The Sydney Quantum Academy (SQA) has expanded its Industry Experience Program to help Australia’s fast-growing quantum industry. The Honorable. NSW Minister for Innovation, Science, and Technology announced it. At the Quantum Future Talent 2026 Careers Fair, Australia’s largest, Anoulack Chanthivong MP gave the concluding address.
This strategic expansion is designed to address a critical bottleneck in the quantum talent pipeline: the historical lack of opportunities for students to gain direct, hands-on experience within real-world industry environments. The curriculum intends to attract more people to a global growth field by connecting theoretical study and practical implementation.
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Increasing the Talent Pipeline
The SQA Industry Experience Program is currently accepting students from a far wider spectrum of backgrounds than it did in the past. Even though the pilot program engaged Honors and Master’s students, the expanded model will now include undergraduates, PhD students, and businesspeople interested in quantum technology.
Professor Peter Turner, SQA Director, said the expansion was driven by a desire to make the program more “student-friendly” and meet industry needs. Professor Turner remarked, “Access to industry experience has the potential to be transformative,” adding that past participants’ feedback had enhanced the model.
Economic projections highlight the essential of this task. According to CSIRO, the Australian quantum sector might be valued $6 billion by 2045 and provide employment for up to 19,400 local people. Programs that offer early presence to the area are considered as essential for national competitiveness as the global competition to acquire talented and adaptable talent heats up.
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Hands-On Innovation: A Six-Day Intensive
The extended program lets students use modern facilities including The Research and Prototype Foundry at the University of Sydney. Three clients received $700 program spots at the Careers Fair as the first recipients.
These winners will attend a six-day, intensive, hands-on program on superconducting quantum gadget manufacturing and characterization. These technical skills, which are crucial to the quantum sector, help students understand the challenges and tools they will confront in the field.
Minister Chanthivong says early experience with genuine industry conditions makes students more likely to follow jobs in the subject and succeed. He noted that these programs boost confidence, skills, and career knowledge.
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A Growing Ecosystem: The 2026 Careers Fair
The announcement served as the climax of the Quantum Future Talent 2026 Careers Fair, an event that has seen explosive growth following a sold-out debut the previous year. The 2026 fair featured more than 30 exhibitors and a comprehensive program of keynote speeches and panel sessions designed to empower the next generation of quantum specialists.
The fair also hosted a pivotal panel discussion, “Preparing Australia’s Quantum Workforce,” which included talent and technical leads from some of the industry’s most influential organisations. Panelists included Liam Potter (Silicon Quantum Computing), Nazia Sharriff (Diraq), Dr Marika Kieferova (UTS and Google Quantum AI), and Joanne Elliott (Quantum Australia).
A new highlight for this year was the “Industry Meets Talent” speed networking session. This initiative allowed over 40 candidates to engage in one-on-one meetings with representatives from leading firms such as BTQ, Diraq, Emergence Quantum, and QUBIC, facilitating direct connections between aspiring talent and potential employers.
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The National Vision
The SQA has big ambitions for the Industry Experience Program going forward. According to Professor Turner, the SQA is now developing the concept nationally in collaboration with partners. The ultimate objective is to provide 40 students with support each year through complementary, similarly structured programs throughout New South Wales and the rest of the nation.
The SQA and its partners, including major Sydney institutions, are establishing Australia as a key focus for quantum research and commercialization by cultivating a continuous, future-ready quantum talent pipeline. The shift from “classroom to cleanroom” will probably become the norm for individuals looking to spearhead the next technological revolution as the sector grows.
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