Creation of Luqia: Canada’s Leading Industrial Innovation Lab in Photonics and AI

Press Release

Quebec City, February 20, 2026 – The National Optics Institute (INO) and the Montreal Computer Research Centre (CRIM) are pleased to announce the creation of Luqia, a brand-new industrial innovation laboratory dedicated to the development and industrialization of critical technologies in AI and photonics, serving the needs of security, defence and other strategic sectors.

By consolidating the activities of INO and CRIM, Luqia becomes Canada’s leading industrial innovation laboratory dedicated to serving Canadian businesses. Its mission is clear: to develop and industrialize critical technologies in AI, advanced photonics and quantum technologies.

With more than 250 experts based at its Quebec City and Montreal facilities, Luqia will, starting April 1, provide SMEs, large enterprises, and institutional partners with access to multidisciplinary expertise and secure infrastructure. These capabilities will enable organizations to design, test, and deploy high-impact technologies, particularly in critical sectors such as defence, aerospace, cybersecurity and Arctic and space surveillance.

A strategic partner for today’s challenges

At a time of growing trade tensions and the shifting of global value chains, local mastery of critical technologies such as AI, photonics, and quantum technologies has become a strategic imperative. Luqia aims to give Quebec and Canadian businesses a decisive competitive advantage while also strengthening Canada’s national defence capabilities.

By combining expertise in photonics and AI, Luqia’s teams are paving the way for a new generation of intelligent systems that integrate ultra-high-precision optical sensors with AI algorithms capable of capturing, interpreting, and acting on complex data in real time. These capabilities are essential for autonomous platforms, advanced surveillance systems, and national-security applications.

Luqia was established with support from the Government of Canada through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, to strengthen Canada’s industrial innovation capacity in critical technology areas related to AI, photonics, and national security.

Quotes

“Today, we are making powerful drivers of economic development more accessible, strengthening the competitiveness of local industries amid trade tensions, and boosting innovation in key sectors, such as defence, aerospace, life sciences and advanced manufacturing.”

— Sébastien Proulx, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Luqia

“Preparing industrial sectors for tomorrow’s reality, shaped by the rapid convergence of AI, photonics and quantum technologies, is now imperative. Economies that succeed in developing and mastering these critical technologies locally will secure a decisive competitive edge as global value chains are reshaped and competition intensifies.”

— Alain Chandonnet, CEO of the new industrial innovation lab

“Artificial intelligence offers immense potential, but its use in critical applications demands rigorous oversight, robust assurance and reliability. We are proud to combine our expertise within Luqia to accelerate the transition from ideas to operational industrial solutions, for the benefit of local organizations and collective security.”

— Françoys Labonté, Executive Vice President of Luqia

About Luqia

Luqia is a newly established industrial innovation laboratory that unites the expertise and activities of the National Optics Institute (INO) and the Montreal Computer Research Centre (CRIM), bridging academia and industry. It brings together expertise in AI, advanced photonics, and quantum technologies into a single, integrated organization.

Luqia offers a unique capacity for research and development as well as high-performance pre-commercial prototyping, enabling the transformation of AI- and photonics-driven discoveries into market-ready products. This generates significant socio-economic benefits for businesses in Quebec and across Canada, while also contributing to national security.

Its activities, made possible through close collaboration with the Quebec Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and with Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, help increase productivity, enhance business competitiveness, and strengthen Quebec’s and Canada’s technological autonomy.

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Mathieu Bilodeau, Communications Manager