The Australian federal government is providing AU$12.7 million in funding to eight cutting-edge quantum technologies including mine site sensors, data centre cooling and optical imaging projects.
The government will offer the funding through round 1 stage 2 of the Critical Technologies Challenge Program (CTCP), which provides up to AU$36 million in grant funding to test and demonstrate solutions to market-led challenges of national significance using quantum technologies.
The CTCP offers the grants in two stages: stage one offers up to AU$500,000 to fund feasibility projects, while stage two provides up to AU$5 million to demonstrate proof of concept for projects progressing from stage 1.
Eight projects were granted stage two funding, with two projects focused on the resource exploration sector.
Loughan Technology Group will receive AU$2.4 million to develop Australia’s first real-time mine-site sensor to measure recoverable rare-earth elements in clay deposits.
This project is based on Quantum Novel Fluorescence Analysis (Q-NFA) to quantify economically recoverable minerals.
Orica Australia received AU$2.3 million to integrate quantum opto-mechanical sensors into through-earth communications. The project aims to enhance wireless initiating systems in harsh mining environments.
Both projects aim to optimise and reduce the impact of resource exploration, extraction, and mineral processing.
The government’s critical technologies program aligns with the Future Made in Australia plan by backing Australian-led projects that deliver innovations in science and digital capability.
By nurturing quantum capabilities, the program strengthens Australia’s high‑tech manufacturing base.