation of industries in multiple sectors of the Canadian economy. The program connects a wide range of technology developers with end users through multi-disciplinary collaborative research in state-of-the-art facilities. The program’s expertise is also used to inform national priorities or regulatory frameworks necessary for the successful deployment of emerging technologies in defense and security, transportation, manufacturing, health, and in support of Canada’s climate action plan. Finally, it helps advance the Canadian pipeline of science, technology, engineering and mathematics talent through training of highly qualified personnel.
Source: the department's Program Inventory, via GC InfoBase.
History and lineage
First appears in GC InfoBase's actual spending by program in 2024-25. The data does not record when a program was created; it may be older than its first appearance here, which is limited by the sources (program spending starts in 2010-11, Departmental Plans in 2018-19).
| Program | Relation | Years with data | Actual spending over those years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanotechnology | Earlier program (name match, medium confidence) | 2018-19 – 2025-26 | $63.3M |
| Quantum and Nanotechnologies | This program | 2024-25 – 2028-29 | $58.9M |
Significant changes in scope and budget
Detected from the data: renames between plans, programs it appears to replace, merge with or split into (matched by name), year-over-year changes in spending of at least 25% and $5M, or in employees of at least 20% and 25 FTEs, linked budget measures, and results indicators added or dropped.
| Year | What changed | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Appears to replace Nanotechnology | Canada Spends name match across plans (an inference) |
| 2026-27 | Planned spending $92.8M, against $57M in 2025-26 (+63%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
| 2028-29 | Planned spending $53.9M, against $81.3M in 2027-28 (−34%). | Latest Departmental Plan |
Success criteria
The program's indicators from its department's Departmental Results Framework: the target set in each year's plan, and the result reported the following year. Source: GC InfoBase.
Historical: targets against results
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | ≥ 1 | 2025 | 0.81 As QN completes its inaugural year as a unified research centre, efforts are underway to align strategic priorities. Moving forward, the three merged directorates are striving to establish a cohesive approach to meet future targets. | Not met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | ≥ 15 | 2025 | 49 | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | ≥ 250 | 2025 | 307 | Met |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | ≥ $5.9M | 2025 | $5.6M Target essentially met. | Not met |
Current: the 2026-27 plan's targets
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 1 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 40 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ 220 | 2027 | — | Planned |
Bars: result reported. Dashed line: target.
| Report year | Target | Due | Result | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | ≥ $6.5M | 2027 | — | Planned |
Future goals: targets due after 2026-27
No targets with a later due date.
Spending and employees: planned against actual
Spending
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | $55.5M | $58.9M |
| 2025-26 | $57M | — |
| 2026-27 | $92.8M | — |
| 2027-28 | $81.3M* | — |
| 2028-29 | $53.9M* | — |
Employees (FTEs)
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | Planned | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 244 | 243 |
| 2025-26 | 239 | — |
| 2026-27 | 235 | — |
| 2027-28 | 230* | — |
| 2028-29 | 224* | — |
Planned spending, plan by plan
Each row is one year's Departmental Plan and its forecast for the next three fiscal years; read a column down to see how the forecast for one year changed. The last row is what was actually spent. Click an amount for its source. Biggest changes in federal spending plans
| Plan | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 plan | $55,518,530 | $56,612,185 | $57,730,650 | ||
| 2025-26 plan | $56,964,908 | $58,080,611 | $58,417,715 | ||
| 2026-27 plan | $92,767,111 | $81,333,492 | $53,862,550 | ||
| Actual | $58,912,949 |
Actual spending is from Departmental Results Reports and the Public Accounts, as published in GC InfoBase. FTEs are full-time equivalents.
