Professor Michelle Simmons

SQC among 6 startups sharing $12.3 million in quantum grants

Six Australian quantum startups, including Silicon Quantum Computing and QuantX Labs, have received federal grants totalling $12.3 million under the Critical Technologies Challenge Program for projects in energy, health, biosecurity and logistics.

Role call: new people at allt, SQC, RedBelly Network, Neara & Indebted

Weekly people-moves column: new executives at allt, SQC, Redbelly Network, InDebted and Neara, including Clive Dickens joining allt's board and Chris McNamara becoming InDebted's CEO.

Diraq pushing its quantum computer to the cloud amid commercialisation race

Sydney quantum computing company Diraq will station an eight-qubit prototype machine inside an Equinix facility from October, a step toward moving the technology from lab to market.

NRF trebles its stake in Silicon Quantum Computing with another $40 million

The National Reconstruction Fund has put another $40m into Sydney quantum chip maker Silicon Quantum Computing, following its $20m investment three months earlier, part of a larger round still underway.

Eight ANZ startups that raised $373.3 million this week

Weekly roundup detailing eight trans-Tasman raises totalling A$373.3 million, headlined by Halter's Series E, spanning quantum computing, biomanufacturing, robotics, adtech and agtech, plus a recalled $2 billion founder exit.

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Silicon Quantum Computing receives $20 million NRF boost

The National Reconstruction Fund has put $20 million into Sydney quantum chip maker Silicon Quantum Computing via a SAFE note, following its smaller-than-planned 2023 Series A and a similar NRF bet on Diraq.

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Silicon Quantum Computing built a bigger, better, faster processor chip

A Sydney quantum chipmaker says its new processor keeps improving in accuracy as more qubits are added, a milestone published in Nature, with DARPA benchmarking progress and systems used by Telstra and Australian Defence.

‘Record demonstration’: Dark horse in quantum race passes new milestone

Quantum computing startup Diraq announced record qubit control fidelity and chip-making partnerships with GlobalFoundries and IMEC; the piece also recounts its Quantonation-led Series A, early Allectus backing, and PsiQuantum's government funding.

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Ex-Arm chief announced as new Silicon Quantum Computing Chair

Quantum computing firm SQC names Simon Segars as chair and Fiona Pak-Poy as director; the article also recalls its $83m seed round and $50.4m Series A.

UNSW quantum founder Michelle Simmons wins $250,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

SQC founder Michelle Simmons receives a $250,000 science prize from the prime minister, with the article recalling the quantum company's seed round, government stakes, and July valuation jump.

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Silex Systems awarded defence support for quantum silicon production

Defence Trailblazer grants Silex Systems $5.1 million to build commercial-scale zero spin silicon output at its Sydney plant, securing local supply for quantum chipmaker Silicon Quantum Computing.

Five Aussie startups that raised $58.5 million this week

Weekly roundup covering five Australian startups that announced a combined $58.5 million in new funding, spanning quantum computing, advertising software, mining safety technology and event rental software, alongside government grant programs.

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Australia's own Silicon Quantum Computing raises $50 million for commercialised quantum computers

Silicon Quantum Computing closed a $50.4 million Series A backed by CBA, UNSW, Telstra and the Australian Government, lifting its valuation to $195.3 million, below its original $130 million target.

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AUKUS innovation: about far more than submarines – by Michael Sharpe

An opinion piece arguing AUKUS Pillar Two reaches beyond submarines into quantum, autonomy, AI and hypersonics, citing Australian players including Internet 2.0, Anduril Australia and Hypersonix.

Australia's quantum success a model for other technologies

Chief Scientist Cathy Foley's paper examines Australia's quantum technology achievements and draws lessons for scaling other sectors, noting Silicon Quantum Computing's large Series A raise and other local quantum companies.

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UNSW startup engineers a quantum processor, bringing commercial quantum computers closer to reality

A UNSW-backed quantum computing startup says it has built the world's first atomic-scale processor and has launched a $130 million Series A to push toward a commercial quantum computer by around 2028.

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Ex-Google quantum chief joins Simmons’ silicon startup

Google's former quantum hardware leader John Martinis has joined Michelle Simmons' Australian quantum computing startup SQC, which launched in 2017 backed by $83 million from government, university and corporate investors.

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