Thu Mar 13 16:58:44 UTC 2025: ## IIT Kanpur to Lead India’s National Quantum Mission Hubs
**New Delhi, March 13, 2025** – The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur will serve as the management coordinating centre for four thematic hubs under India’s ambitious National Quantum Mission (NQM), announced on Wednesday. The NQM, launched in April 2023 with a budget of ₹6,003.65 crore over eight years, aims to develop advanced quantum computing technology.
The four hubs, located at IISc Bengaluru, IIT Mumbai, IIT Delhi, and IIT Chennai, will each receive approximately ₹1,500 crore in funding over the next year. Uttar Pradesh, where IIT Kanpur is located, received the largest initial allocation of ₹28.7 crore for 2024-25, although this is seed money and does not represent the total funding for the state. Other significant allocations went to Maharashtra (₹3.34 crore) and Karnataka (₹3.7 crore).
The NQM’s goals include developing intermediate-scale quantum computers with 20-50 qubits within three years, scaling up to 50-100 qubits in five years, and reaching 50-1000 qubits in eight years. The mission also targets advancements in secure quantum communications, both domestically and internationally, as well as the development of high-sensitivity magnetometers and atomic clocks.
DST Secretary Abhay Karandikar clarified that IIT Kanpur’s role is primarily managerial, coordinating the activities of the four technology hubs focusing on quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing & metrology, and quantum materials & devices. The hubs, which began operations two months ago, will receive their main allocations in the upcoming financial year. The mission seeks to leverage quantum mechanics to create significantly faster computers and highly secure communication networks.
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