WATERLOO, ON, June 4, 2024  -- evolutionQ, a leading quantum-safe cybersecurity company based in Ontario, and the Kirq Quantum Communication Testbed operated by Numana, an innovation ecosystems accelerator based in Québec, have announced the first open public-access Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) network in Canada, powered by evolutionQ's BasejumpQDN product.

Numana and key partners will design, build and operate the Kirq Quantum Communication Testbed, a secure quantum network, between Sherbrooke, Montréal, and Québec City. Organizations of all sizes will have an opportunity to use a real world secure QKD network to help them explore and validate how this quantum-safe technology can interact with their current technology stack of network infrastructure and software applications. Because this testbed is publicly available to any organization and can be used on a fractional basis, it provides a cost-effective approach to build and expand an organization's quantum secure communications.

"This is the first quantum delivery network that prioritizes a multi-vendor strategy, modelling a realistic deployment of quantum hardware and allowing businesses to tap into the cybersecurity benefits of quantum-safe networks." said Michele Mosca, CEO of evolutionQ. "The goal of the Kirq quantum network testbed, is to provide organizations such as governments, small and large companies, as well as multinationals , immediate, and affordable access to established and emerging quantum technologies critically needed to help them validate their quantum readiness plans. evolutionQ is proud to provide our BasejumpQDN product to help enable Kirq's mission."

"For security leaders in critical infrastructure and financial services, the risks are becoming clearer and there is an increasing need to develop a quantum-readiness plan that promotes vigilance towards growing cybersecurity threats, both from traditional attack vectors and new threats posed by quantum computers. "said François Borrelli, CEO of Numana. "The Kirq quantum network testbed is an affordable stepping stone to helping organizations innovate new technologies that are protected and safe from the risks posed by harvest now, decrypt later attacks with quantum computation."