Mumbai, July 23 2022: IIT Madras and  leading Information Technology (IT) solutions provider Mphasis have joined to accelerate applied research in Quantum Computing.
The signed an MOU yesterday to
-Create a hub for quantum science and technology that produces top-quality graduates
-Promote fundamental and applied research in quantum technologies
-Democratize access to education in quantum technologies
-Assist start-ups aligned to relevant domains
-Develop and attract talent to the quantum ecosystem by offering a limited number of high-value top-up scholarships to students who excel in research
-Support higher education and students whose research in quantum science and specific quantum architectures will be recognized and have a significant societal impact. 
This initiative is funded by Mphasis F1 Foundation, (the CSR arm of Mphasis) with a grant of Rs. 21 crores  (Rs 210 million) over five years.
The partnership will fortify India’s leadership in quantum information, develop comprehensive training, and create quality resources for education and training in quantum computing. Together, IIT M and Mphasis, would enable the development and attraction of talent to the quantum ecosystem by offering a limited number of high-value top-up scholarships to students who excel in research, full-time foreign students, and post-doctoral researchers, who will be offered globally competitive remuneration along with accessible and curated course materials.
Additionally, the collaboration  will enable training programs tailored to specific industries, online certification programs through the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), and continuing education through IITM’s web enabled MTech program on Quantum Science and Technology (QuST).
Said Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras” “This partnership will create a consortium of Government, Academia, and Industry that will focus on research, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to solve challenges currently limiting the industrial applications of quantum science and technologies. This hub or quantum centre will also collaborate with global universities and disseminate its research findings through workshops, peer-reviewed papers, and conferences,” said, Prof.
“Quantum technology is at the brim; revolutionizing Quantum computing, sensing, and communication is leading to the emergence of new businesses and business models. Our collaboration with IIT Madras and the Government of India will enable us to harness the vast potential of quantum computing, enabling top capabilities and skills development for the future,” said Srikanth Karra, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), Mphasis.  “The collaboration tangibly demonstrates our ambition to bring the most innovative, breakthrough solutions and invest in capabilities early on to stay ahead of the curve. Building a cohesive industry for quantum computing necessitates a concentrated effort to develop the ecosystem across sectors and that is what we aim to achieve with our partnership,” he added.
Added Prof. Anil Prabhakar, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras: “Over a period of five years, the research will primarily focus on the expanses of Quantum Optimization, Quantum Finance, Quantum Chemistry, Quantum Communication, Quantum Error Correction and Quantum Tomography. The lab built through this partnership will harness the potential of quantum technologies and uncover the areas expected to achieve early gains with quantum computers and migrate real-world use cases onto quantum computers. It will also evaluate the societal needs and consequences of having access to quantum computers and employ quantum computers for basic research”.