The Australian Government is taking necessary steps to expand Australia’s quantum economy and assist the adoption and commercialization of cutting-edge quantum technology. Australia’s ambition for the quantum industry will be outlined in the National Quantum Strategy. Dr. Cathy Foley, Australia’s Chief Scientist, will lead the plan alongside other specialists.
Australia has several world-class quantum research facilities. Growing the quantum technology business can potentially add $4 billion to the economy and 16,000 new employees by 2040.
Here are a few notable quantum tech companies and research-funded projects from Australia and their contribution to the industry:
Australian Quantum Computing Companies
Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC)
SQC is Australia’s top quantum business, working on a silicon-based quantum computer. The objective of Silicon Quantum Computing is to make quantum computing a reality to benefit humanity by developing cutting-edge technology and applying it in life-enhancing, human-centered, and world-changing ways.
SQC is also known for its development of the world’s first atomic-scale integrated circuit that functions as an analog quantum processor. The company has also developed a new method that makes the vital Readout stage of a quantum calculation faster, easier, and less prone to interference.
Q-CTRL
Q-CTRL is an Australian quantum computing company created in 2017 that aims to develop and deploy quantum computers through the use of hardware control solutions for quantum technology. The company wants to create a control system that will allow them complete control over a machine’s movements in all axes at all times. It uses control to address the most difficult challenges in quantum technology, enhancing hardware performance and speeding the development of practical quantum computers and other technologies.
The company is considered the world’s first platform for developing, controlling, and detecting errors in quantum systems. It accomplishes this through a set of unique data-driven tools that allow any business interested in quantum computing to tap into its power. It has established a few collaborations with leading companies to help accelerate progress in the quantum industry.
Archer
Archer is an ASX-listed Australian company that is developing revolutionary deep technologies for commercialization in the multibillion-dollar worldwide markets of quantum technology and human health. The company is known for its current development of Archer’s 12CQ room-temperature qubit processor chip that may run at normal temperature and be integrated into existing electronics.
Quintessence Labs
Quintessence Labs was the first Australian university-based quantum technology company, spun out of the Australian National University (ANU), and focused on commercial technology relating to quantum key distribution systems and digital security. It also focuses on commercial technology relating to quantum key distribution systems and digital security. The company is considered as a global pioneer in quantum cybersecurity, known for its sophisticated quantum-resilient data protection capabilities.
QuintessenceLabs’ modular security solution portfolio solves the most complex security concerns that organizations face, assisting in the implementation of effective security plans to secure data today and in the future.
Quantum Brilliance
Quantum Brilliance, founded in 2019, is a venture-backed quantum products and solutions firm that is producing diamond quantum computers accompanied by software and apps. Quantum Brilliance’s mission is to enable mass deployment of our quantum technology in order to accelerate industry toward edge computing applications and next-generation supercomputers.
One of the company’s groundbreaking discoveries is the RT or (Room Temperature) Quantum Computers which was driven by the researchers from Australian National University (ANU) and is to be installed at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre in Perth. The company works on outperforming classical processors of equivalent size, weight, and power in order to make quantum computing viable sooner than other developers.
Australian Quantum Computing Funding
ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC²T)
CQC2T is dedicated to doing world-class quantum research in order to create full-scale quantum systems that include ultra-fast quantum computation, secure quantum communication, and distributed quantum information processing and is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence funding scheme. They are committed to doing world-class quantum research in order to create full-scale quantum systems that include ultra-fast quantum computation, secure quantum communication, and distributed quantum information processing.
The company’s mission is to create quantum processors in silicon, optical, and hybrid platforms by integrating quantum hardware with algorithms, architectures, and software; logical qubits with error correction for universal quantum computer designs; and scalable error-corrected quantum communications and quantum networks.
Breakthrough Victoria
Breakthrough Victoria funds innovative ideas and technologies that will help solve global challenges, establish future industries, improve health and well-being, and bring wealth and long-term returns to Victoria over the next decade and beyond.
One of their major investment projects is the collaboration with ColdQuanta, a premier quantum technology business based in the United States. ColdQuanta will work with the Swinburne University of Technology to provide world-class quantum capabilities, connect the scientific community with business, and promote local job creation and economic growth. It will act as a gateway to the greater quantum community at other universities, strengthening Australia’s sovereignty in quantum technology.
CSIRO
CSIRO is an Australian national science agency and an innovation catalyst, working together with the government and research community to improve Australia’s innovation performance. CSIRO aims to continue to make Australia a globally competitive economy in quantum technology R&D. The establishment also intends to construct a strong quantum technology industry by 2040 by investing in infrastructure and research, as well as ensuring that quantum generates equitable outcomes for all Australians.
In 2020, CSIRO produced a Quantum Roadmap to aid in the establishment of an Australian quantum sector and to assist the research community, government, and industry in connecting, collaborating and commercializing.
Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation of Australia (ANSTO)
The Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation of Australia (ANSTO) is the home of Australia’s most significant landmark and national research facility. Every year, thousands of scientists from industry and academia benefit from having access to cutting-edge instruments.
ANSTO specializes in atomic-scale research, therefore we are well-positioned to assist Australia in developing this innovative technology. Precision ion implantation techniques developed at the Centre for Accelerator Science can be utilized to create designed devices for innovative applications in advanced sensing and computation, such as quantum photonic sensors. These techniques investigate unusual states such as quantum spin states, quantum tunneling, and topological insulation.
Australian Quantum Computing Research
University of Sydney
The University’s quantum science group seeks to expand our understanding of quantum mechanics and to create powerful new technologies based on the unique features of quantum systems.
The group conducts experimental and theoretical quantum physics research that addresses both goals. They design and manipulate complicated quantum systems, as well as investigate solutions at both the hardware and software levels. By combining ideas from quantum computing, quantum error correction, and all other parts of quantum information science, they establish a fundamental knowledge of quantum systems.
Their experimental efforts are focused on two well-established systems: spins in semiconductors and trapped atomic ions. While separate, these projects share complementary control strategies and are connected by platform-independent theoretical research in support of the group’s broad quantum physics objectives.
UNSW
The Fundamental Quantum Technology Lab conducts a wide range of research on spin systems in silicon, with a special emphasis on quantum computing. It is home to cutting-edge quantum measurement platforms for the operation of innovative quantum devices at ultra-low temperatures, as well as a diverse array of electrical and microwave instruments.
Among the University’s projects is the UNSW-UTS consortium’s AUSMURI project which aims to reduce overall quantum gate errors by leveraging multi-qubit devices. Which, Australian researchers have successfully proved that near-error-free quantum computing is possible, led by Morello, the team was able to acquire one-qubit operation fidelity of up to 99.95% and two-qubit fidelity of 99.37% with a three-qubit system consisting of one electron and two phosphorous atoms implanted in silicon through ion implantation, thus this paves the way for the development of silicon-based quantum devices compatible with current semiconductor manufacturing technology.
Additionally, UNSW’s Quantum engineers have developed a radical new way of controlling millions of spin qubits (The University of New South Wales). Dr. Jarryd Pla and his colleagues have taken a quantum leap toward a full-scale quantum computer, paving the way for the development of near-term silicon quantum processors.
Other quantum projects include the Donor spin qubit in silicon, Circuit QED with spins in silicon, and Quantum Chaos.
Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA)
The vision of Sydney Quantum Academy is to establish Australia’s quantum economy. The SQA is a one-of-a-kind collaboration of four world-class universities: Macquarie University, UNSW Sydney, the University of Sydney, and the University of Technology Sydney which aims to generate diverse talent and an internationally recognized quantum ecosystem by leveraging Sydney’s aggregate quantum expertise.
To assist this burgeoning community, SQA has established the Quantum Innovators Network. The Quantum Innovators Network brings together quantum trailblazers with an entrepreneurial mindset to hear from worldwide experts and those who have launched on the start-up road.
IBM Quantum Hub at Melbourne University
The University of Melbourne is Australia and New Zealand’s only university-based IBM Quantum Hub, led by Professor Lloyd Hollenberg in conjunction with IBM. The team has been working on quantum computing for two decades, during which time they developed the design for a full-scale silicon quantum computer and recently achieved a world record for quantum entanglement on IBM Quantum devices.
The IBM Quantum Hub at the University of Melbourne provides members with a comprehensive method to gaining early access to quantum computing with the assistance of deep scientific knowledge and the worldwide quantum community.
