Newly revealed documents shed light on 'strategic' goals behind Labor's $940m PsiQuantum bet
Documents released under a Freedom of Information request show the Department of Industry was not just chasing commercial goals when it invested in PsiQuantum.
Department of Industry tender documents released in response to a Freedom of Information request have shed fresh light on the government's $940 million investment in America's PsiQuantum, revealing the specific criteria it sought in a quantum computing candidate.
The documents show the Commonwealth and Queensland governments were looking for a company that could not only achieve a commercial-scale quantum computer by 2030, but also deepen strategic ties with international allies.
“The Australian Government seeks to meet the following objectives,” the document reads before listing three goals. The first two concern building Australia's quantum computing capabilities and developing the local sector. The third criteria is for the investment to "support initiatives that enhance domestic and international links with strategic partners in the national interest.”
Since the beginning of 2023, PsiQuantum has been working with the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a subsidiary of the US Department of Defence which develops advanced technology for national security.
