June
PsiQuantum backer Playground Global back in town looking for cash
The Palo Alto-headquartered, Australian co-founded, investor has already secured government backing for its quantum bet. Now it is fundraising for a new fund.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Exclusive
- Funding
Cashed-up Diraq says it can win the quantum computing race
It hasn’t got as much money as government-backed PsiQuantum, but the UNSW start-up says it makes up for that in qubit size, as it banks a big funding round.
- John Davidson
- Exclusive
- Funding
Government’s $189.5m quantum computing VC investment revealed
Previously secret details behind the mammoth investment in US-based quantum computing firm PsiQuantum have been uncovered, including the government’s equity investment.
- Paul Smith
May
Where have all the good managers gone?
Readers’ letters on Australia’s dearth of quality managers; a tax system fit for AI; skilled migrants driving Ubers; a proportionate response in Gaza; why live exports matter; and worry over climate change.
Rafah strike will be Netanyahu’s undoing
Readers’ letters on horrific scenes in Rafah; The AFR View on ICC indictments; Labor’s equivocating over Gaza; the key to useful airport links; and what’s really behind the $1 billion grant for PsiQuantum.
- Analysis
- Government Observed
The real reason for spending $1b on PsiQuantum
Defence planners have long worried how vulnerable military information systems are to GPS being taken out by an adversary.
- Tom Burton
PsiQuantum deal will cost almost $30m just to check it works
But most of the details of the government’s marquee bet on the potentially powerful technology have been kept secret in the budget.
- Nick Bonyhady
- Exclusive
- Manufacturing
UK’s bet on PsiQuantum is one-fiftieth the size of Australia’s
Leading British quantum computing specialists have expressed surprise at the Albanese government’s decision to invest nearly $1 billion in backing the start-up.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Readers want government to cut debt, rein in spending
Almost 60 per cent readers want Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ federal budget priority to either reduce debt or reign in government spending in this year’s budget - but another 24 per cent want cost-of-living relief to be the focus.
- Edmund Tadros
Ex CSIRO boss would pick different ‘winners’ in $1b quantum push
Larry Marshall, former CEO of CSIRO, says taxpayer money should be targeted at points in the quantum computing supply chain, not the finished product.
- Liam Walsh
- Opinion
- Opinion
Quantum leap to secure first-mover advantage for Australia
The government’s chief scientific adviser says the investment in PsiQuantum may be high risk, but it’s also high reward.
- Cathy Foley
- Exclusive
- Brisbane
PsiQuantum in talks for bipartisan support but Coalition not swayed
PsiQuantum is confident of winning over sceptical politicians by highlighting its backing from both major parties in the US, where it has defence contracts.
- Tess Bennett
- Opinion
- Innovation
Answers emerge slowly to government’s $1b quantum questions
Questions are mounting over how PsiQuantum was backed when we have been told so often to marvel at local tech stars.
- Paul Smith
Quantum computing breakthroughs draw investment back to sector
Many in the industry believe that a clear route has recently opened up to building large-scale systems that will bring real technical and business advantages.
- Richard Waters
- Opinion
- Opinion
So many things wrong with Labor’s one huge bet on PsiQuantum
Venture capital investors typically place many best across multiple different companies and technologies. The government is backing one technology and company.
- Paul Fletcher
Is Bonza a goner? Woolworths’ $8b crisis; Bizarre quantum theory
This week on the Chanticleer podcast, James and Anthony delve into Bonza’s crash landing, reveal the real cost of Woolworths’ PR crisis and answer a listener’s question about Australia’s whopper venture capital investment.
Think you know this week’s news? Answer these 10 questions
Have you been paying attention this week? Test your knowledge across politics, business and world news.
- Ingrid Fuary-Wagner and Daniel Arbon
Tritium collapse a cautionary tale for PsiQuantum support
Readers’ letters on the possible risks and rewards of investing in a quantum computing start-up; the disappointing demise of Bonza; Norway’s leadership on resource taxes; super funds avoiding liability for scammers; and a call for evidence for new gas developments.
- Opinion
- Opinion
Only quantum physics can explain an investment this weird
The federal government has replaced sports rorts with a quantum rort that will not make real revolutions like AI go any faster.
- Toby Walsh
April
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Quantum a better bet than burning a billion on solar panels
But even if this is the right place to deploy such a huge sum, we know too little about whether this was the best way to spend it.
- The AFR View