CANBERRA, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- More than 19,000 Australians will be employed in the country's quantum technology industry by 2045, according to the national science agency.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on Wednesday released an update for its roadmap to grow the quantum technology industry.
It projects the industry will be worth 6 billion Australian dollars (3.7 billion U.S. dollars) annually and generate 19,400 jobs by 2045.
The original roadmap, which was published in 2020, forecasted a 4 billion AUD (2.5 billion U.S. dollar) industry employing 16,000 people by 2040.
Jim Rabeau, director of quantum technologies at the CSIRO, said it was an exciting time for the industry in Australia.
"In the last 18 months alone we've seen a significant increase in focus to strengthen our position in the emerging global quantum industry," he said in a media release.
"CSIRO has launched its Future Science Platform, a number of new companies have been backed or reached key milestones, a tech industry group has been formed and we're seeing an intensive national focus."
"The key now will be to sustain and grow over the long term," he added.
In September, the federal government established the National Quantum Advisory Committee to coordinate the country's capability across research, industry and government with a National Quantum Strategy.
The 15-person committee is led by Chief Scientist Cathy Foley and includes CSIRO Chief Scientist Bronwyn Fox and Chief Defence Scientist Tanya Monro.
"Quantum technologies will transform communications, sensing and computing. They'll enable new manufacturing possibilities, new drug treatments, new possibilities in foundational science," Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic said in a speech in September.
Funding from the 1 billion AUD (631 million U.S. dollar) critical technologies fund will be made available to support the industry. ■