Applied Quantum Systems Program Presented at the Saskatchewan Energy & Natural Resource Forum

Nanan Academy and ArithQ Technologies Inc. hosted a booth at the Saskatchewan Energy & Natural Resource Forum to present the Applied Quantum Systems Program. The forum carried the theme “Tradition to Transition: Empowering our Energy Future.” The program gives engineers and technical professionals a practical way to explore quantum and quantum-inspired thinking in real energy systems.

The Forum

The second annual Saskatchewan Energy & Natural Resource forum was held from May 26 to 28, 2026, at Prairieland Park in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It brought together leaders and organisations from across energy, natural resources, government, education, and Indigenous leadership to discuss the future of energy development. Energy systems are changing rapidly, and the challenges are no longer only technical; it also involves infrastructure, policy, investment, and long-term planning.

The forum is hosted by the Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence, which was founded in 2009 and owned by Saskatchewan’s 74 First Nations. The Centre helps First Nations take part in energy and natural resource development across Treaty lands and traditional territories through education, research, and economic development.

The exhibition floor showcased government agencies and industry groups, including SaskPower and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment. On the inaugural event in 2025, Nanan Academy hosted a booth during the Youth Summit.

Why Quantum Matters for Energy

Grid management, renewable integration, infrastructure planning, scheduling, materials discovery, and resource allocation are all large optimisation problems with many constraints and outcomes. Traditional computing is still essential. But as these systems grow, new computational tools are becoming more useful.

Quantum computing and quantum-inspired methods offer one such tool. They are another way to work through optimisation and modelling problems. Large quantum systems are still developing, but quantum-inspired methods are already being used across many industries. For engineers, this is a shift in how they think. It changes how complex systems can be built, studied, and solved.

The Applied Quantum Systems Program

The Applied Quantum Systems Program was developed by ArithQ Technologies Inc. (ArithQ) and Nanan Academy, with support from the quanTA Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. ArithQ was founded by Mandana Bidarvand, a postdoctoral researcher in quantum and mathematical modelling, who presented at the ArithQ and Nanan Academy booth during the forum.

The program is designed for post-secondary students and professionals who are upskilling. It does not require a background in quantum physics. This is an applied quantum learning initiative focused on real-world problems, decision-making, and insight. The program aims to strengthen applied quantum innovation by expanding both the community of practitioners and the range of credible application areas.

Building Tomorrow’s Workforce

Through the work of Nanan Academy, ArithQ, and the quanTA Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, the Applied Quantum Systems program connects education, applied research, and industry. The Saskatchewan Energy & Natural Resource Forum was a great place to introduce the program, connect with the sector, and explore where applied quantum thinking may fit in the future of energy systems in Saskatchewan and beyond.