National Quantum Mission

What National Quantum Mission does

The National Quantum Mission (NQM) is a Government of India initiative launched in 2023 under the Department of Science & Technology, operating from New Delhi with an approved budget of ₹6,003.65 crore over 8 years. Its mandate is to advance India's technology self-reliance in quantum computing and quantum-secure communications, with stated targets of developing intermediate-scale quantum computers in the 50-1,000 qubit range (including a 1,000-qubit system by 2031) and a 2,500-kilometer quantum-secure communication network by 2031. The mission has progressed from a 7-qubit to a 64-qubit system, established four thematic hubs at leading IITs, and mobilized over 750 scientists and 40+ startups. NQM does not sell commercial products; instead it functions as a sovereign R&D and ecosystem-building program, deploying capital through direct startup investments (QNu Labs Series A, QpiAI funding round), co-invested university infrastructure (Alliance University 8-qubit system in Bengaluru), and planned facilities such as the Quantum Supremacy Center in Devanahalli and Quantum Testbeds in Andhra Pradesh.

Its primary stakeholders are Indian research institutions, quantum technology startups, defense forces, and government agencies, with the Quantum Valley initiative additionally targeting USD 1 billion in foreign and domestic investment by 2029. Chairman Ajai Chowdhry leads the mission, which frames the AI-quantum convergence as a strategic frontier. NQM's technology stack spans superconducting qubit systems, quantum key distribution, and post-quantum cryptography developed by portfolio companies, with applications routed toward defense, aerospace PSUs, enterprise technology users, and India's broader 8,000+ startup ecosystem.

Name

National Quantum Mission

Legal name

National Quantum Mission

Website

https://dst.gov.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The National Quantum Mission is a ₹6,003.65 crore Government of India initiative under the Department of Science & Technology that funds research, infrastructure, and startups to develop indigenous quantum computing and quantum-secure communications capabilities, serving research institutions, defense agencies, and quantum technology startups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Quantum Research Programs

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Tech Commercialization, IP, Tech Transfer & Venture Research (HDAGAMAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Standards, Testbeds & Open Research Infrastructure (HDAGAMAL), Quantum Communications, Networking & Quantum Internet Research (HDAGAMAH), Quantum Cryptography & Post-Quantum/Quantum-Safe Security Research (HDAGAMAI), Quantum Cloud Infrastructure & QPU Hosting (HDAGAIAA)

Keywords

• Quantum computing research
• Quantum communication networks
• Deep tech funding
• Government research grants
• Quantum key distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government funding allocation: ₹6,000 crore government-approved budget over 8 years allocated for quantum research, infrastructure development, and startup support
2. Strategic investment in startups: Government provides strategic investment in private deep tech startups working on quantum technologies - first such investment in quantum communications
3. Foreign and domestic investment attraction: Mission aims to attract USD 1 billion in foreign and domestic investment by 2029 through Quantum Valley initiative

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The National Quantum Mission funds and develops indigenous quantum computing systems and quantum-secure communication infrastructure in India, supporting research from intermediate-scale (50–1,000 qubit) quantum computers to a 2,500-kilometer quantum-secure network by 2031. It channels funding to research institutions and startups, mobilizes over 750 scientists across four IIT thematic hubs, and makes strategic investments in private deep tech firms working on quantum hardware and cybersecurity.

Product overview

The National Quantum Mission is a ₹6,003.65 crore Indian government initiative over 8 years aimed at achieving technology self-reliance in quantum technologies. The mission encompasses quantum testbeds providing access to intermediate-scale quantum computers (50-1,000 qubits), quantum-secure communication networks spanning 2,500 km, and strategic initiatives like 'Quantum Valley' targeting USD 1 billion investment by 2029. The ecosystem includes four thematic hubs at leading IITs, over 750 scientists, and more than 40 startups. Supporting entities like QNu Labs provide quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography solutions, while partnerships with companies like QpiAI enable commercial quantum computing access through installations such as India's first 8-qubit superconducting quantum computer and planned Quantum Supremacy Centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quantum Testbeds
• Quantum Computing Infrastructure
• Quantum-Secure Communication Network
• Quantum Valley
• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
• Post-Quantum Cryptography
• Quantum Supremacy Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Target: 1,000-qubit quantum computer by 2031
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Alliance UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 February 2026QpiAI partnered with Alliance University for a 50:50 co-investment to install India's first commercially available 8-qubit superconducting quantum computing system at Alliance University's Electronics City campus in Bengaluru. The center is expected to serve as a quantum computing hub for technology companies, defense PSUs, and India's startup ecosystem.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• U.S. National Quantum Initiative: The US federal quantum R&D program established by the National Quantum Initiative Act. Directly comparable to NQM as a national-level, government-funded mission to coordinate quantum computing, networking, and workforce programs — though with significantly larger appropriated funding.
• UK National Quantum Technologies Programme: A long-running UK government-funded program coordinating quantum hubs, testbeds, and commercialization across universities and industry. Most directly analogous to NQM in mission scope (computing + communications + standards + commercialization), and a natural bilateral partner.
• EU Quantum Flagship / Quantum Strategy: A €1B, 10-year European Commission initiative covering quantum computing, communication, simulation, and sensing R&D. Comparable to NQM as a multi-domain national/supranational quantum mission with funding hubs, testbeds, and explicit industrialization targets.
• Australia's National Quantum Strategy: Australia's national quantum strategy covering research, commercialization, and standards with explicit sovereign-capability framing. Similar government-led, multi-stakeholder model; useful peer for assessing strategy design and commercialization paths.
• China's National Laboratory for Quantum Information Science: The state-backed Chinese quantum R&D hub — though regional-rival rather than collaborator. Provides the strategic yardstick for qubit scale, satellite QKD deployment, and quantum networking that NQM benchmarks itself against.
• Canada's National Quantum Strategy: Canada's federal quantum strategy funding research, talent, and commercialization. Closely comparable in scope to NQM (computing + comms + cryptography), useful as a mid-size peer benchmark for funding mix and ecosystem outcomes.

Others

• QpiAI: An Indian quantum computing startup that received co-investment from NQM as part of a $32M funding round and is the operator behind India's first commercial 8-qubit system. Not a peer of NQM directly — it is a portfolio company — but operationally the closest adjacent entity since NQM's success in computing depends significantly on QpiAI.
• QNu Labs: An IIT-Madras incubated quantum cybersecurity startup that received NQM's first strategic deep-tech investment (₹60 crore Series A in 2025) for QKD and post-quantum cryptography. Ecosystem beneficiary rather than peer, but the principal private vehicle for NQM's secure-communications pillar.

Broad incumbents

• IBM Quantum: IBM's quantum division operates the most extensive public quantum hardware fleet and roadmap (Condor 1,121-qubit system) and an open developer ecosystem. A broad incumbent whose qubit count, hardware roadmap, and developer platform set the global benchmark that NQM-funded Indian players must measure against.
• Google Quantum AI: Google's quantum computing research division, a leader in superconducting qubits and error correction demonstrations. Acts as a global benchmark for NQM's 1,000-qubit ambition and an indirect competitor for talent and scientific credibility in the Indian ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/IndiaDST
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCl2D2pFgcfkwHgJy9OHambw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Department-of-Science-Technology-Govt-of-India-969734629779302
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nqm-dst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Quantum Mission