{"id":25390,"date":"2025-07-17T13:18:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-17T10:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/india-backs-quantum-startup-qpiai\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T13:18:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T10:18:38","slug":"india-backs-quantum-startup-qpiai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/india-backs-quantum-startup-qpiai\/","title":{"rendered":"India backs \u2018quantum\u2019 startup QpiAI"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>QpiAI, an Indian startup focused on combining artificial intelligence and quantum computing, has raised $32 million in a new Series A round. The government of India participated as a co-investor, reports <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/07\/16\/india-eyes-global-quantum-computer-push-and-qpiai-is-its-chosen-vehicle\/\">TechCrunch<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The funds will be directed towards developing industrial-scale quantum computers for the global market.<\/p>\n<p>The government became one of the lead investors under India\u2019s National Quantum Mission. Avataar Ventures also took part. The round valued the company at $162 million.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">India bets on quantum computing<\/h2>\n<p>The new financing underscores India\u2019s ambition to bolster its high-tech credentials. In April 2023 the government <a href=\"https:\/\/dst.gov.in\/national-quantum-mission-nqm\">launched<\/a> the National Quantum Mission, positioning the field as a strategic sector for the economy, science and social security.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative\u2019s main goals include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>development of quantum computers \u2014 building intermediate machines with 50\u20131000 physical qubits within eight years;<\/li>\n<li>development of superconducting communication \u2014 satellite communications, intercity and multi-node networks, transmission based on quantum cryptography;<\/li>\n<li>development of sensors and materials \u2014 magnetometers and gravity sensors, superconductors, topological and semiconductor structures;<\/li>\n<li>formation of national infrastructure and a talent pool \u2014 opening four thematic hubs, and supporting startups, laboratories and academies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The project\u2019s total budget is 60.3 billion rupees ($750 million). Funding is allocated to research, development, infrastructure and training.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">QpiAI\u2019s plans<\/h2>\n<p>The Bengaluru-based company, with subsidiaries in the US and Finland, says it has built the country\u2019s first fully functional quantum computer, QpiAI-Indus. It went live in April with 25 superconducting qubits.<\/p>\n<p>The firm integrates artificial intelligence and quantum computing to optimise processes across sectors:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>manufacturing;<\/li>\n<li>industry;<\/li>\n<li>transport;<\/li>\n<li>finance;<\/li>\n<li>pharmaceuticals;<\/li>\n<li>materials science.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The company develops both specialised software and its own hardware to apply quantum solutions to real-world tasks \u2014 from discovering new materials to drug development.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cQuantum technologies can make AI truly sustainable,\u201d said QpiAI founder and CEO Nagendra Nagaraja.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The company sees simulation, drug synthesis and materials discovery as key areas where the combination of AI and quantum computing provides a competitive edge.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe space of possible configurations of a superconducting chip is very large. To obtain optimal qubits \u2014 and this is critically important when integrating thousands of qubits to create error-corrected logical qubits \u2014 AI plays a key role,\u201d Nagaraja said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>QpiAI plans to roll out a 64-qubit quantum computer in November, with customer access in the second or third quarter of next year.<\/p>\n<p>The company plans to start production in India in 2026 of hardware designed for this new type of computing. About 80% of components are currently assembled in-house.<\/p>\n<p>The startup employs about 100 people, including 25 <span data-descr=\"Doctor of Philosophy \u2014 the highest academic degree awarded for conducting original scientific research in a chosen field\" class=\"old_tooltip\">PhD<\/span> specialists from Indian and overseas research institutions. Roughly 50 are based in the country. The company has about 20 clients, including the Government of India, which uses the infrastructure to test algorithms.<\/p>\n<p>The company says it has been profitable for three years in a row.<\/p>\n<p>Proceeds from the new round will fund entry into the markets of Singapore and the Middle East, the development of local manufacturing and the scaling of R&amp;D. By 2030 the company plans to build a system with 100 logical qubits.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other programme participants<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>QpiAI is one of eight startups selected for the National Quantum Mission. Each received an initial grant of up to $3.5 million. Programme support also covers:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>QNu Labs \u2014 quantum-secure networks;<\/li>\n<li>Dimira Technologies \u2014 cryogenic cables;<\/li>\n<li>PrenishQ \u2014 laser diodes;<\/li>\n<li>QuPrayog \u2014 optical atomic clocks;<\/li>\n<li>Quanastra \u2014 cryogenic systems and superconducting detectors;<\/li>\n<li>Pristine Diamonds \u2014 materials for diamond-based sensors;<\/li>\n<li>Quan2D Technologies \u2014 single-photon detectors for quantum communication.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe will continue to support domestic companies like QpiAI so that they can grow into large-scale enterprises and strengthen India\u2019s position as a global leader,\u201d said Ajay Choudhri, chair of the National Quantum Mission.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>AI in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Alongside quantum, India has in recent years stepped up the development of artificial intelligence as a driver of economic growth and national security. The government has crafted strategies and programmes at the national level, set up dedicated institutions and bodies for AI deployment, and launched projects across sectors.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2018 the official think-tank NITI Aayog <a href=\"https:\/\/ru.qazscience.gov.kz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/India_Artificial_Intelligence_ru.pdf\">presented<\/a> the National AI Strategy, laying the groundwork for subsequent years. It frames artificial intelligence as a tool for socio-economic development, with a focus on healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>The strategy emphasises the principle of \u201cAI for All\u201d \u2014 broad and accessible use of the technology in the public interest. In 2021 NITI Aayog updated the framework, strengthening the focus on responsible and ethical AI.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023 the <a href=\"https:\/\/dic.gov.in\/india-ai\/\">IndiaAI Mission<\/a> was launched \u2014 a centralised platform with <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/india-allocates-1-25-billion-for-ai-development\">a budget of about $1.25 billion<\/a>. The initiative aims to develop infrastructure and data centres, support startups, and create a national cloud service for neural networks and an open AI model.<\/p>\n<p>In parallel, India\u2019s armed forces are actively adopting artificial intelligence in intelligence, surveillance, control of <span data-descr=\"unmanned aerial vehicle\" class=\"old_tooltip\">UAVs<\/span>, cybersecurity and autonomous weapons systems.<\/p>\n<p>The Ministry of Defence <a href=\"https:\/\/indiaai.gov.in\/news\/the-army-deploys-140-ai-based-surveillance-systems-to-enhance-border-security?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">launched<\/a> several pilot programmes, including an AI-based surveillance system on the borders and Project Udbhav, aimed at integrating neural networks into military doctrine. In 2023 <span data-descr=\"Defence Research and Development Organisation under India\u2019s Ministry of Defence\" class=\"old_tooltip\">DRDO<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/news\/defence\/drdo-scientists-working-on-humanoid-robot-for-military-missions-to-reduce-risk-for-troops\/articleshow\/121050767.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com&#038;from=mdr\">presented<\/a> its own AI developments, including autonomous robots and threat-detection systems.<\/p>\n<p>Artificial intelligence is being actively deployed in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2113683&#038;utm_source=chatgpt.com\">healthcare<\/a> (diagnostics, medicine), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weforum.org\/stories\/2024\/01\/how-indias-ai-agriculture-boom-could-inspire-the-world\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">agriculture<\/a> (precision farming, crop forecasting), <a href=\"https:\/\/economictimes.indiatimes.com\/news\/economy\/finance\/npci-expands-ai-use-to-enhance-customer-safety-in-digital-transactions\/articleshow\/119908097.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com&#038;from=mdr\">finance<\/a> (anti-fraud, credit scoring), and in <a href=\"https:\/\/analyticsindiamag.com\/ai-features\/cbse-fails-to-deliver-on-ai-education-as-curriculum-falls-flat\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">education<\/a> \u2014 via digital platforms and adaptive learning.<\/p>\n<p>In August 2024, a group of researchers from India <a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/news\/india-utilises-ai-to-detect-tuberculosis\">began using<\/a> a Google AI model to detect tuberculosis by analysing coughs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>QpiAI, an Indian startup focused on combining artificial intelligence and quantum computing, has raised $32 million in a new Series A round. The government of India participated as a co-investor, reports TechCrunch. The funds will be directed towards developing industrial-scale quantum computers for the global market. The government became one of the lead investors under [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25389,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"select":"","news_style_id":"","cryptorium_level":"","_short_excerpt_text":"","creation_source":"","_metatest_mainpost_news_update":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[438,278,575,1360],"class_list":["post-25390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-artificial-intelligence","tag-india","tag-quantum-computers","tag-quantum-computing"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"views":"113","promo_type":"","layout_type":"","short_excerpt":"","is_update":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25390","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25390\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forklog.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}