QUBIC is part of a new ecosystem bringing together the capabilities needed to move quantum diamond technologies towards practical applications.

The Melbourne Quantum Diamond Hub (MQDH) brings together 14 organisations from across research, commercial industry and advanced manufacturing, showcasing the depth of quantum diamond capability in Melbourne and greater Victoria and strengthening connections across research and industrial value chains.

Built on more than 30 years of quantum diamond research and development in the region, the Hub aims to promote the ecosystem’s expertise and future ambitions to Australian and global stakeholders, while creating stronger connections between the organisations working across it.

For QUBIC, participation in the Hub positions the Centre’s quantum biotechnology expertise within a wider value chain spanning research and discovery through to application, testing and production.

Bringing biotechnology capability to the ecosystem

QUBIC brings a distinctive biotechnology and health focus to this emerging ecosystem.

Across the Centre, researchers are developing technologies to observe, understand and ultimately manipulate biological processes at extremely small scales, including the structure and dynamics of individual molecules.

One area of this work uses quantum defects in nanodiamonds to detect magnetic field-dependent signals from single molecules. Combined with technologies such as upconversion nanoemitters and far-sub-wavelength optical cavities, QUBIC is working towards new ways to probe the structure and dynamics of biological systems with high sensitivity and speed.

Potential applications include quantum-enabled neural imaging and advanced quantum imaging and sensing technologies to investigate the multi-scale dynamics driving cellular behaviour.

QUBIC Chief Investigator Associate Professor David Simpson at the University of Melbourne is a key contributor to the Centre’s quantum diamond capability and delivered the keynote address at the Hub’s launch.

QUBIC is represented within the Hub alongside affiliated companies FeBI Technologies and Chromos Labs, further connecting the Centre’s research expertise with companies working towards translation and application.

Building pathways from discovery to application

The significance of the Hub lies in bringing these different parts of the quantum diamond ecosystem together.

Research institutions provide underpinning science and technology development, while spinouts and start-ups are working to commercialise innovations and bring them to market. Together with advanced manufacturing and other specialist capabilities, this is creating a connected local value chain spanning discovery, application, testing and production.

For QUBIC, this creates opportunities to build new collaborations, make its quantum diamond and biotechnology capabilities more visible, and connect researchers with complementary expertise across the value chain.

It also provides another pathway towards one of QUBIC’s broader ambitions: translating advances in quantum science into technologies that can address real challenges in biology and health.

The Melbourne Quantum Diamond Hub Capability Statement showcases the organisations and expertise represented across the ecosystem, with potential impact spanning biotechnology and healthcare, defence and space, mining and resource exploration, advanced manufacturing and other sectors.