India’s International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum

On April 14, 2025, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India released the first edition of the International Technology Engagement Strategy for Quantum (ITES-Q). This milestone aligns with the celebration of World Quantum Day and the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQST 2025), as designated by the United Nations. This strategy reflects India’s outward-facing roadmap to accelerate global collaboration, foster innovation, and align with the National Quantum Mission (NQM) for leadership in quantum science, technology, and innovation (QSTI).

Key Points

• Release Date: April 14, 2025 (World Quantum Day)
• Released by: Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
• Occasion: Coincides with World Quantum Day and IYQST 2025

Significance

• First-ever outward-looking strategy by India in the field of Quantum Science, Technology & Innovation (QSTI)
• Supports India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM)

Objectives of ITES-Q

• Accelerate discovery and innovation
• Promote adoption across critical sectors
• Enable strategic autonomy through quantum safety
• Facilitate bilateral and multilateral partnerships
• Support international standardisation efforts

Scope and Coverage

• Provides landscape analysis for stakeholders (government, academia, industry)

Covers global and national trends in,

• Investments in quantum technology
• Talent development
• Research and publications
• IP creation and startups
• Quantum hardware and supply chain ecosystem
• Industrial applications and activity

Investment Needs

• Quantum hardware development
• Reducing dependency on imports
• De-risking startup investments
• Creating markets for quantum products
• Standardisation: India must actively participate in defining global quantum standards

National Quantum Mission (NQM)

• Implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST)
• Covers the full lifecycle from R&D to commercialization

Utility of ITES-Q

• Helps Indian missions abroad in promoting India’s quantum leadership
• Enables partnerships with international stakeholders
• Adds value to policymaking and industry collaboration