New Zealand Invests in Quantum Technology

New Zealand will invest in quantum technology research through an ambitious and internationally-connected program, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on Wednesday.

The program to leverage New Zealand's niche expertise in quantum technology research will receive up to 12 million NZ dollars (7.07 million U.S. dollars) of government funding over the next five years, said a statement from the ministry.

The Quantum Technologies Research Program will be developed by the University of Otago's Dodd-Walls Center for Photonic and Quantum Technologies, one of New Zealand's leading centers for quantum research.

It will focus on increasing international connectivity and domestic capability in this rapidly developing sector that leverages the principles of quantum physics to build new and advanced technologies, the ministry said.

"Quantum technologies have potentially transformative applications across many parts of society and in nearly every industry including climate and environmental monitoring, drug discovery and medical imaging, materials sciences and communication," said MBIE Manager International Science Partnerships Loveday Kempthorne.

The program will enable New Zealand researchers to initiate and respond to collaboration prospects and to become valued partners as governments, large technology companies and start-ups around the world invest heavily to achieve breakthroughs in quantum innovation, Kempthorne said.

Dodd-Walls Center has established strong connections with world-leading research organizations globally and draws expertise from research institutions throughout New Zealand, she added.

This funding allows New Zealand to develop strategic capabilities and grow the ecosystem to a point to leverage the nascent "second quantum revolution," said Dodd-Walls Center Director Frederique Vanholsbeeck.

Some of the first countries New Zealand will seek to collaborate with include Britain, Japan, Singapore, the United States and Germany, Vanholsbeeck said, adding that Australia is also an important partner for New Zealand alongside the Association to Horizon Europe.