India Nears Its Quantum Moment — Completion of First Quantum Computer Expected Soon

Insider Brief

• India is nearing completion of its first small-scale quantum computer at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, India media sources report.
• The project is part of India’s National Quantum Mission, with plans to develop a 24-qubit computer in three years and a 100-qubit system in five years.
• Bengaluru-based startup QpiAI is also building a 25-qubit quantum computer, with plans to offer it via cloud services by the end of the year.

India is nearing completion of its first quantum computer, a milestone project led by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai. The small-scale computer is being developed by TIFR’s Quantum Measurement and Control (QuMaC) lab, established 12 years ago to tackle fundamental challenges in building quantum systems, according to India Today.

Dr. R. Vijayaraghavan, head of QuMaC, described the project as a critical initial move for the country into quantum technology. “This will allow us to get into this game,” he told India Today.

The project is a collaboration between TIFR, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Together, they are designing essential components such as the quantum processing unit, electronics, and software, each presenting its own complexities, the news service reports.

While not detailed explicitly in the article, artwork that accompanies the article shows equipment that would suggest the machine is a superconducting quantum computer. This device would be more of a model to provide a path for further advances, according to Dr. Vijayaraghavan. He added that while the equations this small-scale quantum computer can solve can be replicated by a regular laptop, the project lays the groundwork for more advanced systems.

“If we have to build a 100-qubit system, we have to start somewhere. So, this gives us all the necessary expertise in understanding the different parts of a quantum computer and where the challenges are,” he explained in India Today. He compared the effort to IBM’s launch of its first 5-qubit quantum computer on the cloud eight years ago, emphasizing that “for us, it’s the first step.”

As part of the National Quantum Mission, Dr. Vijayaraghavan leads a team of eight scientists from five institutes aiming to build a 24-qubit computer in three years and a 100-qubit computer in five years, reported India Today. Other specialist teams are working on different proposals, exploring various technological approaches using photons, neutral atoms, or trapped ions as qubits.

Despite the progress, significant scientific challenges remain. Qubits are inherently unstable and susceptible to disturbances, leading to ‘decoherence’. Researchers worldwide are striving to overcome this through error-corrected qubits. “You have to show that by using such a system, you are actually solving some problem which is of relevance to industry or science or society and show that it is better, faster and cheaper,” Dr. Vijayaraghavan told India Today. “That of course will be the first holy grail of useful quantum computers. We are not there yet.”

In Bengaluru, startup QpiAI is also venturing into quantum computing. Led by CEO and chairman Dr. Nagendra Nagaraja, the company is constructing a 25-qubit quantum computer, with plans to unveil it by the end of the year, according to the news service. With $6 million in funding, QpiAI intends to offer the platform to customers via cloud services and supply systems to top institutes and research groups across India.

“Our vision is to integrate AI and quantum computing in enterprises,” Dr. Nagaraja told India Today, highlighting the potential for Indian companies to compete globally. “The more companies you have in advanced technology, the wealthier a nation. It’s as simple as that.”

The National Quantum Mission’s allocation of Rs 6,000 crore — about $720 million US — underscores the government’s commitment to this emerging field. While the investment is substantial relative to historical R&D funding in India, the vastness of quantum technology necessitates focused and strategic use of these resources, according to India Today. Early economic impacts are expected in industries such as chemicals, life sciences, financ, and mobility.

Dr. Nagaraja pointed out several areas where quantum computers and artificial intelligences could drive new levels of innovation, including areas of global concern, such as sustainable energy and cost-effective manufacturing.

“If we have 300 error-corrected qubits, then I think material science is all disrupted,” he said.