Quantum computing company Diraq has opened a new lab in Sydney, Australia, to advance its silicon ‘quantum dots’ technology. The lab, located at the University of New South Wales, will help Diraq produce silicon chips with billions of qubits, the basic units of quantum computing. The lab was opened by dignitaries including Ed Husic, Minister for Industry & Science, and Cathy Foley, Australia’s Chief Scientist. Diraq’s latest private investor is Quantonation. Diraq’s CEO, Andrew Dzurak, said the company’s technology could be fabricated using existing semiconductor processes, positioning it at the forefront of the quantum computing landscape.
Diraq’s New Quantum Computing Laboratory in Sydney
Diraq, a company specializing in quantum computing through silicon ‘quantum dots’ technology, has recently inaugurated its new commercial quantum computing laboratory. The facility is situated on the campus of the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. The establishment of this laboratory is a significant move towards Diraq’s goal of utilizing the current semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure to create silicon chips capable of housing billions of qubits, the basic computational units of quantum computing.
The new laboratory spans 200 square meters and is designed to provide a low-vibration and interruption-free environment, which is crucial for quantum measurements. The facility is equipped with advanced equipment for cryogenic testing and precision measurement of silicon quantum devices. These devices have feature sets that are less than the width of a thousandth of a single human hair.
The official opening of the laboratory was attended by several dignitaries, including Ed Husic MP, Minister for Industry & Science, and Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs, and the Republic. Other attendees included Cathy Foley, Ph.D., Australia’s Chief Scientist; Attila Brungs, Vice-Chancellor & President of UNSW, Sydney; Christophe Jurczak, Ph.D., Founder and Managing Partner of Quantonation, Diraq’s latest private investor; and Diraq’s U.S.-based Chair, William (Bill) Jeffrey, Ph.D. The event was also attended by over two hundred officials from venture capital firms, quantum companies, academia, and government.
Quantum Computing Advancements
Quantum computers are increasingly moving towards mass production, and companies like Diraq are positioning Australia among the leading countries in this field. Diraq’s quantum dots technology is considered world-leading research. Unlike other quantum computing approaches that involve building large, expensive systems, Diraq is focused on developing small, highly integrated silicon chips that can hold many millions and ultimately billions of qubits on a single chip. This approach allows Diraq’s technology to be fabricated using the same semiconductor processes used to make the chips in modern electronics.
Future Prospects and Funding
With the launch of the new lab and recent funding, Diraq is well-positioned to transition from prototype development to producing chips through a standard semiconductor foundry. This strategic advancement places Diraq at the forefront of the quantum computing landscape, ready to realize the full economic and commercial potential of quantum computing. In addition to funding from private partners, Diraq has secured grants from the U.S. Army Research Office, as well as Australian Government grants including the CRC-P and QCCF. The total funding of Diraq’s technology is USD $135 million.
