The establishment of the South Asian University Quantum Computing Policy Research & Capacity Building Center (QCPRCBC) represents a transformative strategic initiative aligned with India’s long-term technological sovereignty, national security, and innovation ambitions. The Center has the potential to emerge as a premier South Asian hub for quantum policy, governance, research coordination, applications development, and international collaboration.

At South Asian University

Vision 2035

To help establish India as a global leader in Quantum Computing, Quantum Cryptography, Quantum Communications, and Quantum Artificial Intelligence (Quantum AI) by 2035 through strategic policymaking, advanced research collaboration, international partnerships, innovation ecosystems, and capacity building.

National Goal

To contribute toward making India a self-reliant quantum superpower and a global exporter of trusted quantum technologies, policy frameworks, talent, and innovation ecosystems by 2035.

Strategic Rationale

Quantum Computing is rapidly emerging as one of the most consequential strategic technologies of the 21st century. It is expected to redefine:

• National Security
• Cybersecurity & Post-Quantum Cryptography
• Artificial Intelligence & Quantum AI
• Financial Systems & Economic Modeling
• Drug Discovery & Healthcare
• Defence Technologies
• Climate Modeling
• Telecommunications & Quantum Networks
• Advanced Materials & Semiconductor Research
• Strategic Governance and Digital Sovereignty

Recognizing the geopolitical and technological implications of the quantum revolution, South Asian University is establishing the Quantum Computing Policy Research & Capacity Building Center (QCPRCBC) as a multidisciplinary strategic platform integrating policy, law, governance, technology, innovation, and regional cooperation.

Core Objectives

1. Strategic Policy Planning & Coordination Advisory

• Develop national and regional quantum policy frameworks
• Support ministries, regulators, and strategic agencies
• Advise on quantum governance, ethics, standards, and security
• Develop strategic roadmaps for quantum adoption
• Facilitate inter-governmental coordination

2. Global Talent Engagement

• Engage leading international quantum scientists and researchers
• Establish visiting scholar and distinguished fellow programs
• Create global academic-industry-government collaboration networks
• Build partnerships with international quantum centers and laboratories

3. Startup & Industry Enablement

• Support quantum technology startups and innovation ecosystems
• Facilitate incubation, acceleration, and commercialization
• Promote academia-industry collaboration
• Develop quantum innovation clusters
• Encourage indigenous quantum hardware and software ecosystems

4. Export & Global Outreach Strategy

• Position India as a trusted exporter of quantum technologies and services
• Promote strategic technology diplomacy
• Develop South Asian and Global South quantum cooperation frameworks
• Facilitate international research and industrial partnerships
• Support standards harmonization and interoperability initiatives

5. Capacity Building & Workforce Development

• Develop specialized quantum curricula and certification programs
• Train policymakers, diplomats, regulators, researchers, and engineers
• Organize workshops, executive programs, hackathons, and bootcamps
• Build a skilled quantum-ready workforce for the region
• Promote interdisciplinary education in Quantum + AI + Cybersecurity

6. Intellectual Property & Patent Ecosystem

• Promote indigenous quantum patents and innovation
• Support technology transfer and commercialization
• Develop policy frameworks for quantum intellectual property protection
• Encourage research publications, standards contributions, and patent filing ecosystems

7. Awareness & Applications Development

• Promote public awareness and strategic understanding of quantum technologies
• Develop pilot applications in governance, healthcare, finance, agriculture, and cybersecurity
• Encourage indigenous software tools and simulation platforms
• Conduct strategic foresight and impact assessment studies

Quantum Lab & Applications Development Centre

The Center is also establishing an advanced Quantum Lab & Applications Development Centre to promote practical experimentation, applications research, and collaborative innovation.

Key Focus Areas

Quantum Computing Platforms

Exploration and integration with major cloud-based quantum computing ecosystems, including:

• IBM Quantum
• Google Quantum AI
• Microsoft Azure Quantum
• Amazon Web Services Braket
• D-Wave Systems
• Rigetti Computing
• IonQ
• Quantinuum

Research & Applications Domains

Quantum Cybersecurity

• Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)
• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)
• Quantum-safe networks
• National cyber resilience

Quantum AI

• Quantum Machine Learning (QML)
• Hybrid AI-Quantum architectures
• Optimization and intelligent systems

Strategic & Policy Research

• • Quantum governance frameworks
  • International law and standards
  • Ethical AI and Quantum policy
  • Geopolitical implications of quantum supremacy

Scientific Computing

• • • Advanced simulation
    • Climate and energy modeling
    • Drug discovery
    • Computational chemistry

Regional & International Collaboration

The Center aims to establish strategic partnerships with:

• • • Government ministries and strategic agencies
    • National laboratories and supercomputing centers
    • International universities and quantum institutes
    • Defence and cybersecurity organizations
    • Semiconductor and deep-tech industries
    • SAARC and Global South research institutions

The Center will also work toward creating a South Asian Quantum Cooperation Framework for collaborative research, talent exchange, policy harmonization, and regional innovation.

Proposed Flagship Initiatives

• • • South Asian Quantum Summit
    • Quantum Policy & Governance Forum
    • National Quantum Capacity Building Mission
    • Quantum Innovation Challenge & Hackathons
    • Quantum Diplomacy & Strategic Technology Dialogues
    • Quantum AI Research Consortium
    • Post-Quantum Cybersecurity Initiative
    • Quantum Startup Accelerator Program

Long-Term Strategic Outcomes

By 2035, QCPRCBC aims to contribute toward:

• • A globally competitive Indian quantum ecosystem
  • Indigenous quantum technology capabilities
  • Strategic technological self-reliance
  • Quantum-secure national infrastructure
  • International leadership in quantum governance and policy
  • Large-scale workforce development
  • Export-oriented quantum innovation and services