When Stephanie Simmons was 16, the Institute for Quantum Computing changed the trajectory of her life. A newspaper article about the Ontario-based research hub introduced her to quantum technologies and their phenomenal potential. “From that point on, I focused my education and my career on learning all I could to figure out how to solve the challenges that stand in the way of creating these systems,” Simmons says.
Today, as founder and chief quantum officer of Photonic, the technologist is working to bring quantum computing out of the lab and into the real world—at scale. Founded in 2016, her company designs proprietary technology with the potential to unlock breakthroughs that are currently out of reach—from accelerating drug discovery to finding novel catalysts that would allow us to change the sustainability sector with new fuels or batteries.
Photonic’s approach stands apart in an often-theoretical field. Rather than chasing individual breakthroughs, the company is focused on building distributed, large-scale quantum computers and quantum networks that can integrate with existing telecom infrastructure. As Simmons explains, “We don’t just need quantum computers. We need scalable quantum computers.”
Now, the company is gaining serious momentum. In 2025, Photonic raised $180 million and was selected for both the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative at DARPA (the research arm of the U.S. Department of Defense) and Canada’s Quantum Champions Program—validation of its strategy to building reliable, large-scale quantum systems.
As co-chair of Canada’s Quantum Advisory Council, Simmons helps to maintain and increase the country’s quantum advantage in the global ecosystem. “Canada has demonstrated that not only are we contributing to the global quantum ecosystem—we’re shaping it,” she shares.
For Simmons, one of the biggest misconceptions about quantum computing is that it hinges on a single breakthrough moment. In reality, she says, progress comes from “systems, scale and decades of disciplined engineering.” When commercial quantum computers do arrive, they may appear to be an overnight success—but, like any transformative technology, they will be the result of years of careful design, iteration and collaboration.
“We’re at a pivotal moment,” she says, “and it’s an extraordinarily exciting time for those who understand what it’s taken to get here.”
What is your most-used app?
Teams.
Who is your role model?
“We can learn a lot from everyone around us!”
