Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, announced that India has produced over 40 Quantum Technology start-ups in the past two years, with some having global potential. This statement was made during a review meeting of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), where he emphasized India’s strides in quantum technologies and the need to establish the country as a global leader in this field.
Dr. Singh highlighted the National Quantum Mission, urging officials to focus on developing quantum technologies and communication. He praised the success of QuNu Labs, a Bangalore-based start-up incubated by IIT Madras, which signed an MoU with the Technology Development Board (TDB) to develop security products based on quantum technologies.
Dr Singh also celebrated the doubling of women’s participation in extramural research and development (R&D) over the last decade, attributing this increase to government efforts to promote women scientists and researchers through fellowship STEM programs. He mentioned the recently inaugurated Common Fellowship Portal and noted that around 300 women scientists would receive research grants for three years under the ASPIRE scheme.
Expressing satisfaction with India’s booming startup ecosystem, Dr Singh noted the growth from a few hundred startups before 2014 to over 1.25 lakh in 2024, including more than 110 unicorns. He highlighted India’s rise in the Global Innovation Index from 81st in 2015 to 40th in 2023 and its third-place ranking in terms of the number of publications and PhDs awarded in science and engineering.
Dr Singh reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering and providing ease of living to every citizen through innovation. He stressed that the current environment under PM Modi’s leadership is highly conducive to the development of science and technology. He mentioned the government’s investment of around 900 crores from 2016-2023 in the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI), which supports budding entrepreneurs in S&T.
The minister reviewed the progress of the National Geospatial Mission and the Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Mission. He also highlighted efforts to bring legislation to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF).
The meeting was attended by Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology; Shri Sunil Kumar, Additional Secretary; Shri Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, Surveyor General of India; Directors of DST institutes, and senior scientists and officials.
