Need to De-risk Investment in Startups: Principal Scientific Advisor
Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood (Image credit PIB)
India Unveils Strategy for Quantum Tech Engagement on World Quantum Day 2025
By Amit Kumar
New Delhi, April 14, 2025: Aiming global technology leadership, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India today released the first edition of the International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum (ITES-Q).
The announcement was made by Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood during a special podcast event to mark World Quantum Day 2025, a year with added global importance as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST) as designated by the United Nations.
This landmark strategy articulates India’s outward-facing approach to Quantum Science, Technology and Innovation (QSTI) and aims to accelerate discovery, foster innovation, and catalyse adoption of quantum technologies across critical sectors.
Addressing the nation’s growing interest in quantum technology, Prof. Sood emphasized the importance of creating markets and ecosystems to de-risk investments in startups. “We need to bring much more funds for startups and de-risk the investment — which means we need to create markets for the products,” he said. “All players — government, private sectors, academia, and startups — have a role in building this ecosystem.”
Prof. Sood also underlined the strategic necessity of global standard-setting in quantum technologies: “We need to be an active player in defining the global standards for Quantum Tech. Once we have that, we will play a role in standardisation efforts, and that leads to strategic autonomy. Our market is not only the Indian market but global.”
Piyush Goyal Riles Up Indian Startups with China Deep-Tech Mirror
National Quantum Mission and Hub-and-Spoke Model
While discussing the ongoing National Quantum Mission (NQM), Prof. Sood lauded the Department of Science and Technology (DST) for its efficient rollout under the leadership of its Secretary. He noted that the mission covers the entire life cycle of the technology—from fundamental R&D to translation, product development, and market scaling.
He also highlighted the hub-and-spoke model being implemented under NQM at a national scale, involving 152 researchers from 43 institutions across 17 states and 2 Union Territories, fostering a collaborative ecosystem for quantum advancement.
ITES-Q: A Framework for Global Engagement
The ITES-Q strategy report provides a foundational landscape analysis intended to guide domestic and international stakeholders — across government, academia, and industry — in developing context-specific action plans. It complements the ambitions of NQM and aligns with broader efforts across the ecosystem.
The report covers a comprehensive overview of global and national quantum ecosystems, analyzing ‘Investments and funding trends’; ‘Talent and skill development’; ‘Institutional capabilities and IP generation’; ‘Startups and industrial supply chains’; and ‘Bilateral and multilateral cooperation potential’.
Prof. Sood stressed that India must reduce its dependence on imports by investing in Quantum hardware and advancing in all areas of quantum computing to ensure quantum safety and strategic independence.
ITES-Q marks a bold step in India’s growing technology diplomacy, aiming to strengthen international collaborations and support Indian missions abroad in forging impactful partnerships in QSTI.
With the unveiling of this strategy on World Quantum Day 2025, India has signaled its commitment to being a global leader in quantum innovation, ensuring that it not only keeps pace with the world but helps shape its technological future.
Join the WhatsApp Channel of The Raisina Hills
Follow on Google News https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNK2vwsw39HWAw?hl=en-IN&gl=IN&ceid=IN%3Aen
About The Author
