Plans for the world’s first supercomputer at Brisbane Airport have been shelved, with Moreton Bay in the hunt for the multi-billion dollar project.
PsiQuantum announced its plans in 2024, which would see a computer center the size of Suncorp Stadium built next to the Qantas hangar, with around $1 billion in state and federal government support.
Construction was expected to begin at the airport last year, but PsiQuantum announced on Wednesday that preliminary work had already begun elsewhere – at the Moreton Bay Central site in Petrie, about 22 kilometers north of Brisbane’s CBD – and officially broke ground in June.
that area, formerly Petrie Paper Millit is home to the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus as well host Olympic and Paralympic events at an organized indoor sports facility.
A TAFE center of excellence, dedicated to advanced manufacturing, was also planned for the site.
PsiQuantum’s interim chief executive Victor Peng said that it was added to the site with the capacity to support the infrastructure and operational requirements required for a modern project.
“PsiQuantum’s mission to build the world’s first consumer-grade computer requires speed, agility, and strong collaboration,” he said.
“The City of Moreton Bay provides the infrastructure, risk, and collaborative environment we need to provide.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the City of Moreton Bay and our partners in the federal and Queensland governments to develop this project and realize this technology.”
Comments could not be sought from the state and federal governments – which together they poured $1 billion in equity and loans into the company – due to the strict conditions of the PsiQuantum restrictions.
After taking power in 2024, Prime Minister David Crisafulli announced the investment reviewwith its treasurer, David Janetzki, saying the plan “is in line with Labor supporters”.
But the value of that government investment twice last September as the Silicon Valley company attracted new investors, including Nvidia and Macquarie Bank.
PsiQuantum’s Australian Chief Operating Officer Robert Lindwall said Brisbane Airport had been professional and cooperative in concluding their agreement.
“Brisbane Airport has been a great partner to PsiQuantum, and we thank the team for the great partnership and support shown throughout our time working together,” he said.
As for Brisbane Airport, chief executive commercial manager Scott Norris remained enthusiastic about PsiQuantum and said the airport remained “an excellent base for technology, innovation and research to grow”.
“Quantum computing will deliver significant benefits to Queensland, from accelerating breakthroughs in health and climate science to powering the state’s advanced industries, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact PsiQuantum will achieve,” Norris said.
Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said PsiQuantum’s move would spur economic growth in his city, and across the state.
“This investment will help drive high-skilled jobs, attract new industries, and strengthen Queensland’s position in advanced manufacturing and the technologies of the future,” he said.
“Moreton Bay Central is becoming a destination for businesses looking to grow with a skilled workforce, strong infrastructure, and leading education and training institutions.”
University of Queensland physics graduate Jeremy O’Brien founded PsiQuantum in 2016.
The company planned to open its testing and validation laboratory at Griffith University’s Nathan campus next week, in what it described as an important step in building Queensland’s quantitative research, engineering and technical capacity.
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