Government Plans ₹10,000 Crore Investment in Quantum and Supercomputing Hubs

The Indian government is reportedly contemplating an allocation of up to Rs. 10,000 crore for the establishment of supercomputing and quantum computing hubs in collaboration with the private sector. The initiative is expected to leverage public-private partnerships and provide startups, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and other companies with access to high-performance computing through leasing or a "compute-as-a-service" model, according to The Economic Times (ET). The formal announcement is anticipated during the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit and Awards scheduled for January 18 and 19.

The proposed quantum computing hubs will initially be established in prominent higher education academic institutions and government research and development (R&D) centers. The development of comprehensive computing strength is projected to take up to a decade.

The Union Cabinet had approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) in April 2023, allocating a total outlay of Rs. 6,003.65 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2030-31. This initiative aims to boost research and development and create an innovative quantum technology ecosystem in India. Initially announced in the 2020 Budget with a commitment of about Rs 8,000 crore, the program faced delays of nearly two years.

A Nasscom-Avasant Research report in April highlighted nearly 100 government-supported projects related to quantum and allied technologies, with the potential for quantum technologies to add $280-310 billion of value to the Indian economy by 2030. The International Data Corporation (IDC) projected global customer spending for quantum computing to reach $8.6 billion by 2027. Experts believe that advancements in quantum computing will play a crucial role in solving complex problems in healthcare, energy, drug design, and space applications.

As part of the NQM, four thematic hubs (T-Hubs) will focus on quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices. This move has been welcomed by the tech industry, with Indian firms like TCS, IBM, and Tech Mahindra actively pursuing research and development in quantum computing.

In October 2023, the government also considered a proposal to set up a cluster of 25,000 GPUs under public-private partnerships to support Indian companies working on artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

Apart from the investment in computing hubs, the government is expected to announce the adoption of most proposals from seven working groups on AI submitted in October last year. These suggestions encompass setting up a data management office, a national center for AI, skilling initiatives, and ensuring the responsible implementation of a national AI strategy.

BS