Karnataka Unveils Rs 1,000 Crore Quantum Mission to Build $20 Billion Economy by 2035, Bengaluru to be more Hitch city in India
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the launch of the Karnataka Quantum Mission (KQM), backed by a Rs 1,000 crore ($120 million) fund, aimed at developing a $20 billion quantum technology economy in the southern Indian state by 2035. Speaking at the inaugural edition of the ‘Quantum India Bengaluru’ summit, Siddaramaiah said the initiative forms a core part of Karnataka’s Quantum Vision 2035 and seeks to position the state as the “Quantum Capital of Asia.” “As the world marks 2025 as the International Year of Quantum, Karnataka is taking a decisive step forward with the launch of the Quantum Mission,” Siddaramaiah said at the event organised by the Karnataka Science and Technology Promotion Society (KSTePS) and the Department of Science & Technology, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)’s Quantum Technology Initiative (IQTI). The mission aims to generate 10,000 high-skilled jobs, support cutting-edge research and development, and attract global partnerships, he added. A Quantum Technology Task Force will be set up to shape policy, while the state will also develop dedicated infrastructure including quantum parks, a Q-City innovation hub, and specialised manufacturing zones to support startups and component makers. “Q-City will do for quantum technology what Bengaluru did for the IT revolution in India,” Siddaramaiah said. Karnataka’s strategy rests on five key pillars: talent development, R&D, infrastructure creation, industry support, and international collaboration. The government plans to introduce quantum skilling programmes in over 20 colleges and support 150 PhD fellowships annually to create a strong talent pipeline. The mission also includes plans to build India’s first Quantum Hardware Park, four innovation zones, and a dedicated fabrication line to enable domestic production of quantum components. The state aims to develop 1,000-qubit processors and test real-world applications in healthcare, defence and cybersecurity, Siddaramaiah said.
