Australia Invests $39 Million in Quantum and Disruptive Technologies to Strengthen Defense Capabilities

Insider Brief:

• The Albanese Government is investing over AUD$60 million (approximately $39 million) through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program to support quantum and counter-disinformation technologies relevant to Australia’s defense priorities.

• The EDT program has signed 21 contracts with Australian universities and industry partners, including Q-CTRL for quantum hardware improvement, Nomad Atomics for quantum sensors, and Analog Quantum Circuits for superconducting devices.

• ASCA intends to strengthen Australia’s defense innovation ecosystem through long-term collaboration between scientists, military end-users, and innovators to develop capabilities that deter hostile acts.

• A total of 179 proposals were submitted to the EDT program, exemplifying broad national interest and innovation to advance decision-making advantages in defense applications.

PRESS RELEASE — The Albanese Government is backing local innovation in quantum and counter disinformation technologies that are key to giving Defence an edge and which will also be critical to a future made in Australia.

The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program has signed 21 contracts as part of an investment of over $60 million with Australian universities and industry partners.

This investment gives effect to innovation priorities in the National Defence Strategy and Asymmetric Advantage – Delivering More, Together, the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy.

The EDT program is pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge to advance the development of existing and new capabilities that help deter hostile acts against Australia and in our region.

Long-term partnerships between scientists, military end-users and innovators are positively shaping Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem.

We are leveraging our national strengths, with contract recipients comprising universities and industry partners from across the country.

The recipients include:

• Analog Quantum Circuits in QLD which designs and fabricates superconducting devices for quantum computing.

• 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.

• Q-CTRL Pty Ltd in NSW which is seeking to solve the hardest problems facing quantum technology, improving hardware performance and accelerating pathways to useful quantum computers and other technologies.

A total of 179 proposals from across the national science and technology ecosystem were received as part of this call-out for EDT proposals. ASCA is seeking innovative proposals that can support decision advantage for its next EDT program.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, Pat Conroy:

“Through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, the Government is driving cutting-edge research and development and capability delivery that is aligned with Defence priorities and a future made in Australia.

“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.”

Organizations, State, and Contract Value (AUD)

• Analog Quantum Circuits, QLD, $3,299,967

• Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisations (CSIRO), VIC, $1,530,969

• Consunet Pty Ltd, SA, $3,146,000

• DeteQt Pty Ltd, NSW, $3,287,143

• Diamond Defence, VIC, $3,215,991

• Infleqtion (Cold Quanta), VIC, $3,300,000

• Monash University, VIC, $3,297,408

• Monash University, VIC, $3,170,864

• Nomad Atomics, ACT, $2,458,718

• Q-CTRL Pty Ltd, NSW, $3,275,371

• QuantX Labs, SA, $3,264,800

• QuantX Labs, SA, $3,146,007

• Lockheed Martin Australia Advanced Systems & Technologies, ACT, $3,288,695

• University of Adelaide, SA, $1,800,500

• University of Adelaide, SA, $3,280,688

• University of New South Wales, NSW, $1,303,172

• University of New South Wales, NSW, $2,981,943

• University of South Australia, SA, $3,167,452

• University of Technology Sydney, NSW, $3,260,760

• University of Technology Sydney, NSW, $2,683,227

• University of Western Australia, WA, $2,071,070

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