State-led initiatives in quantum technology can serve as a valuable strategic edge for India’s ambitious National Quantum Mission, providing the spark necessary for transcending the Quantum Valley of Death
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While the National Quantum Mission (NQM) serves as India’s overarching framework for the development of quantum technology (QT), it is gradually being supplemented by state-led initiatives that aim to position themselves as global players within the QT development and supply-chain ecosystem. States such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana have emerged as pioneers in this regard and are making significant investments and efforts towards establishing domestic QT R&D and innovation hubs.
Given the long-term investment required by the technology, alongside complex infrastructure, workforce needs, and persistent challenges in technology translation and startup incubation, this is a welcome step towards India’s broader goal of becoming a global QT hub.
Given the long-term investment required by the technology, alongside complex infrastructure, workforce needs, and persistent challenges in technology translation and startup incubation, this is a welcome step towards India’s broader goal of becoming a global QT hub. As such, inter-state competition may emerge as a key distinguishing feature of India’s QT development landscape and could significantly accelerate the ambitious goals set out by the NQM.
Multiple Indian states have expressed an interest in developing localised QT ecosystems, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana gradually emerging as key players.
Following the adoption of the “Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration” in June 2025, the Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) launched the Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV) Initiative in November 2025. It has also approved the “Andhra Pradesh Quantum Computing Policy 2025–30” and established the Andhra Pradesh State Quantum Mission (APSQM) as the apex body for planning, coordination, and execution of QT programmes within the state. AQV aims to develop a living-lab QT infrastructure through Quantum Valley Towers; build domestic hardware supply chains via Quantum Hardware Parks; create an integrated skilling ecosystem; incubate startups through funding and regulatory support; and foster global collaboration through a Global Quantum Collaboration Council. To accelerate these goals, a range of incentives has been announced for startups, R&D projects, and hardware manufacturers.
Multiple Indian states have expressed an interest in developing localised QT ecosystems, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana gradually emerging as key players.
The Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP) has announced multiple targets for 2026–2029, including the installation of three quantum computers based on different modalities, the capability to test over 1,000 new quantum algorithms, and the achievement of 1,000 logical qubits of quantum computing capacity. To achieve these goals, it is collaborating with multiple government and industry partners, including Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT), IBM, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). IBM, for instance, has announced the installation of its Quantum System Two at AQV. In February 2026, IBM and TCS also launched Quantum Cloud Services and a Quantum Innovation Centre at the AQV Foundation Ceremony. Additionally, at the India AI Impact Summit, NIELIT signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GoAP to establish India’s first dedicated Quantum and Artificial Intelligence University campus at AQV.
At its biennial Quantum India Bengaluru conference held in July 2025, the Government of Karnataka (GoK) announced an INR 1,000 crore Quantum Mission to create a US$ 20 billion QT economy within the state by 2035. This will be driven through the development of a quantum hardware park, four innovation zones, and a dedicated fabrication facility for QT components. It will also support 100 QT startups through a Quantum Venture Capital Fund. Additionally, GoK has allocated over six acres of land in Hessarghatta as part of its effort to establish Bengaluru as a “QCity,” which will also include a Quantum Materials Innovation Network.
Supported by the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS), GoK, the Quantum Research Park (QuRP) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru is helping to accelerate innovation, technology translation, and industry–academia collaboration in QT. KITS is also funding QuRP Seed Fund projects across various facets of QT, including quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, and quantum materials.
As part of its Telangana Rising Vision 2047 strategy, the Government of Telangana has announced its intention to be the first Indian state with a dedicated QT roadmap through its Telangana Quantum Strategy. The state is also in the process of establishing an INR 1,000 crore Young India Startup Fund, with a special emphasis on QT startups. Furthermore, Telangana plans to transform Hyderabad into India’s first “Quantum City” by creating a holistic QT ecosystem through multiple initiatives, including the establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in QT at IIIT Hyderabad and a collaboration with Switzerland’s QuantumBasel to set up India’s first Quantum Hub.
Compared with global leaders such as the United States and China, India’s QT investment is relatively modest, particularly in the private sector. In this context, state-led initiatives are helping address this impediment by attracting private and foreign investment. Furthermore, interstate competition can prompt other states to follow suit, with the added benefit that competitive models are especially effective at spurring innovation.
Compared with global leaders such as the United States and China, India’s QT investment is relatively modest, particularly in the private sector.
States can harness individual strengths to contribute unique components to India’s overall QT ecosystem. For instance, states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, and Gujarat can be particularly effective thanks to their relatively enhanced ease-of-doing-business, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies, tax incentives, subsidies, Intellectual Property (IP) protection, and manufacturing ecosystem, partly supported by the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) established therein. Given that these very states are also heavily involved in developing manufacturing and R&D ecosystems for other critical technologies, such as semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence, creating synergies with QT can be particularly valuable.
Other states can similarly be honed based on their distinct advantages and capabilities. For instance, in terms of Technology Readiness Levels, defence applications of QT are closest to fruition. As such, the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor can serve as an ideal location for establishing a QT ecosystem and executing similar projects. Similarly, given their abundance of critical mineral reserves, Jharkhand and Odisha can serve as prominent QT hardware manufacturing hubs.
Individual states can carve out their own niches in terms of R&D, hardware, and software, collectively building on national strengths while addressing individual gaps in the overall quantum value chain, thereby contributing versatility to an inherently complex QT ecosystem. To motivate states and encourage further competition, the Government of India can institute awards for those demonstrating the most progress, perhaps in the form of additional grants and incentives under the NQM.
In quantum technology, the primary obstacles to overall progress are technology translation and commercial viability, giving rise to the so-called “Valley of Death” dilemma.
In quantum technology, the primary obstacles to overall progress are technology translation and commercial viability, giving rise to the so-called “Valley of Death” dilemma. Export controls and supply chain chokepoints further impede progress. In this context, India’s state-led initiatives can play a pioneering role by attracting both domestic and foreign investment while fostering a localised supply chain and manufacturing ecosystem. They can also help address India’s brain-drain challenge by creating new jobs and providing opportunities for a talented domestic workforce—particularly important, given that workforce and talent development is the critical edge required for successful technology translation.
The Government of India and the NQM must capitalise on the momentum generated by pioneering states and incentivise others to follow suit. Furthermore, state-led QT initiatives can serve as a distinguishing factor, enhancing India’s overall QT strategy relative to global peers and potentially providing the spark needed to overcome the “Valley of Death.”
Prateek Tripathi is an Associate Fellow with the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology (CSST) at the Observer Research Foundation.
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Prateek Tripathi is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology. His work focuses on an emerging technologies and deep tech including quantum ...
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