Tech Mahindra Partners with IISER Pune’s I‑HUB QTF to Advance Indigenous Trapped‑Ion Quantum Computing in India

Tech Mahindra (NSE: TECHM), a global leader in technology consulting and digital solutions, has announced that it haspartnered with the I-HUB Quantum Technology Foundation (I-HUB QTF), hosted at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, to accelerate India’s indigenous trapped-ion quantum computing capabilities. I-HUB QTF is currently developing a full-stack 20-qubit quantum computer based on the trapped-ion platform.

For an uninitiated, "Trapped‑ion quantum computing" is a leading architecture where individual atomic ions are suspended in electromagnetic fields and manipulated with lasers to serve as qubits. It is considered one of the most accurate and scalable approaches to building universal quantum computers.

As part of this collaboration, Tech Mahindra and I-HUB QTF will co-develop middleware for the trapped-ion quantum computer. The project is expected to be completed by December 2026, with commercialization activities to follow. This middleware will enable seamless communication between quantum hardware and control electronics, ensuring efficient execution of quantum workloads. Tech Mahindra will leverage its engineering expertise to build a scalable software foundation for the platform.

The partnership aims to democratize access to indigenous quantum infrastructure for Indian researchers, startups, students, enterprises, and strategic sector innovators. This will allow users to experiment, build skills, and develop applications in areas such as drug discovery, logistics, cryptography, and defence.

Nikhil Malhotra, Chief AI & Innovation Officer at Tech Mahindra, stated, "Quantum computing can unlock transformative opportunities across industries and strategic sectors. To realize this potential for India, we need strong indigenous capabilities that combine advanced research with scalable engineering. Through our partnership with I-HUB QTF, we are merging scientific expertise with engineering excellence to accelerate India’s trapped-ion quantum ecosystem and deliver future-ready solutions.”

Quantum computing is poised to amplify AI by solving highly complex problems beyond the reach of classical systems. As India strengthens its sovereign AI capabilities, indigenous quantum infrastructure will be critical in advancing research, fostering innovation, and enabling next-generation enterprise applications. The platform will support algorithm development, quantum machine learning (QML), and post-quantum cryptography (PQC), while serving as a training ground for researchers, students, startups, and technology professionals.

Kunj Tandon, CEO of I-HUB QTF, added:
“Quantum technologies are strategically vital for India. Moving them from lab to market requires deep-tech product development and strong industry-academia collaboration. Partnering with Tech Mahindra brings proven engineering software expertise, helping us build a robust quantum ecosystem for the country.”

I-HUB QTF continues to advance trapped-ion quantum computing technology in India. Once operational, the facility will be opened to the Indian community for industrial and academic use, significantly enhancing the nation’s quantum computing capabilities.