Quantum Australia Conference 2026

03 May, 2026

The tension between commercial urgency and curiosity-driven research took centre stage at Quantum Australia 2026, where FLiQC contributed to key conversations shaping the sector’s direction.

Held over two days in April, the conference brought together more than 830 participants from 18 countries to examine the state and future of the global quantum industry.

FLiQC Centre Director Prof. Stephen Bartlett chaired a panel on how early-stage research is shaping future quantum applications, joined by Chief Investigators Prof. Andrea Morello and Prof. Jingbo Wang. The discussion posed a question central to the field’s maturation: if a million-dollar quantum computer were built tomorrow, what would we actually use it for?

The panel made the case that answering it requires both industry execution and academic research working in concert. Universities, Prof. Morello argued, bring a distinct advantage, the freedom to pursue unexpected directions that often yield the most significant breakthroughs. Industry, in turn, was unambiguous about what it needs: more of that research, and the graduates it produces.

Prof. Bartlett also contributed to the Australia’s Quantum Research Powerhouses session, highlighting FLiQC’s work in building a quantum-ready workforce through close partnerships with universities and industry. Chief Investigator Dr. Christina Giarmatzi added her voice to discussions on communicating quantum to industry, policy makers, and the broader public, an increasingly important challenge as the field moves toward commercialisation.

Beyond the sessions, FLiQC’s booth served as a hub for the connections that underpin the work, bringing together partners, researchers, and collaborators to strengthen Australia’s quantum future in person.

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