About CryptoWorks21

CryptoWorks21 is a supplementary program for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows developing next-generation cryptographic tools.

NSERC logo

CryptoWorks21 was founded by Professor Michele Mosca. From its founding in 2012 until 2018, it was the NSERC CREATE Training Program in Building a Workforce for the Cryptographic Infrastructure of the 21st Century (CryptoWorks21) with partner institutions University of Calgary, Université de Montréal, and University of Waterloo.

RBC logo

Since 2017, the program has been supported by the University of Waterloo and a donation from RBC.

The program is led out of the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at the University of Waterloo, and is aligned with the Waterloo Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute (CPI). Students and faculty members at McGill University, the University of Calgary and Université de Montréal also participate, and we work with partners and collaborators across Canada and around the world.

CryptoWorks21 aims to:

  • Prepare a new generation of researchers to create quantum-safe tools for the 21st century
  • Provide professional knowledge and technical skills for all researchers
  • Foster collaboration between young scientists and experts in quantum and cryptographic research
  • Enable students to build relationships with cryptographic communities in academia, industry, and government
  • Encourage collaboration between students and partners in mathematics, computer science, physics and engineering


The training program

The CryptoWorks21 training program is designed for students enrolled in Masters or PhD degrees, and postdoctoral fellows.

The program offers training opportunities across a range of professional and technical skill areas via series of workshops and short courses.

  • Professional skills
    • Standards and certification
    • Intellectual property protection and management
    • Commercialization and entrepreneurship
    • Management
    • Communications
  • Technical Skills
    • Fundamentals of cryptography
    • Information and network security
    • Post-quantum cryptography
    • Quantum cryptography tools
    • Quantum communication devices

Participants in the program also have access to a range of awards and funding opportunities.

» Details of training program


Research opportunities

All participants in CryptoWorks21 are actively engaged in research and have the opportunity to:

  • Study, discuss, and investigate challenges and applications for quantum-safe cryptography
  • Engage with academic and industry mentors and research groups
  • Participate in workshops, conferences, specialized short courses, and mentorship programs
  • Benefit from the network of world-leading partners and collaborators located at research centres around Canada and the globe


Joining CryptoWorks21

Participation in CryptoWorks21 is open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Waterloo and other participating schools (McGill University, University of Calgary, Université de Montréal). You must separately apply for admission to graduate studies (or postdoctoral positions) at those institutions through the normal application procedures. You can then also submit an application to the CryptoWorks21 program.

» How to apply


Organization

To contact us and see a list of our administrative team members, please visit our:

» Contact information