The Queensland Government has recently awarded $53 million to spark a new wave of innovation in quantum and advanced technologies, aiming to make Queensland the Quantum State of Australia.
One of the key capabilities in this initiative are the Electron Beam Lithography (EBL) systems at the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis (CMM) at The University of Queensland. With its advanced cleanroom facilities, the CMM and it’s research clients have been pioneering quantum device development for the past seven years. This new funding and strong partnerships are set to propel Queensland’s contributions to the rapidly advancing field of quantum technology.
A notable part of this funding, $6.3 million, will go towards establishing the National Advanced Photonics Facility (NAPF). This new centre, a collaboration between The University of Queensland Quantum Physics, CMM, and the Australian National Fabrication Facility, is funded through the Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program (QCIP). It will enhance Queensland’s capabilities in silicon photonics — a key area in quantum devices. Part of this investment will also upgrade CMM’s EBL systems to boost production and scale fabrication, supporting future projects in quantum device manufacturing.
Professor Roger Wepf, Director of CMM, expressed his excitement about the impact of this funding:
“This is a great opportunity for Queensland to catapult its quantum research excellence into future fault-proof quantum computation, explore new quantum devices and bring them to research commercialisation.”
For more details on this transformative initiative, read the full statement from the Honourable Leanne Linard, Minister for the Environment, Great Barrier Reef, Science, and Innovation.
