Bengaluru, India – Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru has officially launched a state-of-the-art 25-qubit quantum computing facility, marking a significant step in India's burgeoning quantum technology landscape. Named the Manipal House of Quantum, or Quantum-Hub@MAHE, the facility will provide students and researchers with hands-on access to advanced quantum hardware and related technologies.
The new hub, inaugurated at the MAHE Bengaluru campus, is designed to be a focal point for quantum engineering, research, hardware testing, and specialized training. It aligns with national efforts to build a robust quantum technology ecosystem in India.
Expanding Quantum Capabilities and Training Future Engineers
The facility begins operations with a 25-qubit open-architecture dilution refrigeration system. This initial phase is part of an ambitious expansion plan to scale up from sub-50-qubit training systems to 150-qubit proof-of-concept platforms, with a long-term vision to develop industrial-grade quantum product systems exceeding 1,000 qubits.
A primary goal of MIT Bengaluru is to train 100 quantum engineers by December 2026. The institution will also conduct quantum awareness programs, including summer and winter camps for high school students across rural India, alongside short-term hands-on programs and training initiatives for technical professionals. Faculty members and students from both the Bengaluru and Manipal campuses have already completed specialized training, including sessions at the QuantrolOx laboratory at QuTech, TU Delft, in the Netherlands, covering critical areas like cryogenic systems and superconducting quantum hardware.
Sridhar Vembu, Chief Scientist & Co-Founder of Zoho Corp, who was the chief guest at the launch, emphasized the transformative potential of quantum computing. “Q-HUB is a place for students to dream, think deeply and turn their ideas into conviction and action,” Vembu stated. He drew parallels between quantum computing's potential for the current generation and the impact of personal computers and the internet on his own.
Applications and Industry Collaboration
The Manipal House of Quantum will support learning and research across diverse fields, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, oncology, aerospace, and advanced computing. Beyond academic pursuits, the facility will facilitate application development, testing, component innovation, and deep-tech start-up incubation.
The initiative has forged strong industry partnerships through Memorandums of Agreement with QuantrolOx of Finland (in association with Bluefors of Finland), Qblox of the Netherlands, and ConScience of Sweden. The first-year roadmap includes key objectives such as workforce development, hardware experimentation, intellectual property co-development, and establishing a national testing infrastructure. Researchers, start-ups, and industry partners will also gain access to the quantum testing and measurement infrastructure.
Dr. Sharath K Rao, Vice Chancellor, MAHE, highlighted MAHE's commitment to fostering advanced scientific capabilities. “By creating access to modern quantum infrastructure, we aim to contribute meaningfully to India's growing quantum ecosystem,” he noted. Prof. Iven Jose, Director, MIT Bengaluru, added that the facility would provide invaluable exposure to real quantum systems and engineering environments, crucial for developing the next generation of quantum scientists and innovators.