In this episode of @AuManufacturing Conversations with Brent Balinski, Dr Mohammad Choucair from Archer Materials shares the company’s progress on its quantum processor (it is also developing a biosensor), where he believes the nation can make a difference in the semiconductor value chain, what it would take to establish local chip fabrication, and more.
Relevant links
Archer's website
archerx.com.au
2016 article about the qubit breakthrough
https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2016/07/18/quantum-computing-closer-with-chemistry-breakthrough.html
Barriers to bringing wafer production home
https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/australias-place-in-the-semiconductor-world-barriers-to-bringing-wafer-production-home
Episode guide
0:26 – Current work and an introduction to Archer
1:16 – What drew him to science and then to nanotechnology.
3:30 – An early breakthrough using graphene without graphite.
4:50 – Being interested in commercialising research output from early on.
6:38 – The size of the company and who makes up their team.
8:10 – The 2016 breakthrough, allowing the company to pursue quantum qubits that can operate at room temperature.
11:30 – Recognising a second paradigm shift, similar to making graphene without graphite.
14:10 – Silicon won for transistors, but we don’t know what will win for qubits.
17:55 – Why you shouldn’t listen to naysayers.
20:10 – Progress in technology development isn’t linear.
22:10 – What does it mean to integrate what they are doing into modern-day electronics, and why is that so difficult with qubits?
25:10 – Facilities in Australia that Archer is making use of.
27:55 – Praise for the Australian National Fabrication Facility (Full disclosure: ANFF is the sponsor of @AuManufacturing's Australia’s place in the semiconductor worldeditorial series.)
29:36 – Production onshore is unlikely, should they reach commercial readiness. IP is the thing. The greatest value is in R&D.
32:40 – Expanding beyond design and R&D in Australia is possible, and we shouldn’t give up. If we had the will from the top to get it done then it will get done. “If we have the will, then we can carve the way for the high-tech industry in Australia.”
