UNSW Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons Wins 2023 Prime Minister's Prize for Science for Quantum Computing Breakthroughs

UNSW Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons Wins 2023 Prime Minister's Prize for Science for Quantum Computing Breakthroughs

UNSW Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons has been awarded the 2023 Prime Minister's Prize for Science for her achievements in creating the field of atomic electronics, with a mission to create the world's first error-corrected quantum computer in Australia.

UNSW Scientia Professor Michelle Simmons Wins 2023 Prime Minister's Prize for Science for Quantum Computing Breakthroughs

Her discoveries have the potential to impact almost every industry that is dependent on data, such as revolutionising therapeutic drug design, optimising route planning for delivery or logistical systems thereby reducing fuel costs and delivery times, and creating better fertilisers for agriculture.

Prof. Simmons is an ARC Laureate Fellow and former 2018 Australian of the Year. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of London, the American Academy of Arts and Science, the American Association of the Advancement of Science, the UK Institute of Physics, the American Physical Society, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, and the Australian Academy of Science.

The Prime Minister's Prizes for Science are Australia's most prestigious awards for outstanding achievements in scientific research, research-based innovation and excellence in science teaching.

Read more about this blog post in Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

Australian Quantum Computing Companies in Global Race to Commercialize Technology

Q-CTRL and Diraq, two prominent players in the development of valuable quantum technologies through software and hardware, have announced a collaboration on three substantial projects aimed at expanding the adoption of quantum computing for commercial purposes. This marks the initial phase of an anticipated partnership that will bring cutting-edge quantum computing capabilities to the global market, with a focus on Australia.

Australian Quantum Computing Companies in Global Race to Commercialize Technology

These two Australian quantum technology companies will join forces to deliver three projects, two of which are supported by the Quantum Computing Commercialisation Fund (QCCF) from the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer, while the third project is backed by the U.S. Army Research Office. The responsibilities for these projects will be divided between Q-CTRL and Diraq: Diraq will be responsible for the development and provision of its Silicon-based quantum computing hardware, while Q-CTRL will focus on building and integrating its quantum infrastructure software solutions to maximize the value for end-users.

Q-CTRL and Diraq's collaboration showcases Australia's leading role in the quantum technology industry worldwide. Diraq's hardware is constructed using a unique technology called spins in silicon, which enables scalability to millions, and potentially billions, of qubits per chip. On the other hand, Q-CTRL is a pioneering company that focuses on developing software solutions to enhance the utility and performance of quantum hardware. The founders and CEOs of Q-CTRL and Diraq, Michael Biercuk and Andrew Dzurak respectively, have a longstanding professional relationship spanning over two decades, starting from their academic pursuits and continuing into the industry.

With the recently announced National Quantum Strategy, the Australian quantum ecosystem is thriving, and the government has taken proactive measures to support the growth of the industry.

The Quantum Computing Commercialisation Fund, an initiative from New South Wales, aims to empower Australian companies in the quantum computing hardware and software sector. The projects supported by this fund are geared towards enhancing the commercial and technological readiness of quantum computing technologies, with a focus on long-term commercial viability. The joint efforts of Diraq and Q-CTRL will pave the way for Australia's first cloud-accessible silicon quantum processor, bringing cutting-edge capabilities to the country's globally renowned financial services sector.

Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, highlighted the shared commitment between Diraq and Q-CTRL in driving innovation in the quantum computing industry, both within Australia and on a global scale. He expressed his delight in collaborating with Q-CTRL and leveraging their respective areas of expertise to achieve successful outcomes for these transformative projects.

Australian companies and University teams have long engaged with the US Army Research Office in support of quantum computing capability development. In the current project led by Diraq, the two teams will focus on developing novel techniques to operate and optimize next-generation Silicon quantum processors. The ARO R&D program now aligns with quantum technology initiatives supported under the trilateral AUKUS agreement’s Pillar II. AUKUS Pillar II is aimed at enhancing capabilities and interoperability with a focus on cyber capabilities, AI, quantum technologies and undersea capabilities. In July, Q-CTRL announced a separate deal with the Australian Department of Defence, centering around quantum sensors for navigation; the technological breakthroughs would be shared with AUKUS partners in the US and UK.

“It’s exciting to see Australia’s two leading quantum computing companies collaborating to deliver true sovereign capability in one of the most profound technical fields of the century,” said Q-CTRL CEO and Founder, Michael Biercuk. “We’re thrilled to be helping accelerate the work of our friends at Diraq, and ensuring these powerful new systems deliver value broadly across the Australian and global economies."

More details on

1. Q-CTRL

2. Diraq

3. Image: From Google Search Internet.

Quantum Computing Basics

Quantum Computing Basics

Question: What is a quantum computer?

Answer: A quantum computer is a computer that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to solve problems that are too complex for classical computers.

Question: What are qubits?

Answer: Qubits are the basic units of information in a quantum computer. They can be in a superposition of states, meaning that they can be both 0 and 1 at the same time.

Question: What are some potential applications of quantum computing?

Answer: Some potential applications of quantum computing include breaking encryption algorithms, simulating complex chemical reactions, designing new drugs, forecasting the weather, and developing new materials.

Question: What are some of the challenges that need to be overcome before quantum computers can be widely used?

Answer: Some of the challenges that need to be overcome before quantum computers can be widely used include noise, scalability, and decoherence.

Question: What are some of the leading companies working on quantum computing?

Answer: Some of the leading companies working on quantum computing include Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Rigetti Computing.

Question: What are some of the academic institutions working on quantum computing?

Answer: Some of the academic institutions working on quantum computing include the University of California, Berkeley, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Stanford University.

Question: What is the future of quantum computing?

Answer: The future of quantum computing is very promising. There is a lot of potential for quantum computers to revolutionize many industries, and the field is rapidly advancing.

Question: What is the difference between quantum computing and classical computing?

Answer: Quantum computing and classical computing are two fundamentally different ways of computing. Classical computers use bits, which can be either 0 or 1. Quantum computers use qubits, which can be in a superposition of states, meaning that they can be both 0 and 1 at the same time.

Question: How does quantum computing work?

Answer: Quantum computing works by using the principles of quantum mechanics to manipulate qubits. Qubits can be entangled, which means that they are linked together in such a way that they share the same fate. This allows quantum computers to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than classical computers.

Question: What are the challenges of quantum computing?

Answer: There are a number of challenges that need to be overcome before quantum computing can be widely used. These challenges include noise, scalability, and decoherence.

Question: What is noise?

Answer: Noise is a random disturbance that can interfere with the operation of a quantum computer. Noise can be caused by a number of factors, including environmental factors, such as heat and vibration, and the interaction of qubits with each other.

Question: What is scalability?

Answer: Scalability is the ability to increase the number of qubits in a quantum computer without sacrificing performance. Scalability is a major challenge for quantum computing, as the number of qubits needed to solve certain problems grows exponentially.

Question: What is decoherence?

Answer: Decoherence is the loss of quantum coherence, which is the ability of qubits to be in a superposition of states. Decoherence can be caused by a number of factors, including noise and the interaction of qubits with their environment.

Question: What is the current state of quantum computing?

Answer: The current state of quantum computing is still in its early stages. However, there has been a lot of progress in recent years, and there is a lot of optimism that quantum computers will be developed in the near future.