January 23, 2024 -- Silex Systems has announced an amendment to its 2019 offtake agreement with quantum technology business Silicon Quantum Computing, increasing SQC’s commitment for silicon products made from high-purity zero-spin silicon (ZS-Si) using Silex’s proprietary laser enrichment technology.

According to a statement from Silex on Tuesday morning, the total value of the commitment has increased by $1.35 million to $2.25 million “which will shortly be prepaid by SQC as an offset against future purchases” of quantum silicon products.

SQC is a startup founded and led by former Australian of the Year and Director of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology Professor Michelle Simmons, and aims to build circuits for quantum computing based on phosphorus atoms in silicon.

Silex CEO Michael Goldsworthy said the increased commitment from SQC will help fund construction of a first commercial production module for quantum silicon, which is currently underway at Silex’s Lucas Heights facility.

“The Project aims to establish a secure supply chain for the critical enriched silicon materials required to enable SQC and UNSW Sydney to continue development of their world-leading silicon-based quantum computing technology,” he said in a statement to the ASX.

“The new deal strengthens our commercial partnership, and builds on the successful relationship  established over the past four years through our initial ZS-Si demonstration project, which resulted in production of sample quantities of ZS-Si with enrichment of silicon-28 up to 99.998% purity.”

He added that the funding contribution follows $5.1 million awarded by the federal government through the Defence Trailblazer for Concept to Sovereign Capability program to support the Quantum Silicon Production Project, announced in August 2023.

“We now look forward to transitioning the SILEX technology into commercial production with the construction of the first Quantum Silicon Production Plant to produce both gaseous silane and solid Q-Si products that  are essential enabling materials for taking silicon quantum computing to market”, said Goldsworthy.

SQC announced the close of a scaled back $50.4 million Series A capital raising in July last year, after setting out to raise $130 million.