NITI Aayog & IBM Unveil Roadmap to Make India a Top3 Quantum Economy by 2047

• NITI Aayog and IBM unveiled a roadmap titled “Transforming India into a Leading Quantum-Powered Economy.”
• The roadmap aims to make India a Top-3 Quantum Economy by 2047.
• The roadmap seeks to build a home-grown quantum computing ecosystem, meaning an indigenous network of quantum research, hardware, software, and industry participation.
• It aims to help India capture a major share of the global quantum market, which refers to the worldwide demand for quantum technologies and services.
• The roadmap targets the incubation of at least 10 globally competitive quantum startups.
  o Each startup is expected to surpass USD 100 million in revenue by 2035.
  o Each startup is expected to capture over 50% of the value in the global quantum software and services market by 2035.

Status of Quantum Technology in India

• India ranks 2nd globally in the number of graduates in quantum-relevant fields, with approximately 91,000 graduates.
• The only region ahead of India in this metric is the European Union.
• Multiple Indian states are actively creating their own quantum ecosystems, meaning state-level clusters for research, infrastructure and industry.
• Karnataka has established the Quantum Research Park (QuRP) as part of its quantum ecosystem.
• Andhra Pradesh has launched the Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) to promote state-level quantum innovation.

Key Recommendations of the Roadmap

• The roadmap recommends expanding the quantum workforce in India.
  o The roadmap aims to grow the scientific workforce, meaning researchers and scientists specializing in quantum science, within 2–3 years.
  o It aims to grow the deep engineering workforce, meaning engineers who can build quantum hardware and associated systems, within 2–3 years.
  o It aims to grow the professional deployment-ready workforce, meaning industry-ready quantum professionals, within 2–3 years.
  o The roadmap proposes prioritizing 3–5 key quantum opportunity areas for focused development.
• The priority areas include secure communication, which uses quantum mechanics for tamper-proof data transmission.
  o The priority areas include health and pharma, where quantum computing can accelerate drug discovery and medical research.
  o The priority areas include cryogenics, the science of ultra-low temperatures required for quantum hardware.
  o The priority areas include financial services, which can use quantum algorithms for optimisation and risk modelling.
  o The priority areas include logistics, where quantum systems can improve complex routing and supply chain management.
• The roadmap recommends accelerating the lab-to-market transition within 2 years.
  o The lab-to-market transition refers to the ease of converting research from laboratories into usable commercial technology.
• The roadmap recommends improving ease of doing research, meaning reducing barriers for quantum R&D operations.
• It recommends improving technology validation, meaning processes for testing and verifying quantum technologies.
• The roadmap recommends that India lead in global standard-setting for quantum technologies.
• Global standard-setting refers to forming international rules and frameworks that determine how quantum systems operate globally.
• The roadmap encourages active engagement with global standards bodies to support Indian leadership in quantum norms.
• The roadmap aims to ensure that Indian quantum products gain access to global markets through standard alignment.
• The roadmap recommends making India an attractive domicile for quantum startups.
• The roadmap aims for more than 90% of deep-tech Indian startups to remain domiciled in India.

About Quantum Technology

• Quantum technology is a class of technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics, the physics of sub-atomic particles.
• Quantum mechanics includes concepts such as quantum superposition, where particles exist in multiple states at once.
• Quantum mechanics also includes quantum entanglement, where particles share linked states regardless of distance.
• Quantum technology is classified into four major vectors, meaning four broad application categories.
  o The first vector is Quantum Computing, which uses quantum bits (qubits) to perform complex calculations.
  o The second vector is Quantum Communication, which enables secure data transfer using quantum principles.
  o Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is part of quantum communication and provides ultra-secure encryption keys.
  ▪ The third vector is Quantum Sensing and Metrology, which enhances measurement accuracy using quantum effects.
  o The fourth vector is Quantum Materials, which are materials engineered to exhibit quantum properties.