Sydney quantum startup Diraq expands US presence with New Mexico lab

Sydney quantum computing startup Diraq is expanding its American footprint with a New Mexico research laboratory.

The UNSW spinout, founded in 2022, has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish operations at Albuquerque’s Roadrunner Quantum Lab, and hopes to have it up and running by Christmas

The lab adds to Diraq’s operations in Palo Alto, Chicago and Los Angeles, alongside its Australian research and engineering centres.

The expansion builds on an increasingly US-focused commercialisation strategy. In May Diraq signed a letter of intent for up to US$38 million under America’s CHIPS program, part of a quantum funding push involving US government equity stakes.

Australia’s National Reconstruction Fund also investing $20 million in February.

New Mexico state’s support is tied to its partnership with US defence research agency DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which assesses prospects for utility-scale quantum computing. Diraq is in Stage B of the program.

Matched funds – the amount was undisclosed – from the state will support equipment and infrastructure enabling the lab’s operations. Diraq will establish a measurement engineering team to test and characterise quantum devices, using Maybell cryogenic equipment.

CEO Prof Andrew Dzurak said the Roadrunner Quantum Lab is focused on bringing quantum computing to market.

“We’re building quantum computing processors based on silicon because that’s the most economical and scalable way to reach the many millions of qubits that our customers will require,” he said.

“We’re excited to welcome Diraq to the Roadrunner Quantum Lab as the company expands its U.S. research and development capabilities,” said Director of the

Roadrunner director David Kistin said: “Diraq’s measurement engineering team will add another technical dimension to the work taking place at RQL and create new opportunities for collaboration across the facility”.

Diraq uses silicon spin qubits and manufacturing processes compatible with conventional semiconductor production, aiming to draw on established chipmaking infrastructure. The company is targeting 150,000 physical qubits on a single chip by 2029 and more than two million by 2031.