New Zealand is earning $1.5bn from photonic and quantum technologies, but not keeping pace with the rest of the world and risks losing its research advantage.
16/9/2024
New Zealand and Australia are failing to convert research prowess in photonics and quantum technologies into commercial reality, with a new report finding below average growth in the sector at the heart of our future technologies.
At the end of last year, our photonics and quantum technologies industry had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8%compared to a global average of 7.3% over the last decade, behind Asia, the UK and North America. Although the industry has grown to AU$6bn and now employs more than 34,000 people across Australasia, it is behind competitors.
ANZOS President and Director of New Zealand’s Te Whai Ao— Dodd-Walls Centre, Frederique Vanholsbeeck, says the report is both disturbing and timely, coming as the New Zealand and Australian governments are examining the state of their universities and the science sector.
“The global value of photonics enabled products is projected to have exceeded US$2.39 trillion last year, so the opportunity is massive. We need New Zealand business, government and academia to collaborate in developing a strategy to leverage our fundamental photonics and quantum research excellence,” says the University of Auckland Professor.
Called a “critical” technology in the Australian Government’s National Quantum Strategy, the Federal Government has spent billions in recent years on new centres of quantum research excellence, as well as making a direct “anchor” investment in quantum computing company,PsiQuantum this April.
In addition to computing; the technologies span lasers, precision timing, measurement, navigation and secure communications. They’re used for MRI scans, managing the vulnerabilities of GPS, self-driving cars, measuring the ozone layer, underground sensing and a myriad of work in space. Some of the most powerful quantum applications are expected to come on stream in the next decade.
ANZOS Vice-President, and EOS Chair in Laser Physics at the University of South Australia, David Lancaster says the findings are a wake-up call for Australia.
“It’s imperative that we capitalise on the considerable investment in photonic and quantum technologies made here in the last few years. Australia must demonstrate it can monetise that and keep pace with the rest of the world.”
With commentary on the key issues facing the photonics and quantum technologies industry (skills, infrastructure, tech transfer and commercialisation) the report includes contributions from Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Cathy Foley, as well as wide ranging perspectives from the venture capital market through to researchers, policy makers and businesses in both countries.
SPIE Senior Director, Global Business Development, Dr. Andrew Brown, says the light enabled and quantum industry is at the core of modern technology and will remain so for the foreseeable future.
“Australasia needs a functioning, healthy innovation ecosystem in place for the industry to grow and reach its full potential,” says Dr. Brown.
