Defence Trailblazer has announced that QuantX Labs has signed a new research project agreement with the University of Adelaide to mature their existing quantum sensing and timekeeping technologies. The $13.8 million project will advance existing designs from prototypes to deployable systems.
“A key objective of this project is to transform lab-based, low-TRL prototypes into scalable technologies, capable of making an immediate market impact,” lead investigator at QuantX, Sebastian Ng, said. “The project aligns with the needs of Defence while addressing competitive commercial niches.”
The interconnected globe has a high dependence on the GPS satellite network which provides universal positioning and timing information. Estimates of the economic value are well above $2 billion per day. However, these GPS signals are also very vulnerable. In contrast, quantum clocks can provide precise and secure synchronisation that outperforms the timing derived from GPS by many orders of magnitude.
“QuantX Labs brings a wealth of experience in delivering high-TRL advanced clock and magnetometer products in a real-world environment, while the expertise of the IPAS team has paved the way for world class optical clock technologies. This latest project will further build on an exciting collaboration in the quantum timekeeping market," General Manager – Technology Development & Acceleration at Defence Trailblazer, Margaret Law, stated.
These technologies are a key focus area to improve Defence capabilities, including navigation and positioning, reconnaissance and surveillance, and command and control. Supporting the Australian quantum timekeeping industry will also help to secure the supply chain for a sovereign GPS satellite network.
With support from the Defence Trailblazer, QuantX Labs will aim to expand its position in the quantum sensing and timekeeping market through the production of new commercial clocks. The project aims to decrease the SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) by a factor of two, while improving reliability and performance.
This project builds on the previous collaborations with researchers at the University of Adelaide’s Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), including an initial Defence Trailblazer project on this topic.