Insider Brief
- Archer Materials signed a three-year Quantum Compute Agreement with IonQ to access IonQ’s cloud platform and explore deploying a sovereign quantum computer in Australia.
- The collaboration will support quantum algorithm development and customer applications across sectors including defence, artificial intelligence, mining, healthcare and scientific research.
- Archer will pay IonQ US$1.5 million over the initial term for access to IonQ Forte-class systems, future Tempo-class systems, simulators and advisory services.
PRESS RELEASE — Archer Materials Limited (ASX: AXE), an Australian quantum technology company, has signed a strategic Quantum Compute Agreement with IonQ, Inc. (NYSE: IONQ), the world’s leading quantum computing company, in a deal that could pave the way for Australia’s first sovereign quantum computer.
Under the agreement, Archer will gain access to IonQ’s Quantum Cloud, a leading commercial quantum computing platform, to develop and refine quantum algorithms and applications for customers in sectors including defence, artificial intelligence, mining and resources, healthcare and scientific research. The two companies will also work together to evaluate the feasibility of deploying an IonQ quantum computer within Australia, including assessing suitable data centre infrastructure and engaging prospective customers across corporate, government, research and education sectors.
IonQ, which carries a market capitalisation of approximately US$21 billion, supplies quantum computing systems to organisations including the Air Force Research Lab, Hyundai, Airbus, AstraZeneca and Lockheed Martin. In 2025, the company, together with Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA and AstraZeneca, demonstrated a computational performance improvement of more than 20 times over earlier quantum systems.
Archer Chief Executive Officer Dr Simon Ruffell described the agreement as a major milestone for the company.
“This is a significant milestone for Archer, and we are delighted to enter this strategic partnership with global pioneer IonQ. This program paves the way to grow quantum adoption in Australia,” Dr Ruffell said.
“Quantum compute power is no longer a horizon technology, but a strategically critical utility ready for commercial deployment. There is an urgent and growing demand for quantum computing services in Australia, especially in areas where confidentiality and data sovereignty are paramount, such as in banking or defence.”
“This agreement with IonQ represents an exciting opportunity to explore how Archer can help bring advanced quantum computing services to Australian customers and support developing sovereign quantum capability nationally. Importantly, it expands our quantum business offering,” he added.
Access to IonQ’s cloud platform will allow Archer to progress a number of its own quantum applications, including a quantum machine learning program aimed at fraud detection, with support from an IonQ specialist engineering team on algorithm selection and system planning.
The agreement also builds on Archer’s broader strategy of pursuing acquisitions and intellectual property opportunities aligned with its quantum technology roadmap.
The collaboration is intended to support several objectives, including providing Australian enterprise customers with dedicated access to IonQ compute time, building a local customer base and sales pipeline for quantum adoption and post-quantum cybersecurity readiness, assessing the onshoring of utility-scale IonQ quantum computers, and helping Archer build specialist sales and technical capability to commercialise quantum computing as a service in Australia.
Should the collaboration progress successfully, Archer and IonQ intend to work toward establishing a cost-effective, rapidly deployable, sovereign utility-scale quantum computing capability in Australia. Industry estimates cited by the companies point to a potential domestic market opportunity worth A$6 billion annually by 2045. Archer says it is currently the only ASX-listed company solely focused on quantum technologies, a position it believes strengthens its standing within the global quantum ecosystem.
The agreement runs for an initial three-year term, renewable by mutual agreement. Archer will pay IonQ US$250,000 upon signing and a further US$250,000 every six months thereafter, totalling US$1.5 million over the term. In return, IonQ will provide Archer with access to its Quantum Cloud via an IonQ Forte-class system, with access to the upcoming IonQ Tempo-class system or successor systems once available, as well as IonQ’s quantum simulator and advisory and consulting services.
Australia maintains a strong quantum research base and a national strategy to grow its quantum industry. Archer believes a sovereign quantum computing capability could become a key piece of the country’s future technology infrastructure, enabling local companies, researchers and government agencies to access advanced quantum computing while building domestic skills and use cases.
