Indian scientists to develop own technology under NQM

National Quantum Mission received cabinet approval at a total cost of Rs. 6003.65 crore, to scale up scientific and industrial R&D, for accelerating Quantum Technology led economic growth and leverage India into a leading nation in the area. The mission is expected to benefit communication, health, finance, and energy as well as drug design and Space applications.

In the past, India had adopted technologies developed abroad and implemented them here, but the NQM has a distinction. The NQM is the only mission, so far, wherein Indian scientists will develop our own technology. Though India will need international cooperation, it will be mainly for knowledge exchange.

The establishment of the National Quantum Mission, with investments in infrastructure, labs and test-beds, will enable Indian industry and academia to take IP leadership in a technology area of strategic importance. The new mission targets developing intermediate scale quantum computers with 50-1000

physical qubits in 8 years in various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology.

With this the, Satellite based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2000 kilometres within India, long distance secure quantum communications with other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km as well as multi-node Quantum network with quantum memories are also some of the deliverables of the Mission.

The mission will help develop magnetometers with high sensitivity in atomic systems and Atomic Clocks for precision timing, communications and navigation. It will also support design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor structures and topological materials for fabrication of quantum devices. Single photon sources/detectors, entangled photon sources will also be developed for quantum communications, sensing and metrological applications.

It’ll help tech companies to focus on quantum computing and its applications in multiple areas by deepening understanding of the technology and exploring its applications with SDKs, Quantum Algorithms and Software. There is need for anchoring an ecosystem comprising of academia, deep-techs and independent research institutes.

The hubs which will focus on generation of new knowledge through basic and applied research as well as promote R&D in areas that are mandated to them. It will provide a huge boost to National priorities like digital India, Make in India, Skill India and Stand-up India, Start-up India, Self-reliant India and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, President & CEO, VARINDIA