IIT-Delhi sets up Centre of Excellence on Quantum Technologies, here is all you need to know

The aim of the Centre is to create synergy in the Institute’s activities and support the pitching in of significant projects from the DST and other funding agencies

TNN | Posted September 27, 2021 11:29 AM

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has set up a ‘Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Quantum Technologies’ to conduct research in the related areas. The aim of the Centre is to create synergy in the Institute’s activities and support the pitching in of significant projects from the DST and other funding agencies, reads the official notification from the institute.

With several countries like the USA, China, Japan, EU, UK having invested billions of dollars in this futuristic technology, the Government of India has also announced a commitment worth Rs 8000 crore in the area of Quantum Technology. In keeping with the need for future breakthroughs, and to bring research activities in various domains of Quantum Technologies under a single umbrella, IIT Delhi established the Centre to meet the rising demand.


Rajendra Singh, Head, School of Interdisciplinary Research (SIRe) and lead PI, CoE on Quantum Technologies, IIT Delhi said, “In the past 100 years or so, Quantum Physics has impacted the society in an unprecedented way. By exploiting the characteristics of quantum physics in light and materials, researchers invented both the laser and the transistor. Such inventions form the basis of information technology as a whole – computers, the internet, and much more besides – which to a large extent has shaped our society today. It was the first quantum revolution. The second quantum revolution is now round the corner, benefitting enormously from the advancements in our ability to detect and manipulate single quantum objects such as photons and atoms.”

He added further, ““The CoE on Quantum Technologies at IIT Delhi will focus on select thrust areas, which include Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing and Metrology and Quantum Materials and Devices.


Together with the design and development of new quantum materials that would be undertaken through the CoE, research activities related to Quantum Processor and cryogenic controller, modelling and technology development of semiconducting Qubits: CMOS and 2D materials, quantum sensing and metrology, quantum biophotonics, development of single-photon detectors and sources: Based on semiconductors (2D materials, III-V), superconductors, development of bright single and entangled photon sources based on SPDC, quantum secure communication in free space and optical, fibre, quantum imaging and sensing using quantum correlated photons would also be conducted, the official notification states.