Brisbane has opened Australia’s first facility dedicated to preparing advanced photonic microchips for use in market-ready technologies.
The Queensland Advanced Photonics Packaging Centre (Q-APP), located at CSIRO’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies in Pullenvale, is designed to connect and test the components of photonic chips for applications including fibre optic communications, healthcare, quantum computing, mining, fire detection and construction.
In a news release, CSIRO said photonic chips use light to process data and are intended to offer faster and more energy-efficient computing than standard silicon chips. The $6 million facility will provide specialised equipment and controlled environments for packaging and testing the chips.
CSIRO Research Group Leader Karsten Hoehn said Q-APP was intended to help move photonics technologies from research towards practical applications.
“Q-APP helps bridge the gap between an idea and reality, giving Australian researchers and companies access to the expertise and equipment needed to build and test photonic chips locally,” Hoehn said.
“This facility allows us greater mobility and speed in our progress in next-generation computing, bringing developments in faster communications, advanced manufacturing, and future quantum systems one step closer than before.”
Prior to the facility’s opening, photonic chip components had to be sent overseas for packaging, according to CSIRO.
Queensland Chief Scientist Dr Kerrie Wilson said the centre would support the state’s efforts to develop its quantum and advanced technologies sectors.
“We are excited to have this advanced facility based here in Queensland,” Wilson said. “Our science and innovation ecosystem includes researchers working closely with industry partners to develop and scale these technologies, enabling commercialisation of Queensland discoveries and innovations.”
She said supporting infrastructure and workforce development would be important to the sector’s growth.
Q-APP is primarily funded through the Queensland Government’s Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program, which supports start-ups and industry in developing and commercialising prototype devices.
CSIRO said the facility is intended to contribute to the development of Queensland’s emerging quantum and advanced technology sectors and workforce.
