Latest news with #NQM
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Amaravati to be ‘quantum gateway' of the country
Vijayawada: Aiming to make Amaravati the 'quantum gateway' of the country, Andhra Pradesh govt passed a declaration and the same was adopted by the participants at the Amaravati quantum valley (AQV) workshop held on Monday. The declaration outlined specific targets and timelines to meet in the next four years. The declaration has proposed to establish a global quantum collaboration council (GQCC), in partnership with national quantum mission (NQM), in Amaravati to harmonise international standards, pursue joint R&D, and promote trusted supply networks. The declaration also proposed to establish a multi-stakeholder Amaravati quantum valley mission board (AQVMB) with multiple working groups to identify the use cases of quantum in different sectors. It has been resolved to convene the annual 'World Quantum Expo' in Amaravati starting 2026. AQV will spearhead the creation of a national startup forum with VC-backed milestone-based funding and mentorship. A dedicated Rs 1,000 crore quantum fund and access to living-lab infrastructure will support at least 20 quantum hardware and software startups in the next year and 100 by 2030. Startups will also benefit from regulatory sandboxes. AQV aims to attract a minimum of $500 million quantum technology investments by Jan 1, 2027 with a target of $1 billion by Jan 1, 2029 in areas such as computing, chips, sensing, and communications. India's largest open quantum testbed, QchipIN, would be established by AQV within 12 months. This will integrate quantum computers, QKD fiber links, and deployable sensor platforms to enable pilots across sectors like health-tech, BFSI, logistics, defense, and space. QChipIN will provide end-to-end access to quantum hardware, algorithms, tools, and expert support. AQV will also anchor domestic production of Qubit platforms, cryo-electronics, photonic packages, quantum chips, quantum dots, quantum readout hardware like single photon detector, homodyne detector, and control systems, targeting Rs 5,000 crore annual exports by 2030. AQV will also establish India's first integrated quantum skilling ecosystem.
The Print
3 days ago
- Business
- The Print
‘CEO CM' 2.0 takes stage with Amaravati as theme. Quantum Valley is Chandrababu's next centrepiece
The project, allocated 50 acres of land, is in alignment with the National Quantum Mission (NQM). It is designed to include startups, MNCs, academia and research laboratories. After Cyberabad and Genome Valley, both set up around 25 years back when he was at the helm, Naidu has set out to surpass the legacy left behind in Hyderabad by building a Quantum Valley at Amaravati. Scheduled for inauguration on 1 January next year, Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) is a pioneering initiative aimed at establishing India's first dedicated quantum computing and deep tech ecosystem, officials say. Hyderadabad: A decade since his shift after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu still grabs any opportunity to evoke his vision, effort in building the IT, bio and business hubs that turned a laidback Hyderabad into a major economic growth engine in the country. Seated in Amaravati, some 300 km from the HITEC city, bio-pharma centre that went to Telangana in 2014, Naidu is drawing up blueprints to find the Andhra Pradesh capital a good spot on the global business-innovation map. Much like the circular Cyber Towers, a widely recognised office space symbolising Hyderabad's IT prowess, AQV will feature an iconic building housing India's largest quantum computer, requiring highly specialised cryogenic labs and spotless rooms for quantum hardware. Officials say it allows establishment of a focused high-tech ecosystem dedicated to quantum computing, deep technologies, and research-intensive industries and a state-of-the-art quantum computing center, envisioned to be the largest of its kind in India. The valley's key components include a Quantum Valley Tech Park to be developed in collaboration with renowned players including IBM, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). IBM is set to install its 156-qubit Quantum System Two—the largest and most powerful quantum computer to date in India—while L&T will handle infrastructure development. TCS will provide quantum computing services and hybrid computing solutions, integrating quantum capabilities into sectors such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, a concept note accessed by ThePrint says. At the same time, academic integration is ongoing with Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) directing state universities to introduce quantum computing courses. For instance, the Visakhapatnam-based Andhra University plans to offer major and minor degree programmes in quantum computing from 2025–26, ensuring a skilled workforce for the emerging quantum industry. Aiming to secure a first-mover advantage in the quantum technology sector, the southern state aims to leverage the emerging tech to enhance public services, and 'to develop India's first quantum governance framework.' While the Naidu government has not disclosed the cost of developing Quantum Valley, it will be part of the broader NQM, 'which is allocated a budget of Rs 6,004 crore for 2023 to 2031 period'. 'Given its prominence in the mission, the Quantum Valley is expected to receive a substantial portion of this funding,' said a state official who did not wish to be named. The administration has set an ambitious target to complete construction of the main quantum facility, installation of the computing systems, and supporting ecosystem infrastructure by this year's end. The core partners already involved are IBM, TCS, and academic institutions like IIT Madras. Purdue University and University of Tokyo have accepted proposals to collaborate with the DeepTech Research Park, and the partnerships aim to foster international research collaborations and academic exchanges. Quantum Valley is also designed as a multi-disciplinary deep tech ecosystem, supporting, attracting a wide range of advanced tech sectors intersecting with or complementing quantum technologies like AI, semiconductors, high-performance computing (supercomputing), defense and space tech, and advanced materials and photonics. The AQV will support a full range of R&D activities including product design and algorithm development for sectors like healthcare, logistics, and finance advanced prototyping of quantum hardware and software systems and small-scale advanced manufacturing of specialised components like cryogenic devices. 'What makes Quantum Valley stand out is its integrated approach: combining quantum, AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing; hosting MNCs, startups, and academia; and even applying quantum tech to governance. It's the first of its kind in India, and globally rare in its scale, planning, and openness,' the note mentions. Quantum Valley is in alignment with national missions like Atmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India by building deep-tech capabilities within the country, the note says. 'Precise daily/annual dollar value output is not available because quantum technology is nascent and the Valley's initial focus is R&D, talent development, and ecosystem building, not immediate commercial sales. Its primary output will be intellectual property, scientific breakthroughs, and skilled workforce,' says an official involved in the project. However, its economic impact will be substantial and indirect: creating high-end jobs, attracting global investment, driving efficiency and new revenue streams for industries adopting quantum solutions, and providing invaluable national security benefits. The Indian quantum computing market is projected to grow from $71.4 million (2024) to $500 million (2035), with Quantum Valley aiming to be a major catalyst in capturing this growth and establishing India as a global quantum leader, the note adds. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: A house for Mr Naidu, finally in Amaravati. Tale of two CMs & their accommodations in AP capital
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
A dream to create Andhra Pradesh's own Silicon Valley in Amaravati
More than 25 years ago, N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of the unified State of Andhra Pradesh, had a dream to transform Hyderabad into a global city, which he could, by establishing the landmark HITEC City, which made the city famous. Cyberabad, the bustling township which the HITEC city evolved into over the years, is today home to many IT and IT-Enabled Services (ITES) companies. That was the time when he spearheaded the IT revolution with some valuable contributions from a host of luminaries, notably Bill Gates, under whose stewardship Microsoft India Development Centre (MSIDC) was set up in Hyderabad. MSIDC was Microsoft's largest software development centre outside its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. As the Chief Minister of the successor State of Andhra Pradesh now, Mr. Naidu plans to develop a Quantum Valley (QV) in Amaravati, on the lines of Silicon Valley, aimed at leading the State in quantum technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The idea is to make Andhra a preferred destination for an assortment of IT, Electronics, Communications and related companies specialising in cutting-edge technologies. Going by its name, the QV will have physical and digital infrastructure of the highest order, for which the spadework has begun. The QV project is in alignment with the National Quantum Mission (NQM) that was approved by the Union Cabinet in April 2023. The objective of the NQM is to 'seed, nurture and scale up scientific and industrial R&D and create a vibrant & innovative ecosystem in Quantum Technology (QT) and accelerate QT-led economic growth, nurture the ecosystem in the country and make India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA)'. According to the QV concept paper, it is modelled as India's first dedicated quantum computing and deep tech ecosystem in Amaravati and is set to be inaugurated by January 1, 2026; specific timelines have been fixed to facilitate this goal. The QV project has three key components, namely Quantum Valley Tech Park, academic integration, and public sector applications. It will focus on quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices. The government will soon appoint a Director for the Quantum Mission, which is going to be anchored by IBM. The Quantum Valley Tech Park is proposed to be developed in collaboration with IBM, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), and Larsen & Toubro (L&T). As on date, the plan is to rope in IBM to install a 156-qubit Quantum System Two, touted to be the largest quantum computer in India, L&T to handle infrastructure development, and TCS to provide quantum computing services and hybrid computing solutions, and integrating quantum capabilities into sectors such as healthcare, finance and manufacturing. As far as academic integration is concerned, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education directed the State universities to introduce quantum computing courses as a first step, and the relevant domain expertise of reputed institutions like the IIT-Madras, Purdue University (USA) and the University of Tokyo (Japan) has already been enlisted. Coming to public sector applications, the State aimed to leverage quantum technologies to enhance public services and to develop India's first quantum governance framework. It is to be noted that the Andhra Pradesh Government has already taken the lead in rendering citizen services through WhatsApp, and, of pertinence is the fact that Visakhapatnam — given its metropolitan character and superior connectivity — is the only city in Andhra that marquee companies in the IT & ITES sector are currently looking at as the ideal place to do business. To start with, the Andhra government allocated 50 acres for the establishment of a state-of-the-art quantum computing centre envisioned to be the largest of its kind in India, and is expected to receive a substantial portion of the funding under the NQM. Since quantum computing hardware relies heavily on advances in cryogenics, nanofabrication, and semiconductor technologies, the QV is likely to include startups and research labs working on next-gen chipsets, quantum dot arrays and cryo-electronics. The QV's infrastructure is being designed to integrate quantum systems with classical supercomputers to enable hybrid computing architectures intended to be used for climate modelling, genomics and encryption, among other things. While boasting of QV as the one-of-its-kind model in India, the Andhra Pradesh Government acknowledged that similar projects exist in other parts of the world, namely the Quantum Valley in Waterloo (Canada), which is focused on academic research and startups, China's National Labs (Hefei) (a large-scale defence industry ecosystem) and the Silicon Valley in the U.S. that is a hub for major quantum companies but purportedly not a centralised hub. The DeepTech Park within the QV is meant for the establishment of space and defence institutions; discussions are under way with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to set up a testing lab, and the DRDO to form a Centre of Excellence. A sum of ₹4,000 crore has been allocated for the QV project to be rolled out in two phases, the first one of which will be focused on infrastructure development, education and research, and pilot programmes and the second on propelling Andhra Pradesh towards global leadership and boosting commercialisation and export capabilities. The QV is a daunting task that the government has taken; given that it is to be built from scratch in Amaravati, which itself is in a state of flux for multiple reasons, makes it even more daunting. From starting off in an iconic building proposed to be built by L&T to reaching completion, QV has a long way to go. While the resolve and vision of Mr. Naidu is a big positive for the project, developing such a modern, technology-intensive ecosystem is indeed a formidable task because the basic infrastructure can be created but giving it the final shape in the remaining four years of the NDA government is easier said than done. Therefore, time is of the essence here; just as the HITEC City did not become what it is today overnight, the Quantum Valley too is not a dream that can be realised at the mere drop of a hat.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
India could achieve quantum communication using satellite by 2030, says IIT-Delhi Professor
India could be technologically capable of 'quantum communication' using satellites in the 'next half a decade' Professor Bhaskar Kanseri of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, whose team recently reported an instance of quantum key distribution one kilometre apart — the farthest such transmission in India, without any connecting cables — told The Hindu in an interview. This, however, would require large teams of well-funded multidisciplinary experts and the involvement of start-ups which are specifically geared towards such ends, Prof. Kanseri said. Safe quantum communication requires enabling a sender and receiver to get 'quantum keys', which are made of streams of photons — the carriers of light. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) employs principles of quantum mechanics: the incompletely understood principles underlying the behaviour of atomic and sub-atomic particles, including photons. While there are a couple of approaches in using QKD, one of them — said to be the most secure but technically harder to implement — uses quantum entanglement. Pairs of photons are naturally 'entangled', in a way that a change in one instantaneously reflects in the other. Applying this to encryption means that even the mere attempt by a potential hacker into a QKD-secured transmission of information becomes apparent to those communicating, thus allowing preventive measures. While generating such secure keys can be done through physical networks, including fibre optic cables, the goal is to be able to do it in 'free-space' or without such intervening wires. This is because the cost of such transmissions using cables rapidly rises once the sender and receiver are hundreds of kilometres apart. Thus the ideal step would be to involve satellites, which can act as an intermediary between any two points even if they are thousands of kilometres apart. However, using fibre optic cables provides a stable channel for quantum communication which free-space channels do not. Atmospheric disturbances such as turbulence, air flow, pollution, etc., particularly in a city such as the Delhi National Capital Region, made it more 'challenging' to demonstrate free-space quantum communication. 'The photon beam of quantum channel diverges and wanders due to these disturbances and results in more errors. Owing to these reasons, the error rates are generally higher than the fibre ones. However, with better beam control and optimisation, there is a scope to reduce these errors,' Prof. Kanseri said. China had demonstrated satellite-based quantum communication nearly one decade ago, as they had a head start in quantum communication activities since the early 2000s, he surmised. 'I strongly believe that India, which started quite recently (in the 2020s), will achieve it in next half-a-decade or so, as under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), a strong focus is to develop satellite-based long distance quantum communication,' Prof. Kanseri, who is currently in the U.S., said in an email. As an academic institute, IIT-Delhi's experiments in quantum communication so far were 'proof of concept (POC) nature' conducted with a small team of four to five students, explained Prof Kanseri. 'Satellite based quantum communication would be one of the biggest projects and require not only adequate funds but also a large, dedicated team of multidisciplinary skilled experts for developing several types of enabling technologies. Quantum startups, mentored by researchers working in quantum technologies, if funded adequately, can contribute immensely in translation of technologies from lab to market, and in prototyping quantum technologies in a focussed and faster manner. In addition, indigenous development of needed equipment and components is also required,' Prof. Kanseri said. In 2017 and 2020, researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China, during multiple instances, generated quantum keys involving a satellite (500 km above the ground) and ground stations 1,000 and 1,700-km apart. Since 2005, there have been ground demonstrations in Europe, Canada, and the United States of free-space (without cables) QKD greater than 100 km, suggesting that India still has much to cover regarding QKD-entanglement communication. In January 27, 2022, scientists from the Department of Space (DOS), namely, Space Applications Centre (SAC) and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), both in Ahmedabad, jointly demonstrated quantum entanglement based real time Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over a 300-metre atmospheric channel. In 2021, a team of scientists led by Urbasi Sinha demonstrated perhaps the first instances of such free-space communication in Bangalore over building separated by 50 metres. Quantum key distributions over much greater distances have been achieved over optical fibre networks. Prof. Kanseri's team demonstrated an intercity quantum-communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj in 2022, using commercial grade underground dark optical fibre. In 2024, the team successfully distributed quantum keys using entanglement over a 100 km spool of telecom-grade optical fibre in another project supported by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
With money and manpower, India could achieve quantum satellite communication by 2030, says expert
India could be technologically capable of 'quantum communication' using satellites in the 'next half a decade' Professor Bhaskar Kanseri of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi, whose team recently reported an instance of quantum key distribution one kilometre apart — the farthest such transmission in India, without any connecting cables — told The Hindu in an interview. This, however, would require large teams of well-funded multidisciplinary experts and the involvement of start-ups which are specifically geared towards such ends, Prof. Kanseri said. Safe quantum communication requires enabling a sender and receiver to get 'quantum keys', which are made of streams of photons — the carriers of light. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) employs principles of quantum mechanics: the incompletely understood principles underlying the behaviour of atomic and sub-atomic particles, including photons. While there are a couple of approaches in using QKD, one of them — said to be the most secure but technically harder to implement — uses quantum entanglement. Pairs of photons are naturally 'entangled', in a way that a change in one instantaneously reflects in the other. Applying this to encryption means that even the mere attempt by a potential hacker into a QKD-secured transmission of information becomes apparent to those communicating, thus allowing preventive measures. While generating such secure keys can be done through physical networks, including fibre optic cables, the goal is to be able to do it in 'free-space' or without such intervening wires. This is because the cost of such transmissions using cables rapidly rises once the sender and receiver are hundreds of kilometres apart. Thus the ideal step would be to involve satellites, which can act as an intermediary between any two points even if they are thousands of kilometres apart. However, using fibre optic cables provides a stable channel for quantum communication which free-space channels do not. Atmospheric disturbances such as turbulence, air flow, pollution, etc., particularly in a city such as the Delhi National Capital Region, made it more 'challenging' to demonstrate free-space quantum communication. 'The photon beam of quantum channel diverges and wanders due to these disturbances and results in more errors. Owing to these reasons, the error rates are generally higher than the fibre ones. However, with better beam control and optimisation, there is a scope to reduce these errors,' Prof. Kanseri said. China had demonstrated satellite-based quantum communication nearly one decade ago, as they had a head start in quantum communication activities since the early 2000s, he surmised. 'I strongly believe that India, which started quite recently (in the 2020s), will achieve it in next half-a-decade or so, as under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), a strong focus is to develop satellite-based long distance quantum communication,' Prof. Kanseri, who is currently in the U.S., said in an email. As an academic institute, IIT-Delhi's experiments in quantum communication so far were 'proof of concept (POC) nature' conducted with a small team of four to five students, explained Prof Kanseri. 'Satellite based quantum communication would be one of the biggest projects and require not only adequate funds but also a large, dedicated team of multidisciplinary skilled experts for developing several types of enabling technologies. Quantum startups, mentored by researchers working in quantum technologies, if funded adequately, can contribute immensely in translation of technologies from lab to market, and in prototyping quantum technologies in a focussed and faster manner. In addition, indigenous development of needed equipment and components is also required,' Prof. Kanseri said. In 2017 and 2020, researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China, during multiple instances, generated quantum keys involving a satellite (500 km above the ground) and ground stations 1,000 and 1,700-km apart. Since 2005, there have been ground demonstrations in Europe, Canada, and the United States of free-space (without cables) QKD greater than 100 km, suggesting that India still has much to cover regarding QKD-entanglement communication. In January 27, 2022, scientists from the Department of Space (DOS), namely, Space Applications Centre (SAC) and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), both in Ahmedabad, jointly demonstrated quantum entanglement based real time Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over a 300-metre atmospheric channel. In 2021, a team of scientists led by Urbasi Sinha demonstrated perhaps the first instances of such free-space communication in Bangalore over building separated by 50 metres. Quantum key distributions over much greater distances have been achieved over optical fibre networks. Prof. Kanseri's team demonstrated an intercity quantum-communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj in 2022, using commercial grade underground dark optical fibre. In 2024, the team successfully distributed quantum keys using entanglement over a 100 km spool of telecom-grade optical fibre in another project supported by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
