Quantum Brilliance has announced a successful capital raise of US$20 million to fast-track miniaturised devices that can operate at room temperature instead of requiring extreme cooling to function.
Australia's CSIRO-backed fund Main Sequence, In-Q-Tel (IQT) in the United States and Intervalley Ventures in Japan have chipped in, with InterValley's involvement tapping into Japan's research capability and quantum ecosystem.
Technology developed by Quantum Brilliance can be used in ocean exploration, aerospace and defence. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)
Managing partner at Main Sequence Bill Bartee said the technical breakthroughs and strategic partnerships positioned the company to deliver groundbreaking quantum products "in the near future".
Additional investors include the federal National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, Victoria's investment fund Breakthrough Victoria, Alium Capital Management, Investible and Jelix Ventures.
The latest finance will be used for a quantum diamond foundry, advancing proprietary intellectual property in collaboration with leading semiconductor partners, prototypes and fulfilling commitments to customers, the company said.
Oak Ridge National Lab in the United States and the German government were early partners in the technology for mass deployment amid growing urgency in the semiconductor and quantum race against China.
Quantum Brilliance founders carried out their research at Canberra's Australian National University. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)
Founded in 2019 from ground-breaking research conducted at the Australian National University, the startup specialises in the design, fabrication and manufacturing of small devices capable of operating at room temperature.
"We believe this technology will play a pivotal role in addressing strategic challenges across industries and critical national priorities," IQT managing director Nat Puffer said.
Quantum sensors can be used in magnetometers to find minerals and in ocean exploration, aerospace and defence technologies, and for greater accuracy in pinpointing locations when using GPS.
Widening their potential uses, these quantum accelerators can be integrated into AI factories and systems known as distributed compute platforms - telecommunications, aircraft control and other networks.
The startup is already working with Oak Ridge to integrate the technology with high performance computing systems for much lower energy consumption.
Quantum is also developing mobile technology that can be used for national security, with Quantum Brilliance and ParityQC awarded a contract by Germany's cyber agency to develop the world's first mobile quantum computer by 2027.
A mobile quantum computer can perform highly complex tasks at rapid speeds in the field, allowing for secure and reliable computing power on the battlefield or in remote environments.
In war-fighting situations, a mobile quantum computer could optimise troop movements, analyse scenarios, and simulate chemical or biological agents in real time.
