Denmark and Canada have signed a joint declaration on deepened cooperation in quantum science and technology. The agreement was signed at the European Quantum Technologies Conference in Copenhagen (København, capital of Denmark) on 10 November and aims to promote increased research collaboration, talent exchange, and secure development of critical technology important for both innovation and defence.
The initiative is led on the Danish side by the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the Danish department responsible for research and higher education, with a focus on strategic areas such as security, technology, and international competitiveness.
According to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the Government of Canada, the declaration includes joint research projects, exchange of researchers and students, and cooperation on standardisation, security, and commercialisation. The joint declaration outlines how the quantum ecosystems of the two countries will be more closely connected and how the development of quantum technology will proceed responsibly and in line with shared values.
– Quantum technology deals with the smallest particles of the universe, but the potential is enormous. Therefore, our international cooperation must also be strong, says Denmark's Minister for Education and Science, Christina Egelund.
Canada's Minister of Industry, Mélanie Joly, emphasises the strategic value:
– Our cooperation in quantum innovation reflects a shared commitment to addressing the world's most pressing challenges, from defence to clean energy. Together, we leverage our combined expertise to act faster in the global technological race.
Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen also highlights that the cooperation strengthens the broader relationship between the countries, which already includes areas such as security, the Arctic, and energy supply.
Denmark and Canada have previously established connections in the quantum field, including collaborations between Canadian technology companies and Danish research environments, as well as through NATO's innovation programme.