Why Sydney

Sydney is home to world-leading universities and one of the highest concentrations of quantum experts globally.

It’s also a thriving quantum ecosystem where research, industry growth, and job creation intersect — giving you access to networks, mentors, employers, and opportunities that can fast-track your quantum career.

 

 

Published on:
George St Sydney Harbour Bridge

Primed for growth

With a thriving ecosystem and supportive innovation infrastructure, Sydney and the state of New South Wales are well placed to become a global hub for quantum talent and technology.

According to Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, commercialising quantum technologies could create an Australian industry worth $2.2 billion and 8,700 jobs by 2030. This could reach nearly $6 billion and 19,400 jobs by 2045. Australia has world-class quantum research capabilities and an emerging quantum technology industry underpinned by the expertise and IP developed in its research institutions. As a hub of innovation and as Australia’s largest economy, Sydney will drive much of this growth.

What makes Sydney an emerging leader in quantum?

 

 

  • Four world-leading universities

    Sydney’s world-class universities provide education offerings across all areas or quantum science and technology including in computation, sensing and communication, both in software and hardware development. 

     

     

  • World-class quantum technology research and expertise

    Sydney researchers have led and contributed to major quantum breakthroughs over the past few decades. Sydney Quantum Academy brings together over 100 experts to ensure collaboration and build on an impressive track record of innovation. 

     

     

  • Supportive innovation infrastructure

    Government support at the state and federal level is helping to provide the  infrastructure needed to develop NSW's and Australia's quantum economy.

     

     

World-leading universities

Sydney is the number one city in the Asia Pacific and ranks third globally for top 100 ranked universities. SQA’s partners, Macquarie University, UTS, UNSW Sydney and University of Sydney, all rank within the top 1% of universities in the world (QS rankings). They are also ranked among the Top 50 in several key areas related to quantum technology including Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Natural Sciences.

Across its leading universities, Sydney has the largest pool of STEM graduates in Australia. There are over 40,000 students enrolled annually in Science, Engineering and Information Technology degrees alone in our partner institutions.

SQA is working with our partners to ensure students learn and draw on the best each institution has to offer including quantum specialised units and courses, and research projects. All four universities also have strong reputations for work-integrated learning, incubating start-ups and accelerating entrepreneurialism

 

 

 

students_studying_at laptops

Quantum research and expertise

SQA’s four partner universities bring together world-class expertise across the full breadth of quantum science and technology, supported by advanced research facilities and infrastructure.

 

 

  • Macquarie University

    Macquarie University hosts the Centre for Quantum Engineering (MQCQE) with eight core research groups designing second-generation quantum machines. This includes hardware for quantum simulators, quantum sensors and quantum computers, and quantum algorithms for these devices. The Quantum Materials and Applications (QMAPP) group runs three laboratories on campus and at CSIRO, focused on optomechanics and levitation, cavity electrodynamics, and solid-state quantum control. The centre maintains partnerships with Google and BTQ Technologies.

     

    Macquarie University

  • UNSW Sydney

    UNSW Sydney undertakes world-leading research in quantum technologies in both its School of Physics and School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. It hosts the headquarters of ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computer Performance and Integration (QPI). Researchers at UNSW are leading the world in the race to build quantum computers based on both single atoms and CMOS devices in silicon.  The University also hosts the headquarters of the NSW node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility which provides advanced nanofabrication capabilities needed for quantum device development.

     

     

    UNSW

  • University of Sydney

    The University of Sydney is a world leader in quantum research, home to the Sydney Nano Institute, multiple Quantum Centres of Excellence, and the ARC Training Centre for Future Leaders in Quantum Computing (FLiQC).

    Its $150 million Nanoscience Hub houses state-of-the-art facilities:

    • Quantum Control Laboratory – exploring new ways to control quantum systems for computing, simulation, and sensing.
    • Quantum Integration Laboratory – investigating quantum interactions between light, electronics, and atoms in crystals.
    • Quantum Theory Group – tackling both fundamental questions in quantum mechanics and the practical challenges of building quantum technology.

    These centres give students access to cutting-edge research, hands-on experience, and industry-linked projects. See here for more.

     

    University of Sydney

  • University of Technology Sydney

    UTS is home to strategic research initiatives such as the UTS Centre for Quantum Software and Information (QSI).

    QSI is Australia’s leading research centre focussed on the software and information processing infrastructure for quantum technologies. Researchers and PhD students work with industrial and academic partners across the entire quantum software stack: from developing new methods to design and program quantum algorithms and applications; to perfecting the quantum control and error correction routines used by experimental teams such as those using UTS’ new  Millikelvin Quantum Science Laboratory. UTS also conducts quantum technology research through its nodes of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS), including the UTS research group ‘Quantum Materials and Devices’.

     

     

    UTS

A hotbed for innovation

Sydney is the leading tech innovation ecosystem in the Southern Hemisphere, home to 3,000+ tech startups, attracting 65% of Australia's total startup funding. (Startup Genome Report). The city was ranked 22nd in the 2024 Smart Cities Index, thanks to its advanced digital infrastructure and strong culture of innovation. These strengths continue to make the city a magnet for global tech companies looking to invest, grow, and thrive

Sydney is also emerging as a global force in quantum technology, with several homegrown companies leading the charge, including:

Major international players such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM, Google, and Microsoft are actively engaging with Sydney’s quantum ecosystem—further cementing the city’s position as a quantum innovation powerhouse.

 

 

Strong government support

The NSW Government has played a vital role in seeding growth in new technology and the startup economy.

Sydney Quantum Academy is proud to be located within Tech Central, Australia’s largest innovation precinct and home to the nation’s biggest cluster of globally leading research, technology development, and industry activity in digital and deep tech sectors. The precinct is valued at $68 billion and attracts around $1.3 billion in early-stage startup funding each year.

The Australian government has also announced a number of initiatives to support development of quantum technologies. Read about the Australian government's investment in quantum technologies and quantum initiatives from the national science agency, CSIRO.

 

 

quantum microscope

Search the list of Sydney quantum experts

The Sydney quantum experts list research leaders across SQA’s partner universities. Search this list for potential supervisors.

 

 

People at whiteboard opaque

Images courtesy of the Australian National Fabrication Facility at UNSW and the University of Sydney.