CIOInsider India Magazine
India is Gaining Pace in its Quantum Computing Race
The coronavirus did accelerate digitalization, but the world is moving much faster towards exploring advanced technologies even before they set foot on the planet, like quantum computing, and 5G for instance. From the looks of it, it appears that tech companies are racing to explore and produce next-generation technology innovations. One of the main reasons for this pace is cybercrime which has spiked to an alarming rate of 93 percent according to latest findings by Check Points mid-year security report. This is why big techs had a talk at the US White House with President Joe Biden. Also why tech companies including some of the countries’ governments have decided to explore the road less taken which is quantum computing.
The quantum computing that humanity has discovered so far can be compared to that of how much the oceans have been discovered. That’s right, quantum computing could most certainly be viewed as another synonym to the word ‘depth’ apart from the popular oceans in the land. While it remains unclear how many years it would take for humanity to reach its full potential, tech companies and governments across nations have joined forces with befitting counterparts to venture into this digital realm. The same falls true for India with companies such as HCL Technologies, T-Hub, Infosys as well as the government have already transitioned into the portal of quantum computing.
Infosys and AWS are Cooking Up Quantum Computing Capabilities
The IT major as well as the e-commerce giant’s cloud arm, Amazon Web Services (AWS) are not only breaking sweat to develop quantum computing capabilities, but are also looking into potential applications while they are at it.
To achieve those goals, Infosys has decided to gear up by adding the Amazon Braket to explore and frame multiple use cases under its Infosys Cobalt cloud offering. The IT major knows well to equip the Amazon Braket, as it’s a fully managed quantum computing services designed for the very purpose of ensuring that in-depth scientific researches and software development to be done in a jiffy.
HCL is expected to strengthen its open innovation program by leveraging T-innovation Hub's experience, as well as its network of startups, companies, and investors.
Aside from the aforementioned goals, the IT major wishes for enterprises to get the ticket to use cases for quick experimentation and realize how the realm of quantum computing can be much helpful in the future. Be it a variety of domains, evaluation of ideas or creation and adoption of new strategies that resonate innovation in every inch.
On an overall basis, the IT major plans on making enterprises future ready with the help of Amazon Braket.
"We see this partnership as a vital step in establishing the correct expectations with customers when discussing business problems where quantum computing could play a role”, says Matt Garman, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Amazon Web Services, Inc.
Then there’s HCL Technologies’ and T-Hub’s partnership that not only plans on exploring quantum computing but deep tech as well.
T-Hub and HCL Set Sail for an Insightful Quantum Computing and Deep Tech Journey
The two have set out on a journey to acquire more insights about Quantum Computing and Deep Technology. They first intend to start by picking out startups, with T-Hub planning on using HCL Technologies' eSTiP Open Innovation Program for the process. The initiative promotes co-creation through an open innovation paradigm and is administered by the company's Enterprise Technology Office (ETO), with the goal of inventing and enforcing cooperation across various stakeholders. This is accomplished through a systematic and scaled method to managing ideas, prototyping, deployment, and commercialization.
The initiative was established to sync well with the changing consumer expectations, digitization, global connectivity, and data, all of which have an impact on how businesses respond. As a result, it comes handy to individuals in thriving in this dynamic environment. Therefore, HCL collaborates with a number of leading global technology companies to address not only complicated operational and business difficulties, but also new market demands. T-Hub's innovation expertise and startup ecosystem align with all of these qualities and promises. HCL will try to curate startup solutions for its own clients and for specialized program objectives while gaining access to T-events Hub's and demo days. HCL Technologies' Chief Technology Officer and Head of Ecosystems, Kalyan Kumar, said, "our cooperation with T-Hub solidifies our ecosystem innovation path, with future investments in Quantum Computing trials as the technology progresses”.
As a result of this collaboration, HCL is expected to strengthen its open innovation program by leveraging T-innovation Hub's experience, as well as its network of startups, companies, and investors.
Meity and AWS are Building a Quantum Computing Applications Lab
In collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) will create a Quantum Computing Applications Lab in the country to speed quantum computing-led research and development and enable new scientific breakthroughs.
This Lab will not only be open to government bodies to use quantum computing as a service, but researchers, scientists, academicians, and developers can help themselves to advance in fields like manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and aerospace engineering.
On the other hand, AWS plans on hosting this lab with hopes of delivering technical and programmatic support.
This initiative will provide access to a quantum computing development environment that involves the government's science and technology priorities for scientists, academics, and developers.
Ajay Prakash Sawhney, MeitY Secretary, stated that quantum computing is in its infancy in India, and that it is critical to make quantum computing accessible to researchers, young firms, and MSMEs.
"Not only will they be able to taste what quantum computing can do for their various use cases and applications, but they will also be able to build solutions around it, but having this kind of lab available at this stage gives us a good start with the infrastructure not only being available, but also accessible in a very simple way”, says the Meity Secretary.
According to MeitY Additional Secretary Rajendra Kumar, the MeitY Quantum Computing Applications Lab, which was developed with the help of AWS, is the world's first of its kind.
