Brisbane opens Australia’s first photonic chip packaging facility

The Queensland Advanced Photonics Packaging Centre (Q-APP) has opened in Brisbane, marking Australia’s first facility dedicated to preparing advanced photonic microchips for commercial use. Located at CSIRO’s Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies in Pullenvale, the $6 million facility provides the specialized equipment and controlled environments necessary to package, connect, and test photonic integrated circuits.

Photonic chips utilize light to process and carry data, offering potential for faster and more energy-efficient computing compared to traditional silicon chips. The facility aims to bridge the gap between laboratory prototypes and reliable, market-ready devices. By providing local expertise and equipment, Q-APP reduces the need for Australian researchers and companies to send components overseas for packaging.

Applications for this technology include fiber optic communications, healthcare, quantum computing, and advanced sensing. In the resources sector, photonic technologies could enable rugged sensing systems to monitor ground movement, vibration, and temperature in demanding mining environments, aiding in mine-stability and early-warning capabilities.