Tremendous expansion of business and explosion of data will make the traditional computers inadequate for the computational requirements expected of them. Research today focuses on quantum computing (QC) which exploits the principles of quantum mechanics. Quantum computing is amazingly faster, much more faster than the traditional supercomputers. The reason for this is the reliance of traditional computing on bits to process information, whereas a QC uses qubits to run multi-dimensional algorithms. It means a quantum computer does not have to wait for the completion of one process to start another.

QC requires a lot of research both on the hardware and software side. QC has the potential to deal with complex and large datasets. Quantum technology has a potential use across the value chain of every industry. It is possible that out of such usage, many novel products may emerge. There could be solutions which are unimaginable today.

India will need a quantum workforce. There could be diverse skill sets in the workforce — technicians, physicists, data scientists, material scientists, software developers and business people who can use QC profitably. IIT, Madras has set up a QNu Labs. IIT Madras will get cloud-based access to IBM’s advanced QC systems. There is tremendous enthusiasm in India for IBM’s quantum computers. IBM has provided over-the-cloud access of its quantum systems to IISER, Pune and IISC, Bangalore and various IITs.

Algorithms will require a fresh relook. We will have to focus on quantum-inspired algorithms that can benefit people who do classical computing.

There is a whole new area of quantum materials. Miniaturisation dealing with basic building blocks of matter such as electrons and protons or even smaller particles may be a different ballgame. These particles may not observe the laws of classical physics. Certain crystals have thin layers which are one lac times thinner than human hair.

To make quantum-mechanics-based devices, it is necessary to learn the properties of 2D materials by a method called Faraday rotation spectroscopy. In the traditional method, one wave length of transmitted light is examined, before moving on to the next wavelength. It takes a lot of time to study the full spectrum. These days the entire spectrum as a whole can be studied instead of studying each wavelength separately.

Different governments are supporting QC. China has announced a funding of $15.3 billion, the EU $7.2 billion and the US $1.9 billion for QC. India in 2020 earmarked Rs.8000 crore to set up the National Mission for Quantum Technologies and Applications.

QC can be applied in drug discovery and development battery technology, logistics and route optimisation, climate change and financial risk modelling.