Category: Uncategorized

State of Quantum Executive Lounge

Posted on by Michele Fash

On October 20th and hosted by Digital Nova Scotia, executives, founders, entrepreneurs, ecosystem partners, and technology leaders are gathering for an invite-only Executive Lounge to explore the evolving world of quantum technologies, innovation, and post-quantum cybersecurity.

Presented by IonQ, with support from ACENET and Invest Nova Scotia, this event will connect participants with expertise and perspectives from across the quantum and innovation ecosystem.

As quantum technologies advance, business leaders are increasingly being asked to understand what they could mean for their organizations—from emerging applications in cybersecurity, computing, communications, logistics, finance, health, energy, and defence to the growing importance of preparing for a post-quantum future.

Through short presentations from quantum subject matter experts, executive roundtable discussions, and curated networking, attendees will explore where quantum technology is headed, practical and emerging industry applications, the importance of post-quantum cybersecurity, and what organizations can do today to prepare for future opportunities and risks.

Designed to make quantum approachable and relevant for business leaders, this Executive Lounge will provide practical insights, candid conversation, and valuable connections to help decision-makers better understand the quantum landscape and what it could mean for their organizations.

If you are a business leader seeking to explore quantum for your organization, or a researcher delving into the field and would like to attend, please contact derek@digitalnovascotia.com.

ACENET Partners with Qollab and IonQ in Quantum Hackathon

Posted on by Michele Fash

Qollab and IonQ have launched a global quantum computing hackathon, and ACENET is the Atlantic Canadian partner. 

Teams of one to four participants will compete for a first prize of $10,000, plus quantum compute time valued at $20,000. If at least 10 Atlantic Canadian teams enter, there will be local prizes too! 

Competitors don’t need quantum computing experience to enter. Projects will be built in Qiskit on IonQ’s quantum simulator. Every project will be published on Qollab under an MIT license, so anyone can fork it and keep expanding on the idea after the weekend ends.

Judges are looking for participants to build something new with quantum. A real-world application, a game, a piece of art. A demo that makes a hard idea click. They want projects that competitors will proudly add to their portfolios. Judging will be based on novelty and creativity, as well as technical execution. 

There are both student and professional tracks. 

Registration opens September 28th.

Details and Registration

Four Atlantic Students Participate in Calcul Québec Summer Quantum Program

Posted on by Michele Fash

ACENET has secured four spots for Atlantic Canadian university students in Calcul Québec’s 2026 online summer program in quantum computing, now in its second year.

Open to university students from all fields, the participants have free access to both a supercomputer and Calcul Québec’s MonarQ, a 24-qubit universal superconducting quantum computer. MonarQ was designed in Quebec by Anyon Systems and is available to researchers and innovators across Canada. Through the support of Quandela, a European company specializing in photonic quantum computing, participants also have access to Belenos, a 12-qubit photonic quantum computer, along with Quandela’s software tools for designing, simulating, and experimenting with quantum algorithms.

Along with the compute access, the students receive specialized training and mentorship throughout the summer from Calcul Québec’s quantum team. 

The projects accepted into the program could range from a first exploration of quantum computing to more advanced approaches, and fall into one of three categories:

  • Hybrid quantum algorithms
  • Simulation of quantum systems on classical computing clusters
  • Quantum software development tools

Out of 55 applications received, 19 projects from 10 Canadian universities were selected, based on project feasibility and candidate motivation. One application from each Atlantic province was selected. One of ACENET’s training specialists will help guide these projects while benefiting from the Calcul Québec team’s quantum expertise.

Congratulations to our Atlantic Canadian participants:

Chandler Acorn, University of Prince Edward Island
Muhammad Umair Akram Butt, University of New Brunswick
Tooba Javed, Saint Mary’s University
Evan Schaffer, Memorial University

    2026 Atlantic AI Summit

    Posted on by acenet

    Accelerating AI Adoption in Atlantic Canada

    Join us June 3-5 in Fredericton!

    The Atlantic AI Summit brings together leaders from industry, government and academia, alongside participation from ecosystems like Toronto, MIT and California. It provides a vital regional platform for applied AI collaboration, idea exchange, knowledge sharing and industry readiness.

    This year’s theme is focused on practical AI adoption – how organizations are implementing AI today, and what that means for productivity, competitiveness, and growth.

    An industry-academic connector kicks off the summit on the first day, followed by keynotes, panels and sessions over the next 2 days built around real-world use cases. More than 25 speakers!

    If you’re government, industry, a researcher, innovator, early career professional or student, participate in the summit to:

    • Make new connections and create new collaborations
    • Be better prepared to adopt applied AI in your organization through exposure to real-world use cases, demonstrations, and hands-on sessions
    • Connect with employers, innovators and applied research opportunities
    • Increase visibility for Atlantic Canada’s AI capabilities, talent, and success stories at the regional, national and international level
    • Fuel momentum toward pilot projects, applied research, and commercialization efforts rooted in regional priorities and needs.

    Registration closes May 20th.

    Details and Registration

    2026 Digital Research Summer School

    Posted on by acenet

    June 1st to 19th online

    ACENET is again joining forces with partners across the country to deliver a national summer school. A selection of over 40 free courses are available covering a wide range of topics, including,

    • AI
    • machine learning
    • Bioinformatics
    • GPU programming
    • advanced research computing basics
    • high-performance computing tools
    • programming languages
    • Neuroanalytics
    • Visualization
    • research data management
    • and more…

    With presentations and workshops available at introductory to advanced levels, and sessions ranging from a couple of hours to a couple of days, there will be something for everyone.

    Course information and registration

    Register quickly, as some courses we expect to be in high demand have limited seats!

    Microcredential in Applied Data Analytics and Machine Learning with Python

    Posted on by Matt Egginton

    Applications are open for our new microcredential!

    With 24 hours of class time over six weeks, self-study materials and an independent study project, our Microcredential in Applied Data Analytics and Machine Learning with Python will develop in-demand skills, build practical experience, boost professional efficiency and help advance careers by bridging foundational knowledge with advanced tools and methods. 

    Through hands-on sessions and guided exercises, participants will learn to explore and transform data, communicate findings effectively through visualizations, and implement machine learning algorithms using Python to gain actionable insights.

    Asynchronous modules provide valuable training in coding best practices and technical project management to enhance collaborative and efficient workflows. This program builds on foundational skills to enable more elaborate analyses, improving both technical expertise and practical problem-solving abilities.

    Participants should have completed our Microcredential in Practical Foundations for Data Analytics, or have equivalent experience. 

    The course runs from March 24th through April 30th, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00-5:00pm Atlantic. 

    The deadline to apply is February 23rd. 

    LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

    Posted on by Matt Egginton

    LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

    Back by Popular Demand!

    We’re again partnering with Digital Nova Scotia and St. FX University to redeliver the five-module training program on machine learning, and specifically LLMs. 

    This microcredential course is designed to equip experienced developers with the skills and knowledge necessary to build and deploy large language model (LLM)-based applications.

    Participants will gain hands-on experience with transformers, datasets, Python AI models, and best practices for integrating AI into applications. They will also explore techniques for fine-tuning models, leveraging APIs, and ensuring robust testing and QA.

    By the end of this course, learners will acquire the knowledge and practical skills to build and fine-tune LLMs, seamlessly integrate them into applications, develop end-to-end pipelines for specific use cases, and apply best practices for responsible AI deployment.

    • Module 1: Introduction and Fundamentals
    • Module 2: Building and Fine-Tuning LLMs
    • Module 3: Leveraging LLMs through APIs and Integration
    • Module 4: Utilization of RAG and MCP
    • Module 5: Good Practices and Ethics

    Classes run Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning May 11th. There are additional self-learning materials, and participants will be expected to complete assignments and a capstone project.

    For more information and to apply, visit Digital Nova Scotia.

    Digital Humanities Summer Institute East 2026 (DHSI East) – Registration Open!

    Posted on by Matt Egginton

    Registration is now open for DHSI East 2026, which will take place at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, from May 5th to 8th, 2026. Faculty, staff, students, and all interested are welcome.

    There will be three concurrent workshops this year:

    Project Management in the Humanities
    Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Guiliano, Professor of History, Indiana University

    Research Data Management for Humanities Researchers
    Instructors: Shahira Khair, University of Victoria Libraries
                            Sandra Sawchuk, Mount Saint Vincent Libraries

    Digital Publishing in the Humanities Classroom
    Instructors: Dr. Andie Silva, Professor of English (York College) and Digital Humanities (CUNY Graduate Center)
                            zelda montes, CUNY Graduate Center

    Keynote:
    Show Your Work’: Linking, Platforming, and Deplatforming for the Future of Born-Digital Scholarship
    Dr. Susan Brown, University of Guelph

    Details, registration, application for accommodations grant

    LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

    Posted on by Matt Egginton

    LLMs for IT Professionals: Building, Fine-Tuning, and Deploying

    We’re again partnering with Digital Nova Scotia and St. FX University to redeliver the five-module training program on machine learning, and specifically LLMs, this time with an added module on RAG and MCP. 

    This microcredential course is designed to equip experienced developers with the skills and knowledge necessary to build and deploy large language model (LLM)-based applications.

    Participants will gain hands-on experience with transformers, datasets, Python AI models, and best practices for integrating AI into applications. They will also explore techniques for fine-tuning models, leveraging APIs, and ensuring robust testing and QA.

    By the end of this course, learners will acquire the knowledge and practical skills to build and fine-tune LLMs, seamlessly integrate them into applications, develop end-to-end pipelines for specific use cases, and apply best practices for responsible AI deployment.

    • Module 1: Introduction and Fundamentals
    • Module 2: Building and Fine-Tuning LLMs
    • Module 3: Leveraging LLMs through APIs and Integration
    • Module 4: Utilization of RAG and MCP
    • Module 5: Good Practices and Ethics

    Classes run from 9:00am to 12:00pm Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning January 5th. There are additional self-learning materials, and participants will be expected to complete assignments and a capstone project.

    For more information and to apply, visit Digital Nova Scotia.

    ACOA and ACENET

    Posted on by Matt Egginton

    We were very proud when ACOA approached us to do a Business Impact Story. A longtime partner and funder of ACENET, ACOA has worked with us for over 20 years through both good and challenging times, providing advice and guidance, and helping us navigate the evolving Atlantic Canadian innovation ecosystem. With the support of ACOA, the Alliance and its predecessors, as well as the Provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia and PEI, ACENET has been able to serve over 4000 clients and train over 14,000 learners in the region. 

    Read the story at ACOA