Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy grant recipients
On 13 June 2024, the Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation launched five programs under the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy.
Following assessment by independent expert panels, $53 million has been awarded to fund innovative projects and scholarships:
- $28.1 million for the Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program
- $10 million for the Quantum Decarbonisation Mission
- $8.5 million for the Quantum 2032 Challenge
- $3.8 million for the Quantum and Advanced Technologies Talent Building Program
- $2.5 million for the Quantum and Advanced Technologies Co-Investment Program
This funding aims to accelerate the development of quantum and advanced technologies products and applications, attract investment and foster collaboration, build a skilled quantum workforce, accelerate decarbonisation efforts, and promote quantum-based innovations to support the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
These ground-breaking investments build on over 30 years of quantum expertise, reinforcing Queensland’s vision to not only lead in quantum innovation but also shape the future of jobs and industries. Together with the establishment of the world’s first utility scale quantum computer by PsiQuantum, they will position Queensland as a global hub for quantum and advanced technologies innovation and drive technological breakthroughs across sectors such as healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and sportstech.
Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program (QCIP)
| Applicant | Project title | Project description | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffith University | Facility for low-volume fabrication and commercialisation of compound-semiconductor devices | This project upgrades the current Queensland Microtechnology Facility leveraging expertise and valuable IP portfolio, to provide a low-volume fabrication facility for compound semiconductors. | $7,512,933 |
| University of Queensland | Queensland Photon Detector Characterisation Facility | This collaborative project between the UQ and QUT aims to develop ultra-sensitive photon detector technology through the establishment of a state-of-the-art Photon Detector Characterisation Facility. The facility is unique in offering the ability to work at room temperature. | $762,825 |
| University of Queensland | National Quantum Computing Testbed Facility | The National Quantum Computing Testbed will provide open access small-scale quantum processors to enable the development and optimisation of low-level hardware interfaces and controls, error correction, novel computing designs, and modes. The Testbed will allow researchers and industry to fairly access hardware outside of current commercial quantum computers. | $5,996,062 |
| University of Southern Queensland | National Cryogenic Electronics Measurement Facility | This project will build Australia’s first industry-accessible Cryogenic Electronics Measurement Facility. This Facility, based at the University of Southern Queensland’s Springfield Campus, will allow companies to undertake design and testing of semiconducting and superconducting electronic prototypes for quantum technologies. | $3,431,581 |
| CSIRO | Queensland Advanced Photonics Packaging Centre (Q-APP) | Establishment of the Queensland Advanced Photonics Packaging Centre to enable the advanced packaging of integrated photonic chips on various platforms, including silicon-on-insulator, silicon nitride, thin-film lithium niobate, and other commercial substrates. This initiative will pave the way for the commercialisation of photonics in Brisbane, fostering local innovation and industry growth. | $4,056,102 |
| University of Queensland | National Advanced Photonics Facility | Establishment of a National Advanced Photonics Facility to provide the first Australian commercial capability in manufacturing and processing nanophotonics and optomechanics. | $6,371,153 |
Quantum Decarbonisation Mission (QDM)
| Applicant | Project title | Project description | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Queensland | Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance | The Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance (QDA) brings together four key stakeholders with deep expertise in quantum research, innovation and commercialisation (University of Queensland, Griffith University, PsiQuantum, and CSIRO) along with 23 other partner organisations spanning carbon-intensive industry, decarbonisation and commercialisation to drive decarbonisation across key industries, with research to be led through seven new research teams within the QDA. | $9,999,748 |
Quantum 2032 Challenge (Q2032)
| Applicant | Project title | Project description | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Queensland | Quantum-Enabled Low Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging for High-Performance Sport | Building on UQ’s previous advancements in portable and low-cost magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this project aims to integrate innovative quantum technologies for low-field MRI to enhance imaging of the musculoskeletal system in Olympic and Paralympic athletes. | $999,855 |
| Griffith University | Strike while the iron is hot: Revolutionising iron deficiency detection to elevate athlete health performance and health ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games | The ‘Strike While the Iron is Hot’ project (‘STRIKE’) aims to accelerate the translation of quantum technology into scalable commercial products and services across Queensland by advancing quantum sensors for the ultrasensitive measurement of iron. The accessible and culturally sensitive measurement of iron status is particularly important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by iron deficiency. | $594,331 |
| University of Queensland | Quantum Concussion Diagnostics | This project will develop low-cost portable quantum magnetoencephalography (MEG) for immediate concussion diagnosis of athletes on the sports field. This will vastly improve safety in both competition and training which is particularly important for adolescent brains, enhancing safety during talent development stages and helping to prevent long-term chronic trauma. The technology will also improve access to medical care, facilitating widespread MEG availability in regional and remote communities, doctors’ offices, and imaging centres. | $999,808 |
| University of Southern Queensland | Developing Quantum and Advanced Wearable Sensor Technology for Injury Prevention in Youth Athletes | Youth athletes are the future medal hopes for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The primary objective of this project is to develop hybrid quantum wearable sensor technology that offers unprecedented sensitivity and accuracy in monitoring and screening youth athletes' movements for injury prevention. | $832,411 |
| University of Queensland | A quantum exo-garment for unrivalled measurement of muscle function in sport | Measuring muscle behaviour with quantum magnetometers has proven to be a non-invasive alternative to traditional methods (such as electromyography), with superior scope to comprehensively record muscle. This project aims to overcome technical challenges that exist with current quantum magnetometers, and to develop a wearable device which will offer unrivalled capacity to wirelessly measure muscle function in sport. | $911,110 |
| University of Queensland | Hybrid quantum sensors for rapid detection of chemical and biochemical agents as a tool to mitigate the risks of terrorist attacks | Accurate detection and identification of chemical and biochemical threats in the field is a key capability for facilitating rapid deployment of countermeasures, but currently remains an unmet challenge. This project aims to build on UQ’s existing research capacities to engineer and develop field portable plasmonic Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) sensors to develop novel hybrid quantum dot/plasmonic particle SERS sensors for the identification and quantification of chemical and biochemical threats. | $498,029 |
| Queensland University of Technology | Pioneering Quantum Transport and Mobility Solutions for Brisbane 2032 and Beyond | This research project aims to harness the power of quantum computing to develop a world-class real-time traffic management system, to address congestion, for the benefit of Queensland, including up to, at and as a legacy of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. | $461,110 |
| Central Queensland University | AI-Quantum Nexus: Revolutionising Group Communication for Large Sports Events | This project will develop an innovative communication system by combining artificial intelligence and quantum technologies to meet the demand of both high efficiency and security for complex group communications in large-scale sport events. | $999,933 |
| Queensland University of Technology | Quantum sensing augmented real-time hydration and thermal regulation monitoring for peak performance and heat-related risk mitigation | This project aims to develop a non-invasive, multimodal hydration sensing technique that leverages the quantum properties of conjugated organic materials and resulting optoelectronic properties of electroluminescence and photodetection. By combining these quantum properties with skin conductance, the project aims to develop a wearable device which will monitor hydration levels with unprecedented sensitivity, enabling real-time thermal regulation and reducing heat-related risks. | $491,000 |
| Griffith University | Quantum optimisation of transport and logistics for Brisbane 2032 | This project aims to develop and apply novel quantum optimisation techniques for managing pedestrian movements around stadiums during the Brisbane 2032 Games, preventing overcrowding and potential stampedes, and optimising the deployment of limited wheelchair-accessible transport vehicles during the Paralympics. The project will establish an end-to-end quantum optimisation framework which can address key challenges in the organisation and management of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ensuring safe and efficient movement of spectators and athletes, | $492,903 |
| University of Queensland | CERQus: Cavity-Enhanced Rydberg Quantum Sensors for Bioelectrics | The aim of this project is to apply atomic sensors utilising Rydberg states to meet open problems in the medical assessment and performance optimisation of athletes, with particular focus on sensitive monitoring of cardiac and brain electrical signals. | $795,356 |
| University of Queensland | Quantum assays for Anti-doping control | Ensuring fair competition at the Olympic and Paralympic Games relies on robust anti-doping measures. Detection techniques must continuously evolve to keep pace with advancing doping strategies and emerging substances. Synthetic versions of human proteins, such as erythropoietin, present a significant challenge due to their structural similarity to natural proteins and their low concentrations. To address this issue, this project aims to develop new biochemical assays using quantum sensors to achieve sensitivity levels that surpass current technologies. | $429,172 |
Quantum and Advanced Technologies Talent Building Program (TBP)
A total of $3.8 million in funding has been awarded to six Queensland universities to support at least 90 students, aimed at building the talent pipeline for Queensland’s quantum and advanced technologies ecosystem.
Recipient universities include:
- Queensland University of Technology
- James Cook University
- Griffith University
- The University of Queensland
- University of Southern Queensland
- University of Sunshine Coast.
Each participating university will independently share details about the available scholarships. Eligible students are encouraged to apply directly to the university where they wish to study.
Quantum and Advanced Technologies Co-investment Program (QATCIP)
A total of $2.5 million in funding has been allocated towards projects as part of QATCIP:
- $1,080,000 co-investing alongside our universities to support the Queensland node of Quantum Australia to develop Queensland's quantum technology ecosystem, and support research translation and entrepreneurship.
- $1,437,787 to support two Queensland applications to Stage 2 of the Australian Government’s Critical Technologies Challenge Program (to be announced if successful).
QATCIP will remain open for applications until funding is exhausted.