Image: Group shot of six new ventures from Quantum Australia’s NextQ program. Supplied.
Australia’s quantum industry is beginning to translate its research strengths into measurable economic returns, with new independent modelling showing Quantum Australia’s national programs have generated $83.1 million in economic value.
The figure, calculated by independent consultancy Avant Group as net present value over five years, represents more than six times the public investment in economy-wide activity. It includes grant and industry funding mobilised, private investment leveraged, and commercial contracts signed through Quantum Australia programs over the past two years.
Further data revealed Quantum Australia has helped create 15 new quantum companies, established 110 industry-research partnerships, and facilitated more than $50 million in grant funding for quantum use cases across critical industries.
Australian quantum industry moves towards commercialisation
The figures were released during Australia’s first national quantum startup showcase, the Quantum Australia Showcase, held at Parliament House in Canberra to demonstrate how national coordination is accelerating the commercialisation and adoption of Australian quantum technologies.
The showcase brought together researchers, industry, investors, government and end users from across Australia’s quantum ecosystem and a broad range of critical industries.
As part of the event, six early-stage quantum ventures showcased investment-ready technologies with the potential to transform healthcare, logistics, critical infrastructure, secure communications and quantum computing:
- FeBI Technologies uses quantum sensing to give clinicians an accurate, low-cost measure of a patient’s true iron status.
- QFactorial aims to cut kilometres, fuel use and operating costs for freight, logistics and mining operators.
- SpaceCoLAB has built a briefcase-sized system that sends data as quantum states, enabling interception attempts to be detected.
- Quantum Lock gives operators of critical infrastructure, from power stations to satellites, a way to detect whether a device has been tampered with.
- Gridstate is building a plug-and-play module designed to help photonic quantum computers correct errors fast enough to operate reliably at scale.
- Cirnetiq builds specialised amplifiers that boost the extremely faint signals inside quantum computers and other sensitive equipment so they can be read clearly.
Building Australia’s quantum ecosystem
The showcase was also attended by a Japanese delegation following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Australia and Japan, creating a framework for closer collaboration in quantum research, innovation, talent and commercialisation.
It coincided with Quantum Australia announcing a new team based in Canberra at the Australian National University, strengthening its presence in the nation’s capital as it continues to coordinate quantum activity across states and territories.
According to Quantum Australia, the sector’s growth and emerging commercial returns demonstrate how national investment in the Australian quantum industry is beginning to convert the country’s research strengths into economic activity.
Turning quantum research into companies
Petra Andrén, CEO of Quantum Australia, said: “Quantum Australia exists to connect researchers, entrepreneurs, industry, end-users, investors, and government to turn world-class science into ventures with the potential to solve real-world problems. Today we’re seeing that investment begin to deliver measurable economic returns.
“These six companies are the result of over two years of building Australia’s quantum innovation pipeline. As a result, Australian quantum research is becoming Australian quantum companies, developing technologies for healthcare, critical infrastructure, logistics, and computing to solve real-world problems.
“The next challenge is maintaining that momentum through continued national coordination and sustained investment, ensuring these companies can scale in Australia, create jobs here, and compete globally.”