Melbourne Quantum Diamond Hub launches to turn decades of research into real products

[Terminator]

A new Melbourne Quantum Diamond Hub has launched, bringing together 14 organisations from research, industry and the supply chain. Members include the University of Melbourne, Quantum Brilliance, FeBI Technologies, CSIRO, Phasor Quantum and Space CoLAB. It is funded by the Australian government's Department of Industry, Science and Resources, with Quantum Australia helping connect it with end users and investors. The launch took place at Melbourne Connect with more than 120 people attending

Quantum diamond technology is less famous than quantum computing, but it may be closer to everyday use. It relies on tiny defects in diamond called nitrogen vacancy centres, which behave like atoms trapped inside the crystal. They can sense magnetic fields, temperature and electric fields with remarkable precision, and they work at room temperature. Quantum Brilliance even uses them for small quantum computers that do not need huge fridges

The hub lists a wide range of possible uses, including defence and space, healthcare and biotech, secure communications, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and transport. Sensors are the most likely early win, for things like navigation without GPS or detecting tiny magnetic signals in the body. Victoria has more than 30 years of research history in this area, with over 100 researchers working on it today

Associate Professor David Simpson from the University of Melbourne gave the keynote, and there was a panel including Dr Marcus Doherty, Dr Nicole Jenkins, Dr Liam Hall and Adam Silvester. Carley Scott from Space CoLAB said it was fantastic to bring industry together to recognise the history and momentum in Victoria over decades. Hubs like this are about stopping good research from staying in the lab

Australia keeps punching above its weight in quantum, from SQC's silicon work to this diamond cluster. Have any of you come across diamond quantum sensors before? And do you think sensing will reach real products before quantum computing does?

Melbourne Quantum Diamond Hub Launches, Creating a Springboard for Collaboration  - Quantum Australiawww.quantum-australia.com

[Linda85]

The country has a strong record of research but a weaker record of turning it into companies. Hubs like this try to fix that. It will be interesting to see if any big firms come out of it. Talent often moves overseas too

[Pixel Mark]

A hundred and twenty people is a decent turnout for a launch like this. It shows there is real interest locally. Small communities like this are how ecosystems start

[HardyBoy13]

Sensing will definitely get there first. Quantum sensors are already being tested for navigation and medical imaging, and they do not need error correction

Computing has a much longer road. Some quantum sensors are already on sale

[Brett42]

Quantum Brilliance is an interesting company. Room temperature quantum computers sound almost too good to be true, although their machines are small for now. Edge devices and satellites are the target market. No dilution fridge means it could fit almost anywhere

[AlphaRhodes60]

Medical uses could be huge. Detecting tiny magnetic signals from the heart or brain without massive equipment would change diagnostics

That is still some way off though. Hospitals would need a lot of convincing anyway

[ParallelSelf]

Nitrogen vacancy centres are fascinating. A single missing carbon atom next to a nitrogen atom turns diamond into a quantum sensor. And it works at room temperature, which is the big advantage. No fridges, no vacuum chambers. Even a tiny chip can carry one

[Squid]

Navigation without GPS is a big deal for defence and shipping. GPS jamming has become common, so a backup that cannot be jammed is valuable. Diamond magnetometers are one of the leading options. Airlines have reported jamming on a lot of routes. A robust backup has never been more relevant