Amaravati set to leapfrog in quantum computing race; unit to be inaugurated in Feb 2027 | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Amaravati is set to cross a key milestone in India’s quantum computing journey by Oct-end, when the Andhra Pradesh govt hands over the Quantum Computer Centre building to IBM, which can then start moving its advanced Quantum System Two into the specially built facility in the state capital. Parts of the machine have already reached India from the US, with commissioning targeted for Dec 2026 or Jan 2027.The installation will give India one of its most advanced quantum computing facilities, allowing researchers, universities, startups and businesses to work with cutting-edge quantum hardware located within the country. The facility is expected to be formally inaugurated in the first week of Feb 2027.

“After we got the approvals for the shipment, the shipment process began in Sept from the US. The systems are being shipped part by part, and some components have already landed at IBM’s Bengaluru warehouse,” CV Sridhar, mission director, Andhra Pradesh State Quantum Mission, told TOI.Unlike conventional computers, which process information using bits that represent either 0 or 1, quantum computers use qubits that can exploit quantum properties to perform certain kinds of calculations differently. Scientists hope they will eventually help solve complex problems in drug discovery, materials research and other fields that are difficult for even today’s most powerful supercomputers. Current quantum machines, however, remain largely research tools.For India, the Amaravati installation will mean having advanced quantum computing infrastructure on its own soil, rather than relying solely on access to machines overseas. It will also provide a base for developing Indian expertise in quantum algorithms and applications.“A lot of testing has already been completed in the US. Once the remaining systems arrive, basic testing and commissioning will be carried out here before the launch. The overall timeline is within a maximum of three months, and we have kept a buffer in the schedule,” Sridhar said.The Quantum Computer Centre, a circular, two-storeyed building on a two-acre site near the upcoming AP legislature complex, is expected to be ready by the end of Oct. It will anchor the Amaravati Quantum Valley project, which brings together IBM, TCS, L&T and academic institutions including IIT Madras and IIT Tirupati.IBM Research India director and IBM India and South Asia CTO Amith Singhee said the company intends to install its most advanced available quantum processor. The exact configuration has yet to be finalised, though current IBM systems operate with roughly 120-150 or more qubits per chip.The computer will remain IBM-owned and operated, with Indian researchers, universities, startups, enterprises and govt agencies accessing it through a service model.Work on potential applications has already begun. Andhra Pradesh has launched a programme to develop 100 quantum computing use cases, drawing on problems identified by govt departments, industry and startups.One project involves exploring whether quantum-based optimisation techniques can improve the deployment and routing of the state’s 731 ambulances under its 108 emergency service. Four startups are participating. Other proposed applications range from electricity distribution and factory scheduling to drug discovery and materials research.