Archer Materials partners with Quantum Emergence

Archer Materials, an Australian quantum technology company developing advanced semiconductor chips for quantum technology and medical diagnostics, has signed a collaboration agreement with Emergence Quantum, a quantum innovation company.

Under the agreement, Emergence Quantum will help Archer develop a strategic technology program to guide joint research, development, and commercialisation of next-generation quantum materials and devices.

The goal is to turn scientific discoveries into practical technologies, focusing on graphene and related carbon materials to enable new device designs and innovative applications in quantum and advanced electronics.

A phased innovation and commercialisation program will guide research, development, and prototype demonstration as part of the Archer partnership.

Phase I involves mapping graphene’s potential in quantum and non-quantum domains, defining technical directions, and preparing for targeted development and funding.

Phase II will see a transition to execution, with a focus on experimental validation of high-impact concepts and delivering prototype demonstrations in key application areas.

Dr Simon Ruffell, CEO of Archer, said graphene and carbon-based materials offer a powerful platform for enabling quantum devices that are both scalable and commercially relevant.

"By combining Archer's unique expertise in quantum carbon films, including graphene, with Emergence Quantum’s world-class capability and leveraging their experience we’re setting the stage for rapid advancement in quantum materials and devices," he said.

Dr Thomas Ohki, who serves as CTO/CSO of Emergence Quantum, said the company's work with large multinational quantum companies has shown how strategic partnerships can accelerate quantum technology development.

"We see significant opportunity to bring that same momentum to Archer’s graphene-based innovation," he said.

Emergence Quantum was launched earlier this year by the University of Sydney quantum technology team.

As well as building systems across various quantum platforms, the 20-strong research firm led by Professor David Reilly and Ohki is developing new technologies for energy-efficient classical computing.

A central area for the company will also be the intersection of quantum with AI and the data centres of the future. 

In 2020, Archer Materials announced it had partnered with IBM to build a quantum computing qubit processor, claiming it was the first Australian company building a quantum computing processor and hardware, with the CQ qubit processor chip.