Zurich Instruments and Rohde & Schwarz to back the National Quantum Computing Testbed Facility in Australia

(L-R) Dr. Meng Li (Zurich Instruments), Prof. Chris Vale (CSIRO), A/Prof. Arkady Fedorov (The University of Queensland), A/Prof. Muhammad Usman (CSIRO), Mr. Raja Pillai (Rohde & Schwarz Australia)

Zurich Instruments, a market leader in developing and marketing qubit control and readout electronics for quantum computers, and its parent company Rohde & Schwarz, have been selected as key partners in the National Quantum Computing Testbed Facility (NQCT) project in Queensland, Australia. The project, led by A/Prof. Arkady Fedorov at The University of Queensland, has been awarded nearly AU$6 million under the Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program (QCIP). This initiative is part of the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy, which aims to position Queensland as a leader in quantum innovation and shape the future of jobs and industries.

NQCT will be built upon expertise and support from leading partners: Australia’s national science agency CSIRO – led by Prof. Chris Vale and A/Prof. Muhammad Usman –, QuantWare, Rohde & Schwarz, and Zurich Instruments. The ultimate goal is to serve the Australian quantum community with an open-access platform to small-scale quantum processors at a lower cost and with deeper low-level access than on commercial cloud quantum computing services. Building this platform based on Zurich Instruments, Rohde & Schwarz, and QuantWare technology and expertise will enable the required offering of low-level access combined with know-how to support the users. The local facility in Australia will enable researchers to develop, optimize, and test low-level hardware interfaces, error correction, and novel computing designs. This will support local high-impact research, foster innovation, and serve as a platform for education and training, significantly benefiting Queensland and Australia.

The facility will offer a quantum computer setup continuously available for the community, while simultaneously developing and enhancing a second setup with advanced capabilities. The developments are carried out within the three-year duration of the project and include the full equipment of the facility, as well as the development of a user-friendly software interface.

The quantum computers made available will be based on superconducting circuit technologies, expanding the presence of this qubit modality – the most advanced technology for quantum computing – in Australia. QuantWare, a leading provider of superconducting-based QPUs, will provide The University of Queensland and the NCQT project with the necessary fully packaged hardware to initiate their quantum computing program, including a 5-qubit fixed coupler QPU (Soprano-D), J-TWPA (Crescendo-S), and shielding. In the later stage, UQ team will also develop their own QPUs with custom specifications for user access. Zurich Instruments and QuantWare have a history of successful collaboration, with demonstrated compatibility and interoperability between QuantWare’s QPUs and traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) and Zurich Instruments’ quantum computing control systems (QCCS). Rohde & Schwarz, with its strong expertise in RF technology will provide its latest test and measurement instruments to help characterize the QPU and measurement system in the prototyping and development phase. These include the R&S ZNB3020 Vector Network Analyzer, R&S FSV3013 Spectrum Analyzer, and the R&S RTO6 Oscilloscope.

The project also aims to help further build up development and manufacturing capabilities of superconducting-based QPUs in Australia, which will significantly boost local quantum technology competencies. By co-developing and co-producing these chips in partnership with other Australian researchers and entities, the project aims to foster local innovation and strengthen the country’s position in the global quantum landscape. Finally, a user interface will be developed within the project, integrating the full-stack software framework developed by CSIRO and based on Zurich Instruments’ software framework LabOne Q in the backend. 

Zurich Instruments and Rohde & Schwarz were chosen for their unparalleled expertise and leadership in quantum control systems, as together they offer support for the entire QC development cycle – from design all the way to operation. This selection underscores Zurich Instruments’ commitment to supporting innovative projects worldwide and strengthening its presence in Australia. As the chosen provider of instrumentation for the first Quantum Computing Testbed in Australia, Zurich Instruments is proud to contribute to the implementation of the Australian Quantum National Strategy. Their involvement highlights their dedication to pushing the boundaries of quantum technology and supporting national strategies that drive the future of quantum computing.