In late August, when Scientists from DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory for Quantum Technologies (DYSL-QT), Pune and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai completed end-to-end testing of a 6-qubit quantum processor based on superconducting circuit technology, it was national news. But, Dr. Enrique Solano, Co-founder and Co-CEO at the Berlin-based quantum computing startup Kipu Quantum, remained unimpressed.
Speaking with BW Businessworld on the sidelines of IET Future Tech Congress (FTC) 2024, Solano said he hoped for bigger revelation from such a three-way collaboration, being executed by entities such as DYSL-QT, TIFR and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). “I would have expected to hear something bigger and hope that efforts are ramped up. Also, India must decide on areas where it wants to excel in quantum technology and then work on those to get ahead. India is today the IT capital of the world, it needs similar and smart innovation,” he said.
On the global level, countries like the US and China have been investing to develop capabilities in quantum technology for years. Lately, China has been making leaps in the space with its focused programmes. A recent report mentioned that Chinese scientists have developed a 504-qubit superconducting quantum computing chip, designed to advance measurement and control systems for quantum computers. The researchers are also investigating ways to integrate this chip into a new quantum computer accessible via the cloud. But this the latest in a long list of breakthroughs made in the space by China.
While the US holds an edge with hundreds of quantum computing startups and major players like IBM advancing the technology, China’s national initiatives, backed by tens of billions of dollars in investments, have made the race between the two nations nearly neck and neck, as per experts.
Quantum technology is expected to redefine the paradigms of computing by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics to perform certain types of calculations much faster and more efficiently than classical computers. Once it reaches maturity, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionise entire industries, unlocking breakthroughs that remain unattainable with today’s classical computing technologies.
Where’s India placed? With a Rs 6,000-crore National Quantum Mission (NQM) in the works, India currently has one of the most comprehensively planned initiatives in the field. However, despite cabinet approval in 2023, the NQM has yet to make landfall. Multiple quantum technology startups, facing severe funding shortages and component struggles, shared on condition of anonymity that NQM cannot arrive soon enough.
But the shortages are not limited to just private quantum technology startups.
“When you’re establishing an industry, obviously you’ll have a lot of things, the ecosystem needs to be built up,” began Dr Sankha Dip Das, Scientist E, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
He elaborated on how the lack of a domestic supply chain for photonics components is a significant roadblock. “There is no supply chain of photonics components from India. So if I want to build anything, I have to import.”
This reliance on foreign components is not merely a logistical challenge but a strategic vulnerability that could stymie India’s aspirations of becoming a global quantum powerhouse.
“India must cultivate a homegrown vendor ecosystem, much like the structured development seen in the automotive industry,” added Dr. Das, speaking during a panel at IET FTC.
Component Scarcity: The Achilles’ Heel
Sujoy Chakravarty, CEO at Quanfluence, echoed Dr. Das’s concerns but added another layer of complexity—the acute scarcity of essential components and the difficulties of bespoke manufacturing. “Since, components are key focus here, what we’ve discovered is that when you set out to build something like what we do, you quickly realise there are no local suppliers. We work with photonics, but there are very few photonic component providers. On the electronics side, all our control systems rely on components like FPGAs, but we lack domestic suppliers for these as well. Everything has to be sourced from abroad,” he said.
Chakravarty's frustration was also palpable as he recounted the hurdles his company faced in sourcing and manufacturing the custom chips crucial for quantum computing. “You go with a photonic chip to a particular foundry, and they say, ‘you know, competing technology, we are already working with another company in this space,’” he said, painting a picture on the competitive pressures that further complicate the situation.
He added that there was a critical need for India to develop multi-use technology infrastructures, which could perhaps serve multiple industries and justify the investment required to build domestic manufacturing capabilities.
On the same panel, Dr. Kasturi Saha, Associate Professor at IIT-Bombay, brought attention to a more fundamental issue—the absence of even basic components within India. “Everything that we have set up is imported—from the screws…to the lens, the electronics, everything literally we import,” she revealed.
For Dr. Saha, the solution is simple: India must begin by manufacturing the small, everyday components that are the building blocks of any quantum lab. “It is not difficult…the screws are stainless steel; we have huge steel plants,” she said.
Dr. Saha said more can be done with the untapped potential of the country’s existing industrial base. By focusing on these “small, little products,” India could not only meet its own research needs but also make a big mark on the global stage.
However, Kipu Quantum’s Solano strongly disagreed and opined that small components aren’t something India should get into and focus on the top-down approach and consider importing the smaller parts.
Dr. Das returned to the conversation with a forward-looking perspective. He said that India needed to embrace advanced manufacturing techniques, blending 3D printing with AI and robotics, to leapfrog current limitations. “The particular set of things where investment needs to be made is setting up manufacturing and understanding what the manufacturing paradigm at this moment is going through,” he advised.
Dearth Of Quantum Technology Professionals
According to a McKinsey report, in terms of absolute number of graduates in quantum technology-relevant fields until 2020, India had second highest number and concentration, just behind European Union (EU).
Experts suggest that the graduates’ figure is comparable even in 2024, with perhaps China making the most progress in the past four years.
However, a more concerning trend is the growing number of Indian quantum technology talent leaving the country, drawn by international startups and conglomerates offering attractive packages, better learning opportunities and greater recognition.
“One effective strategy for recruitment in quantum startups and companies is the absorption of talented individuals after internships. These organisations often provide in-house training programs to equip interns with the necessary skills and knowledge specific to quantum technologies and their applications,” noted QETCI’s 2023 Quantum Value Chain report.
Quanfluence’s Chakravarty spoke briefly at FTC on the concerns about the dearth of skilled professionals in India—particularly in photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design. “The reason you turn to photonics is for scalability. To achieve that, you need to convert much of the technology into photonic integrated circuits (PICs). But here’s the challenge: how many PIC designers are there in this country?” he questioned.
“A couple of years ago, I did not know of any, and now I might know a handful. This is a critical skill set that’s almost entirely missing here. It is starting to develop, but it is still in its infancy,” he added.
As per the QECTI report, many skilled students and professionals, who could become valuable researchers for India, are moving abroad to better-equipped labs and groups. With global competition for acquiring talent, India struggles to retain individuals who are highly sought after internationally.
The report suggests drawing inspiration from the Indian Space Program, particularly the attractive employee benefits and job security offered by Isro, which could help improve talent retention in India’s quantum technology ecosystem.
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