Meet QSI

Our mission at the Centre for Quantum Software and Information (QSI) is researching and developing software for quantum computers and to discover new information processing applications and hardware infrastructure for future quantum technologies.

QSI Director, Zhengfeng Ji with A/Prof Marco Tomamichel exchanging ideas in UTS Building 11

Meet QSI

QSI is a world-premiere institution for quantum information and software research, with:

Research 

Our theoretical research spans the development of “full stack” quantum computing and communication, while our hardware team focuses on developing tools and techniques critical for superconducting circuit-based quantum information science in our state-of-the-art Millikelvin Quantum Science lab. 

Our research strengths include:

Collaborations and partnerships

At QSI, we work with researchers in Australia and around the world on both the foundational understanding of quantum information science and on developing the software, information processing and hardware infrastructure required for future quantum technologies. 

These include US DoD Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), Google, HRL Laboratories, Boeing, Zapata, Rigetti, Japanese Moonshot program, Lockheed Martin, ONR, EU Quantum Internet Alliance, Australian Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), the Institute for Quantum Computing, Waterloo and the Center for Quantum Technology, Singapore. and many more.

At QSI, we regularly host visitors to our Centre drawn from our global collaboration network. Our ‘OSI Seminar’ series talks span the full spectrum of quantum research, with guest speakers such as Campbell McLauchlan from Cambridge, Urmilla Mahadev from Caltech, Miklos Santha from the Centre of Quantum Technologies Singapore, Oscar Higgot from University College London and Tom O’Brien from Google in 2023 alone. 

QSI in Australia’s quantum landscape

QSI is at the forefront of quantum technology research and development initiatives in Australia. In 2017, QSI became a node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T) and is a founding member of the Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA). 

QSI’s Dr Marika Kieferova is the leading Australian quantum computing scientist with Google’s Quantum AI team, coordinating collaboration between Australian universities. 

QSI members’ insights into Australia’s quantum landscape are frequently sought after by government and specialist groups for policy development (ASPI’s ‘An Australian Strategy for the Quantum Revolution’ and ‘Special Report: The Impact of Quantum Technologies on Secure Communications’; Standards Australia’s Quantum Whitepapers), most recently with QSI’s Research Director A/Prof Simon Devitt being named to the Australian National Quantum Strategy Committee in September 2022. 

In 2022, QSI led the formation of the Australian Quantum Software Network, a collaboration of over 110 researchers across 10 Australian Universities, the CSIRO and two Australian quantum software start-ups, formed to sharpen Australia’s edge as global leader of quantum software research and development. 
 

Facilities

QSI is located primarily in the School of Computer Science at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, an innovative and research-intensive faculty with a strong reputation for its practice-based learning programs and industry engagement.  QSI is also home to interdisciplinary research programs in physics, maths and chemistry, based in the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the Faculty of Science, a high-impact research faculty with world-class facilities.

UTS is a key partner in the Tech Central innovation precinct, a high-tech multi-use facility that provides critical infrastructure to artificial intelligence, medtech, space and robotics sectors, with QSI’s A/Prof Nathan Langford named Director of the Advanced Prototype Packaging Facility (APPF).