In April 2023, India inaugurated its ambitious National Quantum Mission (NQM), representing a critical step forward in the nation’s journey towards harnessing quantum technology. With a target budget of ₹6,000 crore and an eight-year timeline, the mission aims to establish India as a global leader in quantum technology under the leadership of Ajai Chowdhry, co-founder of HCL and the founder and chairman of EPIC Foundation.
“When it comes to quantum computing, we need to make a quantum computer of 1,000 cubits over the next eight years. With respect to communication, we are supposed to have on-ground communication of 2,500 km–-quantum communication—and in space 2,500 kilometres. This way, the targets are well set for each of the areas,” said Chowdhry, in an exclusive interaction with AIM.
Establishing India’s Quantum Framework
By January 2024, Chowdhry and his team had established the quantum mission’s framework, beginning with a request for proposals (RFP) to attract expertise and innovative ideas across the quantum spectrum.
“We requested proposals, and within a week of our board meeting, we had already set up calls for proposals,” said the Padma Bhushan awardee. The NQM received an overwhelming response, with 385 applications submitted for review. By August, 84 proposals were approved, covering four primary areas namely quantum computing, quantum communication, sensors, and materials science.
Ambitious and Aggressive Targets
Chowdhry referred to the mission’s goals as “very tough”, while emphasising that such high targets are essential to placing India on the quantum technology map. While goals are one part of the mission, the funding has been strategically distributed.
“It was decided that ₹4,000 crore will be directly with the National Quantum Mission and ₹2,000 crore will be spent by others, which include the departments of space, defence, and atomic energy. So, it’s a ₹6,000-crore plan,” he said.
The Need for Quantum
A critical challenge identified by Chowdhry is the need to shift researchers’ focus from academic publications to practical applications. Historically, researchers in India, much like other countries, have prioritised publishing papers over product development. NQM’s approach requires a shift to a goal-oriented mindset that aligns with technological targets rather than purely theoretical research.
“A lot of these large corporates will need quantum technology four to five years from now,” said Chowdhry. “For drug development, there’s nothing better than a quantum computer. It’ll dramatically reduce the time for drug discovery and the cost of drugs, so Indian pharma companies can go far ahead if they start thinking about quantum technologies,” he added.
Chowdhry emphasised the urgency of making India quantum-ready, especially in terms of cybersecurity. As quantum technology advances, traditional encryption methods could become obsolete, making sensitive data vulnerable to breaches.
“When a quantum computer comes up that can crack current cybersecurity, you will be completely open to an attack, and this can happen maybe four years, five years, six years,” cautioned Chowdhry. “At a time when a powerful quantum computer is ready, it can crack your financial systems, it can crack your security systems.”
Startup and International Collaboration
Chowdhry believes in the importance of involving startups in the quantum mission, recognising the potential they bring for rapid innovation and commercialisation. He explained that the NQM has already reached out to approximately 45-50 startups and created a groundbreaking startup policy, which grants up to ₹25 crore per startup, significantly higher than the usual government grants.
“This is absolutely unique in the country. For the first time, we are giving startups up to ₹25 crore as support,” which he believes is crucial considering the expensive and resource-intensive nature of quantum research.
Chowdhry also emphasised the promising nature of the Indian startup ecosystem. “There are already about three or four startups that are commercially selling their products, with one having a subsidiary in America,” he said.
While collaboration with other nations might seem a logical path to accelerate India’s quantum mission, Chowdhry highlighted the limitations of this move. Countries with significant advancements in quantum, like the US, are often reluctant to share details about core technologies due to concerns over security and competition.
“It’s nice to talk, but difficult to execute. The US has banned the export of quantum. They don’t want to share the technology, so that’s the kind of message that we are getting from many countries, that nobody really wants to share,” he quipped.
India is negotiating alternative collaboration models, such as joint intellectual property (IP) development. For instance, Chowdhry proposed inviting foreign companies that have achieved intermediate quantum advancements to set up operations in India. This approach could enable India to build on existing innovations and leapfrog into more advanced stages of quantum technology development.
Quantum, AI and India
In the long term, Chowdhry envisions a synergistic relationship between quantum computing and AI. While quantum computers are not yet advanced enough to significantly enhance AI applications, Chowdhry is optimistic about the progress of this combination in the upcoming years.
“AI and quantum are going to be a deadly combination,” he said, forecasting that advancements in quantum computing will eventually transform AI capabilities.
I am a strong advocate for the "Make in India" initiative, which has seen remarkable progress over the past decade.
However, as our Honorable Prime Minister has rightly emphasized, it is time for us to evolve further—moving from simply manufacturing to designing and innovating… pic.twitter.com/W8IE3ncFcB— Ajai Chowdhry (@AjaiChowdhry) September 25, 2024
Reflecting on his journey from co-founding HCL to spearheading the quantum mission, Chowdhry, commonly referred to as the ‘Father of Indian Hardware’ expressed confidence in India’s potential to lead in technology. He stressed that while software services have fueled India’s growth over the past two decades, the time has come for India to focus on products.
“If we don’t shift towards a product-oriented mindset, we’ll never be a developed country,” he asserted. “Tomorrow’s people should be in India. This is a growth country,” he concluded.
Ajai Chowdhry’s vision for NQM underscores India’s aspiration to become a quantum powerhouse, positioning the country among the leaders in one of the most transformative technological fields of the future.
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