Professor Simon Devitt has been awarded funds from the UTS Strategic Research Accelerator for the Rottnest project, an initiative set to transform the landscape of quantum computing, positioning UTS and its partners at the forefront of global innovation.
Pioneering the quantum operating system
Rottnest is a scalable compilation system designed for large-scale quantum computers.
“Our ambition is for Rottnest to be the Linux of the quantum world, a core platform that is used across the quantum industry to construct their own operating environments for large-scale computation,” explained Simon, the Research Director at the School of Computer Science and the Centre for Quantum Software and Information (QSI).
Just as the Linux kernel became the backbone of classical computing, powering everything from high-performance servers to mobile phones, Simon said that Rottnest has the potential to be the foundational operating system for quantum machines worldwide.
Proof of concept
The Rottnest platform is already operational, deployed earlier in 2025.
“The system is undergoing rigorous validation on high-performance computing systems, including the Finnish LUMI supercomputer,” Simon said.
“The system has demonstrated its ability to compile circuits with billions of gates in minutes, producing fault-tolerant layouts and resource estimates for a variety of quantum hardware models.”
Rottnest’s most advanced hardware models have been developed through collaborations with the DARPA Quantum Benchmarking program and with publicly traded US hardware companies, Rigetti Inc and IonQ inc. They have also been validated by DARPA Testing and Evaluation teams, consisting of NASA, MIT Lincoln Labs and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Aligned with major international efforts, including the US Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI), an eight-year project involving 20 quantum computing companies and a funding pool of up to $7 billion USD, the Rottnest system is already in discussions with leading quantum companies from Australia, France, Canada and the US.
“We have dozens of companies aiming to integrate Rottnest into their quantum OS roadmaps, including CSIRO, the Australian Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, Boeing, and the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security at the University of Maryland,” Simon said.
Quantum computing is rapidly evolving into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with national investments and venture capital fuelling startups and research.
However, the lack of scalable, fault-tolerant operating systems capable of harnessing the power of quantum hardware remains a persistent challenge.
“Rottnest is the only platform in the world that reaches the scale and speed necessary to operate these large-scale machines. We are advanced compared to even industrial efforts due to the scale problems we have exclusively addressed. This puts us in a prime position to be adopted industry wide.”
Future opportunities
Rottnest’s release at the DARPA QB program closing meeting in Chicago in February 2025 sparked interest across the quantum ecosystem. Since then, the team has secured contracts and collaborations with leading hardware and software companies, both in Australia and internationally.
Rottnest exemplifies UTS’s commitment to global impact and deep industry engagement.
“The goal of UTS 2030 is to be ‘recognised for our global impact’ and to foster deep connections to industry and the community. Rottnest has already resulted in concrete contracts and collaborations with the largest quantum technology companies in Australia and around the world,” said Simon, who will use the Strategic Research Accelerator funding to recruit postdoctoral researchers with expertise in quantum hardware.