A new facility in Brisbane aimed at helping turn photonics research into deployable products has opened at CSIRO’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT) in Pullenvale.
The Queensland Advanced Photonics Packaging Centre (Q-APP) is described by CSIRO as the first Australian facility dedicated to packaging photonic chips—small devices that use light rather than electricity to process information—into components suitable for real-world applications.
CSIRO said the centre’s work could support development of fibre optic communications and advanced sensing technologies, with potential uses spanning healthcare, quantum computing, mining, fire detection and construction. At Q-APP, photonic chip components will be connected and tested using specialised equipment in sterile environments.
CSIRO Research Group Leader Karsten Hoehn said the facility is intended to “bridge the gap between an idea and reality” by giving local researchers and companies access to packaging expertise and equipment. He said the goal is to increase speed and flexibility in developing “next-generation computing” and related technologies.
CSIRO said photonic chip parts previously had to be sent overseas for packaging, and that Q-APP is a $6 million facility.
Queensland’s Chief Scientist, Dr Kerrie Wilson, said the facility aligns with the state’s ambition to grow its quantum and advanced technologies sector and develop a “quantum-ready workforce”. She said infrastructure that supports collaboration between researchers and industry is a key factor in scaling technologies and enabling commercialisation.
CSIRO said Q-APP is primarily funded through the Queensland Government’s Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program, which is intended to help start-ups and industry accelerate prototype development and commercialisation.
