Quantum computing may one day revolutionize industry and society around the world. As we stand on the brink of this new era, India is making strategic moves to position itself as a global leader in quantum technology. With the launch of the National Quantum Mission and recent advances in the field, India’s quantum landscape is rapidly evolving and the country is poised to harness the transformative potential of this emerging technology.
As quantum hardware advances to the point where it will demonstrate utility beyond what today’s best supercomputers can simulate with brute force, we will realize the quantum advantage: quantum computers solve concrete practical science. We have the opportunity to develop quantum algorithms that approach the stage. They can solve industry problems much faster and more efficiently than traditional supercomputers alone.
Significant progress has been made in the development of quantum algorithms, especially for simulating biological and chemical systems. A notable recent development in India’s quantum journey is that faculty and students from IIT Madras and IBM are collaborating on protein folding using quantum computers. Protein folding is a complex problem that is difficult to solve efficiently with conventional computers, but is critical to understanding disease mechanisms and developing new drugs.
How proteins fold into functional three-dimensional structures can be tracked by quantum interactions between atoms within the protein molecule. As quantum modeling and algorithmic methods improve, they may address several useful applications in materials science, high-energy physics, and quantum chemistry. The collaboration between IIT and IBM is an important step in demonstrating how quantum computing can provide solutions to challenging medical challenges such as drug development. We will also highlight the exciting work that Indian scientists are doing in the field of quantum algorithms.
As the quantum era progresses, Indian organizations need to take deliberate steps to prepare for and capitalize on the opportunities that quantum computing presents. The first and most important step is to invest in research and development of quantum algorithms. Organizations across sectors need to strengthen their research and development departments to focus on quantum computing, foster innovation, and position themselves to lead global progress.
To achieve this, collaboration between academia and industry is essential to accelerate the development and deployment of quantum applications in India. Academic institutions are powerhouses of basic research, driving the discovery of new quantum phenomena and the development of quantum algorithms. Meanwhile, industry partners provide the resources, expertise, and practical framework needed to scale these innovations that contribute to social causes.
