Michelle Simmons on why silicon could deliver the first fault-tolerant quantum computer

Michelle Simmons, a physicist trained in the UK and based in Australia, has been a pioneer in atomic-scale silicon electronics, demonstrating the world’s first single-atom transistor in 2012 and the narrowest silicon conducting wires. Her early recognition that silicon could host exceptionally precise and scalable qubits led her to found Silicon Quantum Computing (SQC) in 2017, aiming to commercialize quantum processors built from atomically engineered silicon. Her work has earned significant accolades, including Australian of the Year (2018) and the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science (2023). Simmons emphasizes that her practical skills in semiconductor fabrication and quantum measurement uniquely positioned her to develop quantum devices at the atomic scale. Simmons transitioned from academia to entrepreneurship because, after mastering atomic-scale manufacturing and achieving high-quality qubits, she saw that a company structure was essential to rapidly build a full-scale commercial quantum system. She highlights the transformative potential of quantum computing across industries, as quantum processors (QPUs) will solve complex