The ‘second quantum revolution’ has been the subject of substantial speculation, investment by public and private sectors, and media hype. We investigate some of this hype in the form of three national strategies for quantum technology. In the course of analysing these strategies, we ask: how can we ensure new quantum technologies benefit the societies they are used in and are a part of ? To help clarify this question, we posit a public good test for quantum research requiring diversity in research agendas, social orders, and research-society networks.

Australia has world-class research in quantum technology, and has been a significant presence since the earliest days of the field. There has been sustained and substantial support from all levels of government, and an industrial base that has grown from a single quantum-technology company to a spectrum of businesses covering both software and hardware. Here, we discuss the Australian approach to quantum technology, briefly outlining the research and funding, discussing the current environment, and looking forward to the future.The future of quantum technologies looks bright with a multitude of announcements over the past few years regarding new research, applications, and investments in the field. It is no wonder that such substantial investment has occurred given the compelling capabilities enabled by the properties of quantum mechanics, which range from imaging and sensing through to computing and communication. All this makes the call for articles from the editors of this journal particularly timely. We were asked: where does Australia sit in the global quantum landscape? In attempting to answer this question, we delved into the history of quantum science in the nation, we reviewed the significant rounds of investment that made it all possible, and considered what makes the Australian approach to quantum technology unique.