The Department of Industry, Science and Resources has launched the country’s first National Quantum Strategy, setting a long-term vision for Australia to take advantage of the opportunities that quantum technologies present.
Welcoming the Strategy, the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic said Australia had been a global pioneer in cutting-edge quantum research for decades.
“Now we need to translate that advantage into thriving quantum industries that boost our economic competitiveness and help solve our biggest national challenges,” Mr Husic said.
“The Strategy will be the North Star to help guide collaboration between research pioneers, industry partners, start-ups and the government into the future.”
He said the Strategy identified five priority areas: Investing in research and development and commercialisation; Securing infrastructure and materials; Growing a skilled workforce; Supporting national interests; and Promoting a trusted, ethical, inclusive ecosystem.
Mr Husic said quantum technology used studies of the smallest building blocks in nature, subatomic particles, to help solve some of the “biggest challenges”, such as cutting the time and cost of developing new medicines, helping the transition to net zero with more efficient battery storage, and safeguarding cyber infrastructure.
“I can’t emphasise this enough, quantum technologies will be truly transformative,” the Minister said.
“We are already seeing how quantum sensing equipment is making a huge difference for industry,” he said.
“In time, quantum computing will unleash incredible computing power that can phenomenally outperform traditional computing.”
The Department’s 50-page Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
