Kevin Tuer
Chief Technology Officer, Communitech
Cybersecurity, AI, and quantum computing are converging, and Waterloo Region is emerging as Canada’s trusted hub for innovation.
Every digital system in the world is about to be tested.
Cybersecurity threats are multiplying. AI is evolving faster than most organizations can keep up. And quantum computing will eventually render today’s encryption useless.
Individually, each of these forces is powerful. Together, they form a trifecta that will change every major industry, from banking and health care to defence and manufacturing.
The stakes are high. These technologies are double-edged swords. AI can detect attacks, but it can also be used to launch them. Quantum computers will break security codes, but quantum cryptography will be the solution.
In this new reality, trust is the infrastructure. And Waterloo Region is where Canada is building it.
Why Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region has spent decades building a foundation of trust, and that experience is now shaping the technologies of the future.
Companies such as BlackBerry, eSentire, and 1Password put Waterloo Region on the map as a centre for cybersecurity. Their legacy of protecting data and systems continues to influence a new generation of startups developing AI applications.
At the same time, Waterloo Region has earned its global reputation as “Quantum Valley.” More than 300 researchers are advancing the field here, supported by two world-renowned institutes — the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo. Over $1.5 billion has been invested in the ecosystem, and Canada’s $360-million National Quantum Strategy was announced here.
What ties it all together is community collaboration. The University of Waterloo’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute, the Perimeter Institute, Quantum Valley Investments, and the University of Waterloo’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Institute create a full pipeline from research to talent to commercialization. An Innovation Arena, the new home of Velocity, the University of Waterloo’s startup incubator, opened its doors last year.
The ultimate proving ground for trust
Every industry will feel the impact of cybersecurity, AI, and quantum computing. Banks will need to protect financial systems. Hospitals will need AI tools that doctors can rely on in critical moments. Manufacturers, utilities, and transportation systems will need digital backends that are resilient against attacks.
The strongest test of trust comes in national defence. Decisions must be explainable and reliable, and the systems must hold up when the pressure is highest. The cost of failure is measured in lives.
That’s why NORAD and the United States Northern Command chose to visit Waterloo Region this year, meeting with 17 startups working on dual-use technologies in ethical AI, robotics, flight systems, and cyber resilience. The delegation had just come from leading AI firms in Silicon Valley, and chose Waterloo Region as its only Canadian stop to see firsthand the innovation happening on this side of the border.
For the innovation hub Communitech, it was also a return visit. Years ago, the same delegation had toured the Communitech Hub as part of a Royal Canadian Air Force delegation. That initial connection led to the creation of an innovation lab for defence-focused startups, which ran for many years inside Communitech. The fact that they chose to return shows that Waterloo Region has earned a reputation as a trusted hub where innovation is not only cutting-edge but also built with responsibility and deployment in mind.
Building tomorrow’s trust today
The digital world is evolving to the extent that cybersecurity, AI, and quantum cannot be adopted without consideration of each other. They are converging into the foundation of digital trust and sovereignty. To stay ahead, businesses need to embed cybersecurity into every layer, ensure AI is explainable and auditable, and prepare for the disruption that quantum computing will bring.
This isn’t only about keeping pace with technology. It’s about earning and protecting trust and maintaining sovereignty in an increasingly uncertain world. And Waterloo Region is becoming a proving ground where companies can build, test, and scale the secure systems the world will rely on.
If you’re looking for a trusted community where you can explore AI adoption, quantum readiness, or cybersecurity resilience, Waterloo Region has the talent, partners, and infrastructure to help you succeed and stay ahead.
Visit communitech.ca to learn more.
