Dr Sarah Scholten Secures AEA Seed Grant for Next-Generation Optical Atomic Clocks in Space

Dr Sarah Scholten, a rising star with IPAS, has succeeded in the final round of AEA Seed Grants with her innovative project, "Sovereign Portable Atomic Clock for a Global Positioning System 2.0," in collaboration with QuantX Labs. The project has been awarded $474,794 in funding.

This cutting-edge initiative aims to miniaturise atomic clocks for the next generation of GPS satellites. By reducing orbital heights and enhancing GPS signal strength, this technology will improve the resilience of GPS systems, ensuring robust and reliable navigation even in contested or GPS-denied environments. This advancement will significantly enhance Australian Defence Capability, contributing to national security and operational effectiveness.

Beyond its defence applications, this technology has the potential to make the world a safer place by ensuring more accurate and reliable global positioning systems. This could benefit a range of industries, including transportation, emergency response, and critical infrastructure, by providing more dependable navigation and timing solutions.

Congratulations to Sarah and the team for this significant achievement!

More details on the funded projects