Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has joined the IBM Quantum Network, making it the first institution in India to join the network. As a member of the network, IIT Madras will get cloud-based access to IBM’s advanced quantum computing systems and quantum expertise to explore practical applications, and realise the wide-ranging benefits of this technology.
IIT Madras’ Centre for Quantum Information, Communication and Computing (CQuICC) will focus on advancing core algorithms in research areas such as quantum machine learning, quantum optimisation, and applications research in finance. Researchers from IIT Madras will contribute to the advancement of research in the application of quantum computing with support from IBM Research India in such domains that are relevant to the country.
Commenting on the development, Sandip Patel, managing director, IBM India, said, “The collaboration will open new avenues to work with industry partners to accelerate research, make quantum real and create a vibrant quantum ecosystem in India. We believe the joint work will contribute towards the country’s National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications to grow and prepare India for the future, further advancing the country as one of the global powerhouses in computing.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Prabha Mandayam, associate professor, Department of Physics, IIT Madras, said, “Becoming a part of the IBM Quantum Network will provide our faculty direct access to state-of-the-art quantum hardware and software. It enables us to use our interdisciplinary expertise to tackle some of the challenging problems in the domain of quantum computing today. In short, it gives us a unique opportunity to play an active and direct role in this quantum revolution of our times.”
