Chaired by Michael Frater, Chair of the Canberra Cyber Hub, the discussion featured Fernando Alves (Manager, Strategic Partnerships, Quantum Australia), Arvind Ramana (Director, Space Policy, Australian Space Agency) and Laura O’Neill (Head of Advisory & Assurance, Fujitsu).
Together, they mapped out how converging technologies, smart policy and a maturing investment culture can help Canberra stand in the perfect position for long-term success.
Fernando highlighted the role of Quantum Australia as a national centre for quantum growth, coordinating programs that connect researchers, founders, investors and government to accelerate commercialisation. Importantly, he noted that quantum is not a distant abstraction: quantum clocks, sensors and semiconductor technologies are already all around us, whilst various benchmarking initiatives are helping guide industry to map out which applications will provide real value and capability. While large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers remain quite some distance away, Australia is already amongst the world’s top 5 leading nations for quantum talent and research output.
Laura drew on Fujitsu’s work with the Australian National University to establish a quantum research centre in Canberra, with ambitions for an onsite quantum computer that industry, government and academia can access locally. She contrasted Australia’s relatively limping cyber posture, with European frameworks. This gap represents an opportunity to modernise risk approaches, approach challenges with a more creative edge, and move towarss ulterior funding and capability acceleration models. Central to this culture, as Laura argued, is an ecosystem that historically sees failed start-ups as a permanent red flag. However, the evidence from international ecosystems, suggests the contrary: founders who have failed, are much more statistically likely to return with sharper judgement, stronger networks and more realistic roadmaps.
From a space perspective, Arvind emphasised the Australian Space Agency’s role in coordinating civil space policy and championing sustainable, secure space activities. He pointed to a welcome shift toward high-risk, high-reward funding models in space and adjacent technologies, provided they are grounded in rigorous market analysis and close engagement with end users. Arvind urged that understanding where quantum, cyber and space solutions can deliver tangible uplift today, directly from established market analysis and direct collaboration with prospective stakeholders, is critical to actually build capabilities.
Across the conversation, a consistent theme emerged: Canberra is uniquely positioned. With national security agencies, major research institutions and a growing base of advanced-technology companies, the region can serve as a testbed for integrated quantum, cyber and space solutions. Realising that potential will require early investment, a willingness to experiment and a mindset that views informed failure as an essential step on the path to sovereign capability.
