Building Australia’s Semiconductor Future
Design. Develop. Fabricate. Right here in Queensland.
Queensland Semiconductor Initiative (QSI) is building Australia’s first end-to-end capability for semiconductor design, short run manufacturing, and future fabrication — led by local expertise and global partnerships.
ASPI (Australian Strategic Policy Institute)
A sustainable, sovereign semiconductor future
About QSI (Queensland Semiconductor Initiative)
Who We Are
Queensland Semiconductor Initiative (QSI) is an Australian-led project building a complete, sovereign semiconductor capability — from design to fabrication. Based in Queensland, we work with global foundries and domestic researchers to develop the next generation of secure, high-performance electronic devices.
We serve as a bridge between innovation and manufacturing, ensuring that Australia’s research breakthroughs become commercially viable technologies — supporting critical industries like energy, defence, communications, and health. By fostering collaboration among researchers, industry leaders, and government bodies, we create a robust ecosystem that accelerates the transition of novel ideas from the lab to the marketplace. Our commitment not only drives economic growth but also enhances national security, promotes sustainable practices, and improves the quality of life for all Australians. Through investment in cutting-edge initiatives and support for emerging startups, we aim to position Australia as a global leader in technological advancements, ultimately leading to a more prosperous and resilient future.
Our Mission
To establish Australia’s first commercially-focused pilot semiconductor manufacturing capability — providing secure, local options for design, prototyping, and short-run fabrication.
What We Do
- Fabless design services for ASICs, sensors, and compound semiconductors
- Process development and short-run manufacturing through global partners
- Design security testing and IP protection
- Workforce training & industry collaboration
- Future-ready plans for a Queensland-based wafer fabrication facility
Explore how QSI is leading Australia’s semiconductor innovation through its fabless design and manufacturing services. Learn how we streamline semiconductor development by managing the entire process—from initial concept to final production—while partnering with global fabs in Taiwan and Europe.
Discover how QSI helps businesses, including defense and tech startups, bring cutting-edge semiconductor products to market efficiently and securely. Watch now to see how QSI is building Australia’s semiconductor future.
The Team
QSI Co-Founders
Dr Stewart McGlashan Anthony Christian Paget Hargreaves
QSI Directors
Anthony Christian
Co-Founder & Director – Formerly with Philips Semiconductors (UK) and over 15 years in Australian R&D leadership. Anthony established QSI in 2023 to turn world-class Australian research into real-world products.
Paget Hargreaves
Co-Founder & Director – A technology strategist with a background in advanced manufacturing and investment readiness. Paget supports QSI’s engagement with industry, government, and capital partners.
Dr Stewart McGlashan
Co-Founder & Director – A technology strategist with expertise spanning governance, engineering, business, and complex project development. Stewart is QSSI’s governance expert and lead for financial planning.
🔑 Snapshot
- Founded: 2023
- Location: Queensland, Australia
- Focus: Secure, scalable semiconductor innovation
- Technology Readiness Levels : TRL 3 to 7, with the capability to support both early-stage development and pilot-scale manufacturing.
- Stage: Fabless operations live, Fab 1 planning underway
- Investment Sought: AUD $10M seed (fabless); AUD $250M (Fab 1)
Why QSI?
What makes us unique:
At Queensland Semiconductor Initiative (QSI), we are building more than just a semiconductor business — we’re creating a new model for how advanced technologies are designed, secured, and manufactured in Australia.
Local Design, Global Standards
QSI is proud to lead Australia’s effort in semiconductor design with a dedicated team of engineers and researchers based locally. We specialise in turning innovative ideas into manufacturable prototypes, ready for scaling. By keeping design capabilities onshore, we ensure faster communication, better control over intellectual property, and the development of a national knowledge base that empowers the next generation of engineers.
Secure IP, Built In
In today’s connected world, the security of semiconductor devices is non-negotiable. QSI builds secure design into the development process from the ground up — not as an afterthought. From secure chip architectures to advanced testing against hacking and backdoor vulnerabilities, we offer clients peace of mind that their IP and products are protected. Our goal is to make Australia a trusted source of secure chips for critical industries and defence-related applications.
Green Manufacturing for a Sustainable Future
We are committed to sustainable semiconductor production. As we build out our manufacturing capability, environmental responsibility is central. QSI’s planned facilities will leverage renewable energy, closed-loop water systems, and energy-efficient equipment to minimise environmental impact. This positions QSI as one of the few semiconductor ventures in the world to prioritise green manufacturing from the outset — helping customers meet both technical and ESG targets.
Access to Global Expertise and Supply Chains
While our roots are firmly in Australia, QSI is connected to the world. We maintain active relationships with leading semiconductor networks in Taiwan and Europe, giving our clients access to the world’s best fabrication, materials technology, and packaging services. This means faster time-to-market, smoother pilot runs, and access to proven foundries without the typical friction of going it alone. Whether you’re an Australian startup or an international partner, QSI can bridge the gap between concept and commercialisation.
Our Roadmap
- Simple timeline:
- 2024: Fabless company launched
- 2025–27: Fab 1 designed and built
- 2030: Fab 2 operational
QSI Prospectus
Defence Capabilities
QSI is committed to building sovereign semiconductor and electronics capability that meets the evolving needs of Australia’s defence and national security sectors.
From secure chip design to drone technologies and hardware-based cybersecurity, we offer critical infrastructure to help modernise and protect the systems that keep our nation safe.
Sovereign Chip Design and Prototyping
Australia’s defence future depends on secure, trusted microelectronics. QSI provides an end-to-end chip design and prototyping service with security built in at the architectural level. Our team supports the development of custom ASICs, RF devices, power electronics and secure microcontrollers for use in defence communication systems, radar, sensing platforms, and space applications. Designs are managed locally to ensure control of intellectual property and integrity of critical hardware.
We work with trusted offshore foundries under secure design protocols and are building toward a local short-run fabrication facility for trusted prototyping, pilot production, and future scaling.
Advanced Support for Defence Drones and Autonomous Systems
QSI supports the development of key subsystems for defence-grade drones and autonomous platforms. This includes secure chips for motor control, sensor fusion, navigation, encryption, and power management — designed to operate reliably in contested and rugged environments. We help reduce dependence on offshore suppliers and ensure that core systems can be designed, validated, and maintained within Australia’s strategic control.
We also engage with partners across the drone and UAV value chain to co-develop technology solutions, leveraging our global connections and local design expertise.
Built-in Hardware Security
Modern defence systems are vulnerable to backdoors, supply chain risks, and chip-level exploits. QSI provides security-first design practices, offering services that include:
- Tamper-resistant hardware development
- Side-channel and reverse-engineering analysis
- Cryptographic acceleration and secure key storage
- Security validation and design assurance for classified applications
This makes QSI a critical partner for agencies, defence contractors, and companies working in high-assurance environments where hardware trust is non-negotiable.
Supporting a Sovereign, Trusted Supply Chain
QSI is positioned to become a national hub for trusted semiconductor R&D and prototyping. Our vision supports the Government’s goals of strengthening sovereign defence capability, reducing strategic dependencies, and growing high-tech jobs in Australia.
Through our fabless model, we enable rapid iteration and access to global best-in-class manufacturing while retaining full control over sensitive design IP. As we scale toward local fabrication, we’re building a secure foundation for the future of Australia’s defence technology ecosystem.
