$60m in defence quantum technology grants announced

The federal government has invested $60 million in quantum and counter disinformation technologies critical to defence and to a future made in Australia.

The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) programme has signed 21 contracts with Australian universities and industry partners.

The investment was made under the National Defence Strategy and Asymmetric Advantage – Delivering More, Together, the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy.

Recipients include:

• Analog Quantum Circuits in Queensland which designs and fabricates superconducting devices for quantum computing (picture)
• Consunet Pty Ltd in South Australia which works on capabilities in electromagnetic warfare and spectrum management
• Nomad Atomics in Victoria which specialises in the development of high precision quantum sensors
• And Q-CTRL Pty Ltd in NSW which is improving hardware performance.

The EDT program is pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge to advance the development of existing and new capabilities, according to the government.

The Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy said: “In uncertain strategic circumstances, we must harness our national ingenuity and technology advances to deter hostile acts against Australia and in our region.

“Defence is working with industry and research partners to develop solutions that can provide our soldiers, sailors and aviators with an asymmetric advantage on the battlefield.”

A total of 179 proposals from across the national science and technology ecosystem were received with the following to be granted funding:

Analog Quantum Circuits QLD, $3.3 million

CSIRO Vic, $1.5m

Consunet Pty Ltd SA, $3.1m

DeteQt Pty Ltd NSW, $3.3m

Diamond Defence VIC, $3.2m

Infleqtion (Cold Quanta) VIC, $3.3m

Monash University VIC, $3.3m

Monash University VIC, $3.2m

Nomad Atomics ACT, $2.6m

Q-CTRL Pty Ltd NSW, $3.3m

QuantX Labs SA, $3.3

QuantX Labs SA, $3.2m

Lockheed Martin Australia, Advanced Systems & Technologies ACT, $3.3m

University of Adelaide SA, $1.8m

University of Adelaide SA, $3.3m

University of New South Wales NSW, $1.3m

University of New South Wales NSW, $3m

University of South Australia SA, $3.2m

University of Technology Sydney NSW, $3.3m

University of Technology Sydney NSW, $2.7m

University of Western Australia WA, $2.1m.

Picture: Analog Quantum Circuits