Bell and the Université de Sherbrooke (UdeS) announced Wednesday they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on quantum technologies, post-quantum cybersecurity and sustainable data centre infrastructure.

The partnership combines Bell’s national network and infrastructure expertise with UdeS’s expertise in quantum research and cybersecurity, a Bell press release says.

“Together, the organizations will explore opportunities to develop advanced computing environments that bring together high-performance computing (HPC), quantum systems and secure data infrastructure — supporting the integration, testing and scaling of these emerging technologies in real-world environments,” reads the press release.

The agreement builds on Bell’s work to advance sovereign compute capacity and support the development and deployment of AI at scale in Canada through Bell AI Fabric, its full-stack AI platform anchored by Bell’s nationwide fibre network, data centre infrastructure, software, cloud capabilities, professional integration services, and ecosystem of Canadian technology partners, Bell said.

Under the MOU, the two organizations will collaborate on: post-quantum cybersecurity, exploring approaches to prepare networks and systems for emerging cryptographic standards and evolving security requirements; hybrid computing models, evaluating integration of HPC and quantum technologies to support advanced research and emerging commercial use cases; distributed data centre infrastructure, assessing sustainable small- to-mid-scale data centre models optimized for local energy use and heat recovery; and talent development, expanding opportunities for student training and applied research in advanced computing, cybersecurity and telecommunications.

“Working with the Université de Sherbrooke allows us to connect Canada’s research strengths with the infrastructure needed to bring new technologies into real-world use,” Michel Richer, president of Bell AI, Bell AI Fabric: Operations and Quantum, said in the press release. “By exploring how advanced computing, secure networks and emerging quantum capabilities can work together, we’re helping lay the groundwork for the next generation of AI and digital innovation in Canada.”

“The Université de Sherbrooke stands out for its recognized expertise in partnership-based research, particularly in the fields of quantum science and technology, cybersecurity, and energy innovation,” Vincent Aimez, vice president of partnerships and knowledge transfer at UdeS, said in a statement. “This partnership with Bell helps advance high-level research and accelerate innovation for the benefit of all our communities. It also offers unique training opportunities for our students, who will develop at the heart of sectors that are strategic to the sustainable future of our society.”

As part of their collaboration, Bell and UdeS will also partner with Queen’s University “to explore approaches to seamlessly link the national high performance computing environment with frontier quantum capabilities to support Canadian research, enterprise and public sector applications, while helping keep sensitive data and innovation within Canada,” Bell’s press release says.