Australia launches national quantum strategy formulation

On 7 April, the Australian Government released the 2021 National Research Infrastructure (NRI) Roadmap, which will guide Australia's 2022 research infrastructure investment plan, which negotiated a range of emerging and emerging areas of increasing prominence and national importance. technology and research areas. These include eight fields including Indigenous Knowledge, Next Generation Omics, Quantum Technologies, Synthetic Biology, Advanced Climate Modeling, Space Observation, Materials Science and Advanced Manufacturing, and Renewable Energy Systems.

 

The Australian Government will support the construction of quantum technology infrastructure, including support for the design, engineering and manufacturing of quantum devices, precision electronics, optics, software development, materials and metrology. This includes rapid prototyping infrastructure for quantum sensors, cryogenic equipment for test and measurement, manufacturing facilities for quantum technology components such as quantum computing hardware, and training and development tools.

 

Also on April 7, the government identified artificial intelligence and quantum computing as one of four priority areas of research and collaboration for the Australian Government's $60.2 million Global Technology Diplomacy Fund.

 

Science and Technology Minister Melissa Price said the purpose of the fund was to foster Australian collaboration in key priority research areas. For AI and quantum, the federal government believes countries including the UK, Japan, France, Spain and the US would be suitable partners for Australia.

 

Separately, the government is seeking feedback on Australia's National Quantum Issues paper, which will be used to help shape the National Quantum Strategy. The development of this strategy will inform the Quantum Commercialisation Centre and the Australian Quantum Prospectus. The deadline for submitting feedback on the issues paper is June 3, 2022.

 

At the beginning of the document, Australia's Science and Technology Minister Melissa Price said quantum technology would improve our lives in many ways, with major advances in areas such as meteorology, healthcare, finance, energy and resources and defence. In our daily lives, these technologies will help improve the efficiency of the movement of people and goods through better supply chain management or traffic lights that adjust in real time to prevent traffic jams. Quantum communications will make our information more secure by enabling extremely strong data encryption that is nearly impossible to hack. Quantum technology could also improve health through more accurate imaging, more precise and effective medicine, and more effective vaccines.

 

Globally, the quantum technology sector is expected to grow 33 percent over the next five years, Price said. Quantum technology could generate A$4 billion in revenue and 16,000 jobs in Australia by 2040. To date, Australia's expanding quantum industry has attracted more than 16 quantum-related companies with a total investment of more than A$405 million.

 

It is worth mentioning that Marcus Doherty, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Australian diamond quantum computer company Quantum Brilliance, said that the first Quantum Brilliance computer will be delivered to its first customer within two weeks and be available in five years. . Today, the company also launched a joint research and development centre with La Trobe and RMIT University, which will work to improve the computational power of diamond quantum computers.

 

At present, quantum computing has been identified as one of five emerging technologies in the Australian Federal Government's A$1.2 billion digital economy strategy. In addition, quantum has also been identified as one of nine priority technology areas to initially focus on in the government's Critical Technologies Action Plan.

 

As global attention and investment in quantum technology grows, the government is taking action to secure Australia's place in the quantum future. Price said Australia would invest A$111 million to develop a National Quantum Strategy, of which A$70 million would be used to fund a quantum commercialisation centre to help Australian businesses get the support and infrastructure they need to grow, enter new markets and attract investment.

 

The document raises the following consultative questions:

 

Why quantum technology and why now?

 

1. What are the potential and real-world use cases for quantum technology? When do you expect to see these potential and real-world use cases?

 

2. Are there other technologies, skills and industries that need to be developed in parallel with quantum technology to realize the benefits of quantum technology?

 

3. What does Australia need to provide world-class quantum technology capabilities? What is Australia's competitive advantage compared to other countries? How can we take advantage of these advantages?

 

4. What are the security risks associated with the development and adoption of quantum technologies?

 

Theme 1: Research and Development

 

5. What can Australia do to maintain and develop its quantum research capabilities? Are there any specific obstacles to doing quantum research?

 

6. How can Australia continue to strengthen international R&D partnerships in quantum technologies to leverage our talent and intellectual property? How can our quantum research and industry help deepen our partnerships with like-minded nations?

 

7. Is there an international quantum ecosystem that could serve as a benchmark for Australia? Are there any international lessons for quantum R&D in Australia?

 

8. How to improve cooperation and interaction between industry and academia?

 

Theme 2: Investment, Commercialisation and Industrial Growth

 

9. What is needed to support enterprise adoption and adaptation of quantum technologies? How can we help Quantum Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) bridge the gap in commercial revenue?

 

10. What is needed to support greater global partnerships and Australia’s integration into the global quantum supply chain? What specific regions or countries present opportunities for Australia and what are those opportunities?

 

11. What leverage is needed to increase investment in Australian quantum technology and support the export of quantum technology to like-minded countries?

 

12. What quantum technology infrastructure does Australia have? What kind of infrastructure is needed and how long will it take?

 

Theme 3: Skills, Social License and Diversity

 

13. In what areas does Australia have quantum skills? In which areas do we need more skills now and in the future? How is Australia retraining the workforce for the quantum industry?

 

14. How does Australia build social license while developing quantum technology?

 

15. How can Australia create an inclusive and diverse quantum ecosystem that is accessible and relevant to the Australian community?

 

Creating a shared vision for the Australian quantum technology ecosystem

 

16. What else should be included in the shared vision in order to capture the quantum opportunity in Australia?

 

17. Are the three themes and measures of success appropriate? What other topics and/or measures should be included?

 

18. What outcomes should Australia focus on in the next 5 years? Why?

 

Link:

[1] https://www.zdnet.com/article/australia-reinforces-data-and-quantum-as-priority-research-areas-in-new-roadmap/

[2] https://headtopics.com/au/lunchbox-sized-quantum-computer-on-the-fast-track-to-market-25418216

[3] https://www.dese.gov.au/national-research-infrastructure/resources/2021-national-research-infrastructure-roadmap

[4] https://consult.industry.gov.au/national-quantum-strategy-issues-paper

[5] https://www.industry.gov.au/news/australias-vision-for-quantum