Quantum technologies are moving out of labs and into the core of national strategy and industry. What started as a scientific pursuit has become the “second quantum revolution,” reshaping how the world will compute, communicate, and sense.
At Cypher 2025, one of India’s largest AI conference organised by AIM in Bengaluru, Arindam Ghosh, professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), reminded the audience that quantum is more than computing.
“Many people think it’s just quantum computing, but it’s not so. It’s beyond just computing.”
Ghosh described three pillars of the field: computing, communications, and sensing. Each has its own timeline, but all point to a digital future very different from today.
The Physics that Breaks Intuition
Two principles power this field, superposition and entanglement. Superposition allows a quantum bit (qubit) to exist in multiple states at once until measured. As Ghosh explained, “The state can exist in all possible states between yes and no.” Entanglement links particles so deeply that the measurement of one instantaneously alters the other, regardless of distance.
These features may sound abstract, but they are the engines of quantum applications. They unlock advances in optimisation, molecular simulation, and cryptography, domains where classical systems falter.
From Lab to Market
Progress differs across domains. Quantum communications already promise security where any attempt to eavesdrop becomes detectable, drawing interest from defence and finance. Quantum sensing may reach markets first with magnetometers for diagnostics, gravimeters for exploration, and atomic clocks for finance. Ghosh called these “dual-use technologies,” serving civilian and military purposes, one reason governments are rushing to regulate and invest.
Quantum computing, meanwhile, remains harder to scale. Competing hardware platforms, from superconducting circuits to trapped ions—are racing to build error-corrected machines. Tech giants have published roadmaps targeting breakthroughs within a decade. “This technology is moving faster than prior hardware waves,” Ghosh said, stressing that the time to build capacity is now.
Economics and the AI Link
The global market for quantum today is about $1 billion. Forecasts suggest $100 billion in annual product revenues by the mid-2030s, with ripple effects worth trillions across sectors like energy, logistics, finance, and healthcare.
Quantum is often cast as a competitor to artificial intelligence. Ghosh disagreed. “In about five years’ time, it will have to be a quantum-AI combo,” he said. Quantum could speed up machine learning tasks, while AI could help manage noisy quantum systems. The future, he argued, is hybrid. For businesses, the practical step is to develop quantum-ready workflows and train talent to bridge both fields.
India’s Opportunity and Risk
India’s strength lies in its talent. Its challenge lies in turning that knowledge into hardware and platforms. Barriers include the cost of cryogenic systems, gaps in precision manufacturing, and weak industry-academia links.
The National Quantum Mission, launched in 2023 with a budget of ₹6,000 crore, seeks to build domestic capacity in computing, communication, and sensing. If executed well, it could create skilled engineers and indigenous products.
“We need to be ready with this technology as soon as possible,” Ghosh said. That readiness extends beyond science to industry and diplomacy. Without a role in setting standards and rules, India could remain a buyer rather than a maker of quantum products.
Dual-Use Dilemmas
The same features that make quantum powerful also make it risky. A sensor that helps miners could also help navies. Secure communication channels could protect citizens or shield adversaries. Policymakers will have to weigh ethics, export controls, and alliances with care.
Still, the potential is vast—from climate modelling and drug discovery to secure communications and fintech resilience. Ghosh stressed that the next five years are not for waiting but for building.
Quantum will not solve every problem, and hype will outpace reality in places. But momentum is real, and timelines are shrinking. India has the brains and strategic position. What it needs now is to turn ideas into hardware, products, and influence.
The second quantum revolution is underway. The choice before India, Ghosh concluded, is whether it will follow or lead.
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