For every dazzling image beamed home from Mars rovers or navigation satellite keeping ships on course, there are missions that go astray, technology that fails, and millions, sometimes billions, of taxpayer dollars lost to the void. 

Microsoft announced a major partnership with Spark for cloud computing that will also see Copilot rolled out to an additional 1,800 staff. Meanwhile a quantum computing breakthrough at Microsoft could accelerate the roadmap for useful quantum computers.

A long overdue plan for the science sector was released this week with plans for a new research institution to focus on AI, quantum and synthetic biology. But Callaghan Innovation will disappear in the biggest innovation shake-up in 30 years.

Companies around the world — and several national governments — are racing to be the first to solve the quantum computing puzzle. How likely is it Australia’s bet on PsiQuantum will pay off?