Meet the FoQaCiA partners: the University of Ottawa
The Ottawa node of the international FoQaCiA project is making significant strides in the fields of quantum communication and quantum cryptography. Under the leadership of Anne Broadbent (pictured below), the Principal Investigator (PI) at the University of Ottawa and coordinator for the Canadian side of the collaboration, the team is pushing the boundaries of classical simulation of quantum systems and their cryptographic applications. This work is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Anne Broadbent (above) is the FoQaCiA PI at the University of Ottawa, and Canadian project coordinator.
The Ottawa node of FoQaCiA consists of Anne Broadbent, one MSc student, and two postdoctoral researchers: Joshua Nevin and Connor Paddock. Their research focuses primarily on quantum communication and quantum cryptography.
Here are some recent highlights from the group:
Quantum Homomorphic Encryption: the team has released a preprint detailing a cryptographic application known as quantum homomorphic encryption, which allows direct computations on encrypted data with no need for decryption.
Open source software package: the group has also developed and published an open-source software package designed for the simulation of the homomorphic encryption protocol described above, a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners in the field.
Encrypted Bell nonlocality test: another preprint from the group introduces a protocol that implements an encrypted version of a Bell nonlocality test, enabling a type of certification of states and measurements known as self-tests.
Anne Broadbent and her team at the University of Ottawa will continue to drive innovation in quantum communication and cryptography, drawing on insights and interactions with the rest of the FoQaCiA consortium.
For more information, please visit the website of the University of Ottawa's Quantum Security via Algebras and Representation Theory Group.
About FoQaCiA
The FoQaCiA project aims to advance the understanding of the fundamental principles and methodologies that underpin the development of quantum algorithms. This includes exploring new algorithmic frameworks, optimizing existing quantum processes, and identifying innovative approaches to leverage quantum computing's unique capabilities. The project involves 11 partners from Canada and the EU, and is funded by NSERC, the European Commission, and UKRI. The project started in October 2022, and has already resulted in 7 open software packages and 50 preprints and papers, among other outputs.