CIOInsider India Magazine

Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, has solidly positioned itself as a prominent technology center in India and worldwide. The Government of Karnataka has launched its initiative by creating a Quantum ecosystem in its capital, supported by a thriving IT, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and startup landscape in the city. This aligns well with the recent effort by the Government of India to advance Quantum Technologies through the introduction of the National Quantum Mission. Quantum technologies are gaining momentum in Bengaluru, with various institutions, such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the Raman Research Institute (RRI), and the International Center for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS), serving as national hubs in this initiative.

To leverage this highly talented ecosystem and growing infrastructure, India needs a collaborative platform to unite field experts. To initiate the ecosystem, the ministry of science and technology organized a two-day summit, focusing on the theme ‘Building a Quantum Ecosystem: Qubits to Society.

Karnataka Quantum Mission
The Karnataka government launched Rs 1,000-crore Quantum Mission with a vision to transform the state into a $20 billion quantum economy by 2035 and establish it as the ‘quantum capital of Asia.’ The major part of this mission is the establishment of Q-City (Quantum City) near Bengaluru – a futuristic integrated hub for quantum technology innovation, manufacturing, research, and talent development.

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The declaration was made at the opening of the Quantum India Summit 2025, which took place in Bengaluru and was co-organised by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) alongside the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Science & Technology N S Boseraju outlined the government's plan to promote quantum innovation and infrastructure throughout the state.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah says, “By 2035, we plan to generate 10,000 skilled jobs and position Karnataka as the quantum hub of Asia. A Quantum Technology Task Force will be formed to steer policy frameworks, while the government will also establish a Quantum Venture Capital Fund to support over 100 startups and create at least 100 patents in the field. The entire initiative is projected to generate more than 2 lakh.”

Minister Boseraju says, “In line with this initiative, our government will create Q-City, offering top-notch facilities. This city will incorporate academic institutions, innovation centers, manufacturing clusters for quantum hardware, processors, auxiliary units, and research and development hubs backed by quantum high-performance computing (HPC) data centers. The state hosts India's first commercially viable quantum computer, developed locally in Bengaluru by a group of Kannadigas. This computer serves not only as a proof of concept but also as a testament to perseverance. Created locally, it is already providing commercial services.”

The state has established a Quantum Research Park at IISc Bengaluru, which has assisted over 55 research and development (R&D) initiatives and 13 startups, and has trained over 1,000 quantum experts each year. To enhance its operations, the government has approved an extra Rs 48 crore in funding. Karnataka revealed intentions to create India’s initial Quantum Hardware Park, alongside four innovation hubs and a specialized quantum chip manufacturing facility, anticipated to be functional by the year's end.

“By the end of the year, the capability for quantum chip fabrication will be in operation. This will allow for the domestic manufacturing of sophisticated quantum components and devices,” Boseraju adds.

The minister additionally highlighted the necessity for policy adaptability from the Centre to facilitate innovation at the state level. The Indian Government has initiated the National Quantum Mission with a budget of Rs 6,000 crore. To ensure successful implementation, the Centre should permit Karnataka to take charge with creative and decentralized strategies. To nurture talent statewide, the science and technology minister mentioned that Karnataka will introduce a quantum curriculum at the higher secondary level in both English and Kannada through its Stream Labs initiative.

The state will launch quantum skilling initiatives in 20 colleges, increase DST-funded PhD fellowships to 150 students, and extend these initiatives to tier-2 and tier-3 cities and more than 20 universities. The roadmap is organized around five key pillars: workforce development, research and development initiatives, infrastructure, sector support, and international collaborations. Karnataka seeks to create 1,000-qubit quantum processors and test practical applications in healthcare, cybersecurity, governance, agriculture, and early disease detection.

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National Quantum Mission
Last year, India initiated the National Quantum Mission, positioning itself among the select nations worldwide with a specialized program aimed at utilizing quantum technologies. These technologies, utilizing unique characteristics of the smallest matter particles, can provide groundbreaking solutions to some of the toughest challenges of our time, including affordable healthcare and clean energy.

However, in spite of possessing a robust research foundation in quantum science, India still has much to learn. A recent report assessing the nation's current abilities in this domain has revealed that nations such as China and the United States are significantly ahead of India. These nations have not only allocated significantly more funds for research, but they also employ more individuals in this field. They have produced significantly more scientific papers and registered a lot more patents too.