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Funding to develop solutions for market-led challenges using quantum technologies
Critical Technologies Challenge Program Round 1
This program will provide joint (consortia) collaborations with funding to develop solutions or a component(s) that contribute(s) to a solution for market-led challenges of national significance using quantum technologies.
What do you get?
Grants from $100,000 to $500,000 for a Stage 1 Feasibility project.
If your Stage 1 Feasibility project is successful, you may receive up to $5 million for a Stage 2 Demonstrator project.
Who is this for?
Consortia that include at least one Australian industry-based partner and one Australian research organisation.
Overview
This program provides consortia with funding to develop quantum technology solutions or a component(s) that contributes to a solution for market-led challenges of national significance. Solutions may also involve the use of other advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
[Music starts. The video starts with a white panel. The panel shows animated dark purple geometric shapes that make up the image of a map of Australia. Dr Cathy Foley’s voice can be heard]
Our quantum track record is a success story for Australia,
[Dr Foley is on screen and speaking to the camera. The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley’s name and occupation appears at the lower left-hand side of the screen. It states: Dr Cathy Foley AO, Australia’s Chief Scientist.]
and we're creating a quantum industry to capitalise on our great world leading research.
[The screen changes to a series of fast-moving images, including quantum computer parts, electronic machinery, cars driving on a network of roads, people wearing protective clothing and looking through microscopes, a person laying on a medical testing device while another person operates it, glass bottles being moved by a machine, and a finger pointing at a computer screen. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background]
Quantum enables us to solve previously intractable problems, and the Australian Government is launching a Critical Technologies Challenge Program to focus on solving nationally significant challenges to benefit all Australians.
[The screen changes to a white panel with video title and subtitle: Critical Technologies Challenge Program. The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera. The screen changes to a white panel with summary details of the 4 Critical Technology Challenges: Energy, Medical, Communications, Resources. There are animated graphics for each challenge: 2 energy transmissions towers, a heart with a heartbeat line, a satellite dish and a stack of gold-shaped bricks. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
The 4 challenges are across the energy, medical, technology, communications and resources sectors.
[The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.
The Critical Technologies Challenge program is all about impact and finding a path to market for your solution,
[The screen changes to a white panel with an animated graphic of four images with text, including shaking hands in front of high-rise buildings with the text Business; a silhouette of a person in between buildings with the text Customers; a microscope with geometric shapes with the text Quantum Industry; and, a silhouette of a piggy bank between buildings with the text Economy. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
one that leads to adoption by innovative Australian businesses and benefits their customers, the quantum industry and the Australian economy.
[The screen changes to a white panel with summary details of the Critical Technology Challenges Program: Up to $36m in grant funding over two challenge rounds. Round 1: Apply to solve one of four nationally significant challenges. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
The government has committed $36 million in grant funding for this program over 2 rounds.
[The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.]
To progress quantum solutions to market. The program has 2 stages.
[The screen changes to a white panel with summary details: Stage 1 Open now. Quantum technology solutions. Receive up to $500k feasibility funding. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
In stage one, which is open now. Applicants can seek up to half a million dollars in feasibility funding.
[The screen changes to a white panel with summary details: Stage 2. Successful Stage 1 applicants invited to Stage 2. Receive up to $5m demonstrator funding. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
In stage 2, if your feasibility project is successful, you will be invited to apply for up to an additional $5 million in demonstrator funding.
[The screen changes to a white panel with an animation of different silhouettes of people and objects, including a tractor, a microscope, an atom, electricity towers, a stethoscope, a brain and a satellite. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
I encourage you to consider how you could work with innovative Australian businesses, academics and researchers, industry international partners and the end user of your quantum solution.
[The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.]
This is your opportunity to put your ideas to the test.
[The screen changes to a white panel with application details: Apply now at business.gov.au. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.]
Apply now to help solve some of Australia's most significant challenges.
[The screen changes to a white background with a purple accent at top left of screen. It shows the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Science and Resources Critical Technology Challenge Program logo in stacked format.]
The challenges are:
- Challenge 1: Optimise the performance, sustainability, and security of energy networks.
- Challenge 2: Improve medical imaging and medical sensors to support diagnosis, treatment of disease and monitoring activities inside the human body.
- Challenge 3: Enhance communication with autonomous systems in varying environments.
- Challenge 4: Optimise and reduce the impact of resource exploration, extraction, and mineral processing.
There will be two grant opportunities as part of this program.
Stage 1 – Feasibility grant opportunity
The purpose of the Stage 1 Feasibility grant is to test and demonstrate the technical viability of your proposed solution or component(s) of a solution.
Stage 2 – Demonstrator grant opportunity
The purpose of the Stage 2 Demonstrator grant is to support you to build on your Stage 1 Feasibility project and produce working prototypes or demonstrations.
Only applicants that complete a Stage 1 Feasibility project will be invited to submit an application for Stage 2 Demonstrator funding.
Contact
Need help?
Let us answer your question over the phone, email or live chat.
- Phone:
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Open Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm across Australia
- Website:
Grant recipients
Key documents
Stage 2 Demonstrator - Partner agreement template
docx · 0.11 MB