Remembering Cosimo Fiorenza

We are saddened to announce the passing of Cosimo Fiorenza, the respected Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer of Quantum Valley Investments, and founding board member of Perimeter Institute.

Fiorenza was a fierce champion of Perimeter Institute from its very beginnings. He was foundational in establishing the Institute, joining the initial Board of Directors in 1999, and he continued to help nurture the Institute’s growth over two decades, serving as Vice-Chair until 2021.

During his tenure, Perimeter Institute grew from an unlikely upstart into an internationally recognized centre for theoretical physics research on par with leading research universities like Harvard and Cambridge. Fiorenza helped make that achievement possible, acting as a member of both Perimeter’s Finance and Investment committees, the Chair of Directors of Friends of Perimeter Institute, and as a member of the Board of Directors of AIMS-NEI Canada, one of Perimeter’s global outreach partners. His dedicated leadership was invaluable to the Institute’s success.

Speaking earlier this year at a celebration of Perimeter Institute’s twenty-fifth anniversary, founder Mike Lazaridis recalled how Fiorenza was vital to bringing the Institute to fruition in the early days:

“When I shared the vision, the founding members of the board gave their full support. I remain profoundly grateful for their commitment in guiding Perimeter through its earliest challenges,” said Lazaridis. “I especially want to acknowledge Cos. He was there at every step, and his dedication, along with that of the entire founding board, was vital in shaping Perimeter’s success.”

Current Chair of the Board, Mike Serbinis, also reflected on Fiorenza’s dedication to the Institute:

“Cos was a cornerstone of Perimeter’s founding vision — a steady, thoughtful presence who guided the Institute through its most formative years. His wisdom, generosity, and belief in the power of science to change the world have left a lasting mark on Perimeter and on all of us who had the privilege to work alongside him. We will carry his spirit forward in all that we do.”
 
Fiorenza offered steadfast leadership and support through every stage of the Institute’s growth. Rob Myers, Director Emeritus and founding faculty member, reflected on Cosimo’s impact:

“Cos was one of the quiet architects of Perimeter Institute’s success. From the very beginning, he brought steady guidance, wisdom, and a genuine belief in what the Institute could become. During my years as Director, I came to value not only his advice but also his enthusiasm for Perimeter’s growth and our scientific achievements. Cos shaped the Institute in countless ways, and he will be deeply missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to work with him.”

Fiorenza’s dedication to the idea of building new technology out of foundational physics research extended beyond his service at Perimeter Institute. Indeed, he was a vital player in Waterloo’s quantum valley for over a quarter century. He had his hands in every piece of the chain, from theoretical research to practical experiment to the development of technologies and ultimately their commercialization, with the dream of jumpstarting a Canadian quantum economic powerhouse.

In this pursuit, his efforts were far-reaching. He helped establish the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo, and serving on its Board of Directors.

He similarly helped establish Quantum Valley Ideas Lab in 2016, a non-profit organization that seeks to develop new quantum technologies for Canadian businesses.

He was most recently the Vice-President and Chief Investment Officer of Quantum Valley Investments, helping to launch numerous quantum technology start-ups.

Fiorenza’s legacy is an inspiring one. His dedication to the quantum valley over twenty-five years has borne fruit many times over, and that is in no small part due to his steady hand on the keel throughout that period. It is with great fondness that Perimeter Institute remembers one of its most dedicated champions, and we carry on the mission that he so fervently supported in his memory.