IIT Madras has developed and licensed its Silicon Photonics-Based high-speed Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) in a deal worth ₹10 million.
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has finalised a licensing agreement worth ₹10 million with Indrarka Quantum Technologies Pvt. Ltd. for India’s first silicon photonics-based Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG).
The QRNG was developed at the Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CPPICS), IIT Madras. It is the first silicon photonic product of its kind in India, designed to generate high-speed random numbers for applications requiring secure computing and communication.
For applications such as cryptographic algorithms, quantum key distribution, secure military communication, financial transaction protection, one-time password generation, scientific simulations and gaming systems.
A prototype of the module was earlier delivered to the DRDO’s Young Scientist Laboratory for Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT). An upgraded version has since been deployed at the Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS), Chennai, for field use in quantum security systems.
The project is funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), by supporting the establishment of the silicon photonics Centre of Excellence at IIT Madras. Engineering and packaging support was provided by izmo Microsystems.
The licensing marks one of the first industry transfers of silicon photonic quantum technology in India. CPPICS researchers have stated that the work demonstrates the scope for translating quantum photonics research into commercially deployable modules.
