Insider Brief
- During a recent keynote, Peter Barrett of Playground Global talked about Australia’s unique position to lead in quantum technology, citing its talent and resources as key factors in setting global standards in quantum computing and sensing.
- Barrett announced plans to build a million-qubit quantum machine in Queensland, which will establish Australia as a quantum powerhouse and create a thriving research and commercial ecosystem.
- Barrett urged Australia to invest in world-class semiconductor facilities and quantum infrastructure, highlighting the nation’s potential for economic and technological leadership in advanced materials, green metals, and semiconductor stability.
In a keynote at the Semiconductor Australia conference, Peter Barrett, Co-Founder and General Partner of Playground Global, discussed Australia’s potential to become a leading player in the global quantum technology landscape. Paying attention to the nation’s rich talent and resources, Barrett underscored the unique role Australia could play in advancing both the quantum and semiconductor sectors to reshape industries and drive technological evolution.
Barrett began by addressing Australia’s potential in quantum computing, stating: “Australia’s always been a thought leader in Quantum Computing and Quantum sensing.” His words resonated with a vision where Australia doesn’t merely participate in the global quantum race but sets standards. Quantum technologies, he argued, promise exciting advancements, especially as the limitations of classical computation become increasingly apparent.
Barrett also revealed plans for a monumental development in Queensland.
“We’re incredibly excited and delighted to be building the first million-qubit class machine in Queensland,” he said. This ambitious effort would not only place Australia on the quantum map but would serve as a cornerstone for a thriving ecosystem. By establishing such an advanced infrastructure, Barrett believes that Australia will catalyze research, development, and commercialization in the field, offering opportunities that “will certainly catalyze those investments.”
Highlighting Australia’s infrastructure and talent, Barrett shared a compelling vision for national quantum self-reliance. He suggested a future where Australian quantum technology could meet both domestic and international needs: “Deploying Quantum here is a huge step forward for the quantum ecosystem.” Barrett’s confidence was apparent as he pointed out that Australia has “all the ingredients” to lead in quantum-driven innovations. The combination of talent, R&D resources, and financial capacity offers Australia a “unique advantage,” as he described, in fields like green metals, next-generation materials, and advanced semiconductor applications.
Barrett made a bold call to action, urging Australia to capitalize on its potential by investing in the infrastructure needed to support these ambitious projects. He proposed that Australia build “world-class semiconductor Fabs with next-generation light sources here,” a strategy that would reinforce both the quantum and semiconductor ecosystems, adding resilience to Australia’s tech landscape. This investment, he argued, would benefit not only the quantum sector but would bolster Australia’s semiconductor industry in ways that are “both geologically stable and geopolitically stable.”
In an impassioned close, Barrett spoke to the untapped possibilities in quantum technology and what that could mean for Australia’s economic and scientific trajectory.
“We are living in a world without metal,” Barrett reflected, explaining that, just as metal transformed civilization, so too will quantum technologies revolutionize our understanding and capabilities across fields. For Barrett, the call to action was clear: Australia has the talent, resources, and opportunity to lead in quantum. All it takes, he said, is the “application of capital in brave and focused ways.”
Barrett’s keynote wasn’t just a vision; it was a rallying cry for Australia to seize this rare moment in technological history.
