Karnataka Forms Quantum Task Force to Drive State’s Quantum Technology Ambitions

The Karnataka government has constituted a high-level Karnataka Quantum Task Force to accelerate the state's ambitions of becoming a national hub for quantum technology, research, innovation, and industrial adoption.

The Electronics, Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Science and Technology Department issued the order following the launch of the Karnataka Quantum Technology Roadmap at the recent Quantum India Bengaluru Summit. 

The task force has been mandated to oversee the implementation of the roadmap and provide strategic direction for the state's emerging quantum ecosystem.

Leading the 16-member committee is Prof Arindam Ghosh, JRD Tata Chair Professor and JC Bose National Fellow at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka, along with the Managing Director of Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS), will serve as the Member Secretary.

The task force brings together representatives from academia, research institutions, industry, startups, and government departments. Key academic and research members include Prof Urbasi Sinha of Raman Research Institute, Prof B Gurumoorthy of FSID-IISc, Prof Akshay Naik of Quantum Research Park, Ajith Padyana of VTU-VRIF Centre for Deep Technologies, Prof Rajesh Gopakumar of ICTS, and Taslimarif Saiyed of C-CAMP.

Industry representation includes L Venkata Subramanian, CEO of Qbit Force and former Head of IBM Quantum India, who was recently inducted into the Reserve Bank of India's expert committee on the Quantum Secure and Adaptive Financial Ecosystem (Q-SAFE). 

Other industry members include Nagendra Nagaraj of QPiAI, Naganand Doraswamy of IdeaSpring Capital, Wing Commander S Sudhakaran (Retd.) of QuGates Technologies, and Seema Ambastha of L&T Data Center and Cloud Services.

Senior government officials from the Commerce and Industries Department, the Higher Education Department, and the Department of ITBT and Science and Technology are also part of the committee.

According to the government order, the task force will play a central role in policy formulation, ecosystem development, startup support, talent creation, and industry engagement in quantum technologies. The committee will also advise on attracting investments and fostering collaborations between academia, industry, and government.

One of its most significant responsibilities will be guiding the development of critical quantum infrastructure projects, including the proposed Quantum City in Hesaraghatta, which is envisioned as a major hub for quantum research, innovation, startups, and advanced technology development.