November 5, 2026 --  An international team of researchers, including cybersecurity experts from Monash University, has secured almost $5 million in Australian Research Council (ARC) funding to help safeguard Australia’s critical digital infrastructure against emerging security threats posed by advances in quantum computing.

Dr Muhammed Esgin, will spearhead Monash’s research contribution to the ARC Research Hub for Quantum Safety Testing (QuST), a collaboration led by the University of Queensland (UQ), along with researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

The Hub will bring together researchers and industry partners to develop automated testing and certification technologies that help organisations assess whether their systems are prepared for the cybersecurity challenges posed by quantum computing.

The initiative aims to reduce the impact of cyberattacks, estimated to cost the Australian economy $33 billion each year, while helping position Australia as a leader in quantum safety testing and certification.

Monash’s contribution to the Hub builds on the deep expertise of its Post-Quantum Cryptography team, which has spent two decades advancing mathematical foundations, cryptographic designs and security applications that have contributed to international standards developed by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology.

This work helps assess the security of existing digital systems and protect them against future quantum computing-enabled attacks.

Dr Esgin, from Monash’s Faculty of Information Technology, said the research would focus on helping organisations understand their preparedness for future cyber threats.

"Strong security isn't just about creating new technologies, it's also about being able to verify that they work as intended," Dr Esgin said.

"By developing robust testing and certification methods, we can give organisations greater confidence in the security of the systems they depend on every day."

The Hub brings together more than 30 researchers and a network of industry, government and international partners spanning cyber security, cryptography, quantum technologies and critical infrastructure protection.

Industry partners include Suncorp Group, Keysight Technologies Australia, Sekuro, Semicon Trend, Nisient, BTQ, and a range of cyber security and technology organisations.

Director of the UQ Cyber Research Centre Professor Ryan Ko said organisations needed practical ways to prepare for the cybersecurity implications of quantum computing.

"Quantum computing has enormous potential, but it also presents significant challenges for the security systems that underpin modern society," Professor Ko said.

"Many organisations know they will need to strengthen their cyber security for a quantum future. Our aim is to give them the tools and organisational migration processes to understand where vulnerabilities exist and how to address them in a structured, reliable and verifiable way."

“This also presents an opportunity for Australian universities and companies working with the Hub to kickstart a ‘Tested in Australia’ movement, positioning Australia as the trusted global leader in testing for quantum and AI safety”.

UNSW’s Associate Professor Sushmita Ruj said addressing quantum-era cyber threats would require a collaborative approach.

"The transition to quantum-safe technologies will affect organisations across many sectors, from finance and telecommunications to critical infrastructure," Associate Professor Ruj said.

"This Hub will help build the knowledge, tools and expertise needed to support organisations as they navigate that transition."

At Monash, the Post-Quantum Cryptography team’s work with the new ARC QuST Hub will progress in tandem with the team’s broader goals to strengthen their research to support the transition of Australia’s digital systems towards quantum-resistant cybersecurity.

Alongside its research, the team has also introduced a practical course to help organisations independently identify vulnerabilities to quantum computing threats, understand post-quantum cryptography standards, assess security risks and plan their transition to quantum-safe systems to strengthen long-term cyber resilience.