IISc, Samsung open quantum lab to advance research in next-gen technology | India News
BENGALURU: The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Samsung Semiconductor India Research (SSIR) on Thursday inaugurated a Quantum Research Lab at IISc, aiming to strengthen India’s research capabilities in quantum technologies and advanced semiconductors.Supported by Samsung’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) funding, the lab supports research into quantum devices, cryogenic electronics (electronics operating at extremely low temperatures), and materials that could help develop future technologies.Quantum technologies exploit the unusual behaviour of matter at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. Unlike conventional computers, which use bits representing zero or one, quantum computers use quantum bits (qubits), which harness quantum effects to perform certain calculations in fundamentally different ways. Building reliable qubits and the systems to control them remains a major challenge.The new facility will focus on qubit characterisation, cryogenic electronics, quantum-device reliability, and single-photon sources and detectors. Single photons are individual particles of light that can carry quantum information, making them important for quantum communication and other applications.Researchers will also investigate two-dimensional (2D) materials, which are extremely thin and can have properties different from their bulk counterparts. The work includes exploring 2D-material-based quantum devices under cryogenic conditions.A key objective of the collaboration is to make specialised research infrastructure accessible to students and researchers beyond IISc. Such equipment can be expensive to acquire and operate, limiting opportunities for institutions without dedicated facilities. The lab aims to address this gap through structured training and research exposure.The partnership will also connect quantum research with semiconductor skills development through the India Semiconductor Workforce Development Program (ISWDP), which addresses gaps in device physics, process development, modelling, simulation, characterisation and reliability. Selected modules will cover quantum materials and devices, cryogenic electronics and qubit technologies.Prof Mayank Shrivastava, chair of IISc’s Department of Electronic Systems Engineering and lead for the two initiatives, said the aim was to build capabilities spanning semiconductor education and advanced research. He said the workforce programme was giving thousands of learners practical exposure to semiconductor workflows, while the new lab was advancing research into 2D-material-based quantum devices, including qubits and single-photon detectors.
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Samsung Semiconductor India Research managing director Rajesh Krishnan said semiconductors and quantum were poised to be the next wave of innovation, making talent critical to India’s technology ambitions, and industry-academia collaboration could create lasting impact through infrastructure, education and access.IISc director Prof Govindan Rangarajan said Samsung’s support had enabled IISc to strengthen frontier quantum research and semiconductor workforce development, complementing its larger role in advancing national capabilities in quantum computing and next-generation semiconductor technologies.The initiative comes as India seeks to expand domestic expertise in semiconductors and quantum technologies. By combining specialised facilities with wider access to training, the collaboration aims to strengthen research while developing talent for these emerging fields.
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