Mission governing board recently approved the call for the pre proposals to set up 4 technology hubs in consortia format under the National Quantum Mission with an allotted budget of Rs. 6003.65 crore.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), India has invited pre-proposals from academic and R&D institutions to set up Thematic hubs(T-hubs) for Indian National Quantum Mission (NQM). Abhay Karandikar, Secretary DST announced the pre proposal call on January 20 at the India International Science Festival.
The call invites the interested institutions to submit white papers aligned with the objectives of the NQM. These institutions will set up T- hubs for quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing & meteorology and quantum materials & devices. The white papers should demonstrate the innovations and methods to advance quantum science and technology.
Call for the pre proposals to set up 4 technology hubs in consortia format (joint participation) was recently approved at the first meeting of the mission governing board of NQM. The mission is expected to see substantial growth in the upcoming months. Various collaborations will be made with the industry and startups to translate research into deployable technologies.
The National Quantum Mission (NQM) was approved by the Union Cabinet on April 19, 2023. Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology, the mission aims to create and develop the quantum technology ecosystem in India. The assigned budget for the mission is Rs. 6003.65 crore for a period of 8 years from 2023-24 to 2030-31.
Under this mission, intermediate-scale quantum computers with 50-1000 physical qubits (quantum bits) will be developed on various platforms like superconducting and photonic technology. “Satellite-based secure quantum communications between ground stations over a range of 2000 kilometers within India, long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries, inter-city quantum key distribution over 2000 km as well as multi-node Quantum networks with quantum memories are also some of the deliverables of the Mission,” DST stated in a post.
