Fransen leaving Industry Canada to head Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing

The Univ of Waterloo’s (U of W) Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) is taking another step towards its goal of becoming a world-leading centre for quantum information with the appointment of David Fransen as its inaugural executive director. Fransen is stepping down from his position as associate DM of Industry Canada’s policy sector to take up his new duties in January.

He will bolster the IQC management team currently headed by director Raymond Laflamme, who will remain with the institute in addition to his other duties, including a Canada Research Chair in quantum information at the U of W.

“I will focus on the vision and the science while David will be responsible for administration, government outreach and fundraising,” says Laflamme. “At heart I am a scientist and I will work closely with him to help realize our dream of Canada becoming a superpower in quantum information. He complements our expertise.”

The IQC was created in 2002 and has received $50 million in support through two donations from Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO of Research in Motion Ltd. The latest donation of $17 million last April allowed IQC to increase faculty to 30 and support 50 post doctoral fellows and 150 students.

The support has also triggered the go-ahead for a new building which should start construction sometime this winter.

“We’ve built up a strong science team with internationally recognized expertise,” says Laflamme, adding that fundamental research and high-profile technology firms are cementing the City of Waterloo’s image as a major hotbed of creativity. “There’s a buzz in this town and it’s being created by incredibly motivated people.”

Fransen’s secondment from Industry Canada suspends a 25-year career at senior levels of the civil service including stints with the Privy Council Office, Finance and National Defence. He reportedly turned down the opportunity to head up Industry Canada’s recently rejigged policy shop. He is the second senior Ottawa figure to he hired by IQC. Dr Tom Brzustowski was recently appointed senior advisor, after stepping down as president of the Science and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC).

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