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During India Mobile Congress 2025 (IMC-2025), in a move that will shape the future of quantum technology education in India, Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Government of Karnataka (Public State University), one of India’s largest technical universities, is partnering with QNu Labs to establish a first-of-its-kind Quantum Communication Lab. The facility will be set up at the University's Research and Industry Incubation Facility in Bangalore.
With over 200 affiliated engineering colleges under its wing, the university educates 4 Lakh students every year. This partnership represents a major step forward in making quantum technology accessible to the next generation of Indian engineers and researchers.
“Under the visionary leadership of Honourable Vice Chancellor Dr. Vidyashankar S, VTU is committed to ensuring future skilling of students in collaboration with QNu Labs for Quantum Technologies”, stated by an ex-Navy Officer, Dr. Cdr. Devendra Singh, Director, (Research and Development), (Aerospace, Defence and Allied Programs). He further added, "This partnership reflects VTU's commitment to prepare students for Viksit Bharat-2047 by aligning with the National Quantum Mission (NQM). It will further strengthen our strategic military capabilities and fulfil the objective of Atmanirbhar Bharat”.
"We're excited to work with a university that's taking such a bold step into quantum education," said Sunil Gupta (CEO QNu Labs). "This isn't just about setting up a lab; it's about creating a sustainable ecosystem where students and faculty will actually work with quantum systems and understand what this technology means for India's future."
“Quantum technology is no longer a distant future; it's here, and our students need to be ready for it”, stated Dr. Ajith Padyana, Director, VTU-VRIF Centre for Deep Technologies.
The collaboration will roll out across key areas over the coming months, as stated by VTU leadership.
The new lab will give students and faculty hands-on experience with working quantum technologies, which are typically only found deep inside research facilities. QNu Labs is partnering to design and install this infrastructure, ensuring it's both robust enough for real-world research and easily accessible for educational learning.
Faculty development is a key pillar of this partnership. Faculty from the university's various colleges will receive specialised training to effectively teach quantum concepts and supervise student work. This is vital because the quantum field requires educators who can translate complex physics principles into practical engineering applications.
Students will soon be able to enrol in various different programs focused on quantum technology. These programs are designed to give engineering students from different branches.
QNu Labs will help establish a comprehensive quantum lab facility equipped with cutting-edge technology and resources, majorly focusing on Aerospace and Defence. This facility will serve as a hub for practical learning and experimentation in quantum technologies.
Faculty Development Programs: The initiative includes specialised training programs to upskill professors and researchers, empowering them to effectively teach and conduct research in quantum technologies across the university's many affiliated colleges.
Introducing Student Minor Degrees in Quantum: The university to introduce minor degree programs in quantum technology, allowing students from various engineering disciplines to gain foundational knowledge and hands-on experience in this emerging field.
Potential Master's Degree Program: Building on the foundation of the minor degrees, the collaboration envisions launching a dedicated master's program in Quantum Technology, creating specialised graduates ready to contribute to India's quantum ecosystem.
Industry and Academia Collaboration: The lab will function as a central resource for all colleges within the university's network, effectively democratizing access to quantum technology education across its extensive affiliated institutions throughout Karnataka. This hub will also facilitate collaborative learning with industry partners.
Perhaps most importantly, this lab is designed as a central hub that multiple colleges in the university network can access. This structure will effectively democratize access to quantum education across the whole of Karnataka.
This timing is ideal, aligning perfectly with both India's National Quantum Mission and Karnataka's goal to become a major quantum technology hub. With the potential to benefit hundreds of thousands of engineering students, this partnership is poised to play a significant role in building the specialized quantum workforce India needs to support its national ambitions.
The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) is a prominent public state university, established in 1998 and headquartered in Belagavi, Karnataka. Named after Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya, it is a massive educational hub, affiliating over 200 engineering colleges across the state and catering to more than four lakh students in undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs.
VTU is renowned for its uniform curriculum, innovative digital evaluation reforms, and robust industry collaborations, positioning it as a key institution for advancing technical education and research in India. Through its regional centres and continuous program adaptation, the university actively meets evolving industry and societal demands.
Specifically, the Visvesvaraya Technological University, VRIF TCoE Centre serves as a focal point for advanced research and industry partnerships in cutting-edge, emerging technologies and the establishment of Research and Development, including Aerospace and Defence Department.
