<p>New Delhi: Less than three per cent of Indian researchers working in quantum technologies receive support from the industry, says a new government report that also flags the need for the country to find a place on the global high-table when standards for such cutting edge technologies will be fixed.</p><p>Released on Monday, the report prepared by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor shows that China has invested over $15 billion in a nation-wide quantum technology programme as against India’s investment of over $700 million.</p><p>“We need to be on the global high-table when technology standards are being framed. We need to be an active player in defining the global standards for quantum tech. This is a gap we need to fill,” Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Advisor, told DH.</p><p>Quantum tech is a cutting edge branch of science that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics (dealing with the subatomic world) to come up with technologies that are impossible to develop with today’s science.</p><p>A few international organisations are working to form a global body to develop standards in the field of quantum technologies, including quantum information technologies (quantum computing and quantum simulation), quantum metrology, quantum sources, quantum detectors, quantum communications, and fundamental quantum technologies.</p><p>It may be similar to the International Telecommunication Union that determines the standards for telecommunication, and computer and information technology.</p><p>On poor industry funding, Sood said new technologies in the beginning were primarily funded by the government as was seen in the case of the internet.</p><p>While China was leading the investment chart for quantum tech, the communist nation was followed by Germany ($5.2 billion); UK ($4.3 billion), USA ($4.1 billion) and South Korea ($2.35 billion).</p><p>Ten countries have invested more than one billion dollars in their respective national programmes on quantum technology.</p><p>India has started working on all the areas of quantum tech with the Union Cabinet approving the Rs 6,000 crore National Quantum Mission in 2023. “Under the mission, eight startups have been funded. We will look at all the new applications from the startups in every two-three months,” Sood said.</p><p>The report shows India having over 170 researchers specialising in quantum tech but new courses are coming up in the undergraduate and M.Tech levels to produce more human resources.</p><p>“Quantum technology is an area where no country wants to be left behind as it is crucial for strategic autonomy. There cannot be strategic autonomy without being quantum-safe. We also need to reduce our import dependency on hardware,” he added.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Less than three per cent of Indian researchers working in quantum technologies receive support from the industry, says a new government report that also flags the need for the country to find a place on the global high-table when standards for such cutting edge technologies will be fixed.</p><p>Released on Monday, the report prepared by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor shows that China has invested over $15 billion in a nation-wide quantum technology programme as against India’s investment of over $700 million.</p><p>“We need to be on the global high-table when technology standards are being framed. We need to be an active player in defining the global standards for quantum tech. This is a gap we need to fill,” Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Advisor, told DH.</p><p>Quantum tech is a cutting edge branch of science that leverages the principles of quantum mechanics (dealing with the subatomic world) to come up with technologies that are impossible to develop with today’s science.</p><p>A few international organisations are working to form a global body to develop standards in the field of quantum technologies, including quantum information technologies (quantum computing and quantum simulation), quantum metrology, quantum sources, quantum detectors, quantum communications, and fundamental quantum technologies.</p><p>It may be similar to the International Telecommunication Union that determines the standards for telecommunication, and computer and information technology.</p><p>On poor industry funding, Sood said new technologies in the beginning were primarily funded by the government as was seen in the case of the internet.</p><p>While China was leading the investment chart for quantum tech, the communist nation was followed by Germany ($5.2 billion); UK ($4.3 billion), USA ($4.1 billion) and South Korea ($2.35 billion).</p><p>Ten countries have invested more than one billion dollars in their respective national programmes on quantum technology.</p><p>India has started working on all the areas of quantum tech with the Union Cabinet approving the Rs 6,000 crore National Quantum Mission in 2023. “Under the mission, eight startups have been funded. We will look at all the new applications from the startups in every two-three months,” Sood said.</p><p>The report shows India having over 170 researchers specialising in quantum tech but new courses are coming up in the undergraduate and M.Tech levels to produce more human resources.</p><p>“Quantum technology is an area where no country wants to be left behind as it is crucial for strategic autonomy. There cannot be strategic autonomy without being quantum-safe. We also need to reduce our import dependency on hardware,” he added.</p>
