$18.5 Million Grant Opens For Australian Centre for Quantum Growth

Insider Brief

• The Australian federal government has unlocked $18.5 million in funding to establish the Australian Centre for Quantum Growth.
• The center is designed to build a quantum workforce and develop ties that can support the Australian quantum ecosystem.
• Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic officially opened the grant opportunity at QuintessenceLabs in Canberra.
• Applications open on 4 December 2023 and close 24 January 2024.

PRESS RELEASE– The Australian federal government has unlocked $18.5 million in funding to establish the Australian Centre for Quantum Growth to support the growth of the nation’s quantum workforce and build relationships with key international counterparts.

Organisations can now apply for $18.5 million in funding to set up the centre.

The Albanese Government is committed to harnessing and connecting brilliant businesses and researchers across the Australian quantum technology sector.

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic officially opened the grant opportunity this morning at QuintessenceLabs in Canberra.

Australia’s quantum sector will benefit from a ‘single front door’ for domestic and international customers to engage with our researchers and quantum businesses.

It will also increase public understanding of quantum technologies and spread the word about how different industries could benefit from adopting them.

This investment will help ensure Australian companies continue to capitalise on the emerging global quantum technologies market.

This funding will support Australia’s National Quantum Strategy and its vision to boost our economic competitiveness and help solve some of our biggest challenges.

Applications open on 4 December 2023 and close 24 January 2024.

Hon Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science said: “When it comes to quantum tech, we have some emerging firms here in Australia and we’re determined to build on that. Time and again Australia has been at the front of the pack in emerging tech only to see that lead fritter away, without proper investment and support. It’s one step forward, building on the country’s first National Quantum Strategy released earlier this year.”

The minster added, “Australia is one of the world’s top quantum destinations, based on decades of research excellence that’s translating into us having the fifth largest quantum workforce in the world. Alongside the opening of the Industry Growth Program and sign off of the NRF’s Investment Mandate, this is part of the Albanese Government’s vision for a Future Made in Australia.”

Background

Last May, the Australian Government announced that $101.2 million (AUD) in its  budget would support businesses to integrate quantum and artificial intelligence technologies, according to a statement on the budget.

The budget included $40.2 million to deliver a Critical Technologies Challenge Program.

According to the statement: “The measure also commits $19.8 million to establish the Australian Centre for Quantum Growth. The centre will support research and development of a quantum technology industry in Australia. This will help catalyse demand for quantum technologies and help Australian companies capture a share of the emerging global market.”

Policymakers said at the time the ultimate aim of this initiative is to “drive greater awareness and uptake of quantum technologies”. Because quantum is an intensely complex operation, which requires cooperation across industry and academia,  Australian officials are hoping to create ties across the ecosystem, including ties between quantum researchers, companies, industry and other parts of society.

The government reported it designed the program in close collaboration with industry and research institutions to ensure projects:

• meet a genuine need
• are challenging but achievable
• fill a ready market.
• Projects that use quantum computing will be an initial focus.