Karnataka eyes $20 billion quantum economy; aims to outpace southern rivals

Aiming to ride the quantum wave in India and challenging other southern states, Karnataka is set to launch its ‘Quantum Action Plan,’ which will focus on research, manufacturing, education, and industry support. The state’s science and technology minister, NS Boseraju, told ET that though the technology is very nascent in India, Karnataka sees it as a big opportunity and is ready to provide the necessary incentives for startups and researchers.

“We want to build a quantum advantage-driven economy by 2035. Through this initiative, the state will target $20 billion in economic value creation over the next decade,” he said ahead of the two-day Quantum India Bengaluru Summit to be held from July 31.

While Andhra Pradesh’s Amaravati is looking to become the quantum innovation hub, Karnataka has the edge with its strong tech base and infrastructure, Boseraju said. The neighbouring state announced the Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration earlier in July. Under the initiative, Andhra Pradesh will develop a 50-acre Quantum Valley Tech Park built by L&T. The project aims to host India’s first major quantum computing environment by IBM’s 156-qubit Quantum System Two by early 2026.

“Other states are now beginning to show interest, but we are ahead in this effort. We’ve already partnered with IISc and allocated land to support niche work in this domain,” the minister said, referring to the state cabinet’s clearance of the second phase of the Quantum Research Park worth ₹48 crore.

Hoping not to miss the quantum bus the way it did with semiconductors, the government said it is actively identifying and securing land around Bengaluru to provide all the infrastructure entrepreneurs may need. “Unlike other states that focus only on service centres, Karnataka wants to own the tech, intellectual property, and production,” the science and tech minister said.

The department will be holding a high-level meeting on Wednesday with the ministers for industries, IT/BT, and higher education, along with entrepreneurs. “One of the agenda points is about quantum-specific IP frameworks, startup schemes, and whether we need a separate research fund or quantum fellowship programme,” Boseraju said. He added that the government is aware that quantum research requires significant patient capital for growth.

Karnataka wants to leverage quantum technology for health and education. “We already spend a significant amount on education and healthcare. By integrating quantum technologies, we hope to build better infrastructure and improve access, especially for the common man,” Boseraju said.