The CSIRO has allocated $3.6 million to fund four quantum research initiatives through its Next Generation Quantum Graduates Program. The program will fund 16 PhD scholarships across 11 Australian universities, with research ranging from quantum internet foundations to observing biological processes at a sub-atomic level.
The program aims to leverage existing university resources and networks to work on industry-proposed challenges. Lead research institutions include Deakin University, the University of Queensland, Swinburne University of Technology, and the Sydney Quantum Academy. Industry partners include Orica, Elemental Instruments, Q-CTRL, Diraq, Eigensystems, KPMG, BTQ, and Lockheed Martin.
CSIRO’s Quantum Graduates Program
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has allocated $3.6 million to fund four quantum research initiatives through its Next Generation Quantum Graduates Program. This move fulfills an election commitment made by the Albanese government. The program will fund 16 PhD scholarships, enabling four research projects across 11 Australian universities. The research areas range from the foundations of a quantum internet to technology for observing biological processes at a sub-atomic level. The program is designed to leverage existing university resources, activities, and networks to bring students together to work on challenges proposed by industry partners.
Funding Timeline and Allocation
The funding for a quantum technology PhD program was announced by the Labor party in May 2022, and the funding was committed by CSIRO in April. The program will fund scholarships and allowances from 2024 to 2029. CSIRO also closed the final grant round of its non-industry specific $15.5 million Next Generation Graduates Program in late October.
Impact on Australia’s Quantum Technology
CSIRO’s Data61 science director, Dr Aaron Quigley, stated that the project would help keep Australia at the forefront of quantum technology and represented some of Australia’s most ambitious work in quantum for the next generation. The research has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of not just computing but the world around us. This pipeline of homegrown talent will help accelerate our thriving local quantum technology industry, right here in Australia.
Research Institutions and Projects
Deakin University, one of the lead research institutions, will use the grant to continue supporting work through its distributed quantum computing program, which looks into how quantum computers communicate with one another. The University of Queensland based Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in quantum biotechnology will undertake research to develop technology for observing biological processes at the subatomic level. The third project is being led by Swinburne University of Technology which will look to integrate its cold atom quantum technology and 3D printing with the technology of Victoria-based quantum firm Infleqtion. The final funding commitment was made to the Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA) – a collaboration between Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, and the University of Technology Sydney.
Industry Partners and Future Prospects
Industry partners include Orica, Elemental Instruments, Q-CTRL, Diraq, Eigensystems, KPMG, BTQ, and Lockheed Martin. SQA also runs its own PhD scholarship program and supports delivery of the Next Generation Graduates Program. CSIRO’s chief scientist, Dr Bronwyn Fox, described quantum as one of Australia’s most promising growth opportunities and emphasized the need to attract, train, and retain Australia’s next generation of quantum technology specialists. The announcement comes a week after the federal government began accepting submissions from quantum computing firms to establish a new Australian Centre for Quantum Growth, first announced in the 2023-24 federal budget.
“CSIRO’s Data61 science director Dr Aaron Quigley said the project would help keep Australia at the forefront of quantum technology and represented “some of Australia’s most ambitious work in quantum for the next generation”. “The research has the potential to revolutionise our understanding of not just computing but the world around us. Working alongside industry, these students will be able to take their ideas to impact the lives of people everywhere,” Dr Quigley said. “This pipeline of homegrown talent will help accelerate our thriving local quantum technology industry, right here in Australia. This is a key time for quantum technology globally, and projects like these further demonstrate Australia’s leadership.”
“CSIRO’s chief scientist Dr Bronwyn Fox said described quantum as “one of Australia’s most promising growth opportunities” to highlight the need to “be attracting, training and retaining Australia’s next generation of quantum technology specialists”. “We need to be developing their capabilities and connections through professional development in complementary, including business, management, entrepreneurship, ethics or human-centred design,” Dr Fox said. “The Next Generation Quantum Graduates Program does all of that.”
Summary
The CSIRO’s Next Generation Quantum Graduates Program has allocated $3.6 million to fund 16 PhD scholarships for four quantum research projects across 11 Australian universities, focusing on areas such as the development of a quantum internet and technology for observing biological processes at a sub-atomic level. The initiative aims to foster homegrown talent and accelerate Australia’s quantum technology industry, with research potentially revolutionising our understanding of computing and the world around us.
- The CSIRO has allocated $3.6 million to fund four quantum research initiatives through its Next Generation Quantum Graduates Program.
- The program will fund 16 PhD scholarships across 11 Australian universities, with research ranging from quantum internet foundations to observing biological processes at a sub-atomic level.
- The initiative aims to leverage existing university resources and networks to work on industry-proposed challenges.
- The program will fund scholarships and allowances from 2024 to 2029.
- Lead research institutions include Deakin University, the University of Queensland, Swinburne University of Technology, and the Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA).
- Deakin University will focus on distributed quantum computing, while the University of Queensland will develop technology for observing biological processes at a subatomic level.
- Swinburne University of Technology will integrate its cold atom quantum technology and 3D printing with the technology of Victoria-based quantum firm Infleqtion.
- The SQA, a collaboration between Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, and the University of Technology Sydney, will support projects that advance the quantum industry.
- Industry partners include Orica, Elemental Instruments, Q-CTRL, Diraq, Eigensystems, KPMG, BTQ, and Lockheed Martin.
- CSIRO’s Data61 science director Dr Aaron Quigley and CSIRO’s chief scientist Dr Bronwyn Fox highlighted the potential of the program to keep Australia at the forefront of quantum technology and develop the next generation of quantum technology specialists.