Government investments worth more than $31 million in Canberra quantum computing startup Quantum Brilliance have led to the world’s first commercial quantum diamond foundry opening in Melbourne today to produce computer circuits using lab-grown gems.
Quantum Brilliance, founded in 2019, using research undertaken at ANU, is the world’s leading developer of miniaturised quantum computing products, using synthetic diamonds to produce smaller quantum chips that can operate at room temperature.
The quantum diamond foundry is a cutting-edge manufacturing plant where lab-grown diamonds are built into computer circuits to boost computing power.
Victorian economic growth minister Danny Pearson opened the foundary at Co-Labs in Notting Hill, Melbourne, today.
The state government’s investment fund, Breakthrough Victoria, first took an $8 million in Quantum Brilliance as part of a $26 million raise in early 2023, then chipped in another $10m in December last year alongside the federal government’s National Reconstruction Fund investing $13m. The Made in Victoria: Industry R&D Infrastructure Fund also supported the foundry project.
Breakthrough Victoria CEO Rod Bristow said the new plant puts the state firmly on the quantum map globally.
“Opening the world’s first commercial quantum diamond foundry in Melbourne is a landmark achievement for Victoria’s innovation economy,” he said.
“This investment will accelerate quantum breakthroughs, create highly skilled local jobs, and position our state as a global leader in advanced technology and sovereign manufacturing.”
CSIRO modelling found that Australia’s quantum technology industry could be worth nearly $6 billion and employ 19,400 people by 2045.
CSIRO-backed VC fund Main Sequence, Investible, Ultratech Capital, MA Financial, Jelix Ventures, Rampersand and CM Equity are also among the investors, as well as the German government, which backed Quantum Brilliance in mid-2024 as part of a $58 million plan to build the world’s first mobile mobile quantum computer, which they hope to have running by 2027.
Quantum Brilliance chief technology officer Dr Marcus Doherty said “With this launch, the Foundry will begin to deliver its mission is to unlock the potential of diamond-based quantum technologies by supplying high-performance quantum diamond at scale and accelerating the design and fabrication of quantum diamond devices.”
Federal industry, innovation and science minister Tim Ayres called the NRF’s $13 million equity stake “a powerful example of how public investment can unlock private ingenuity and drive economic growth”.
“With this investment, we are delivering on the goals of our National Quantum Strategy by backing the local quantum sector to go from strength to strength,” he said.
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