Insider Brief
- The Australian Department of Defence awarded quantum technology contracts under the ASCA Emerging and Disruptive Technologies program, including one to to Silicon Quantum Computing to build a sovereign-manufactured quantum-enhanced machine learning processor and another to one to CSIRO for developing quantum machine learning algorithms to counter adversarial attacks.
- The new award forms part of an additional $9 million investment in information warfare and quantum technology, supplementing the $60 million already committed to ASCA over three years.
- The project is designed to strengthen Australia’s sovereign quantum capabilities by fostering industry–government collaboration in line with the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
- Image: Geelong, AUSTRALIA – An F-35 Lightning II stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., departs the runway during the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. John Gordinier)
PRESS RELEASE — The Department of Defence is continuing to invest in sovereign concepts and innovation through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) program.
The recent awarding of three contracts for the development of Information Warfare and Quantum Technologies represents a key milestone for the EDT program. The contracts are in addition to the 21 contracts announced at the end of last year.
The new contracts contribute an additional $9 million to Defence’s $60 million investment in the program over three years, driving cutting-edge technology and innovation that supports Defence capability.
The additional contract recipients are:
- Silicon Quantum Computing – to develop a sovereign-manufactured quantum-enhanced machine learning processor for Defence.
- CSIRO – to develop quantum machine learning algorithms to detect and mitigate adversarial and spoofing attacks.
- Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the University of Technology Sydney – to conduct research into detecting mis- and dis-information.
Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro AC, said ASCA’s EDT program aims to leverage Australian industry and academia to deliver new technologies that help minimise surprise and defend national interests.
“Through the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, the Government is aligning to Defence’s highest innovation priorities to support research and capability development on home soil,” she said.
The program is also designed to nurture long-term industry partnerships, accelerating capability development in key areas of priority for Defence.
“Harnessing the collective experience of critical Australian innovators, Defence scientists and military end-users will ensure that Defence is on the front foot at a time of rapid technological development,” Professor Monro said. “In our challenging strategic environment, we must ensure Australia builds on our research and development strengths to develop future options for delivering asymmetric advantage to our warfighters.”
Quantum technology and information warfare are two of the six key Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) priorities identified in the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Defence’s IS&T Strategy, Accelerating Asymmetric Advantage – Delivering more, together.
