OBJECTIVE
The National Quantum Mission has set an ambitious roadmap for establishment of four state-of-the-art Quantum Fabrication and Central Facilities worth ₹720 crore across IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi under the National Quantum Mission (NQM). These cutting-edge facilities will mark a decisive leap in India’s journey toward technological sovereignty, positioning the nation among the select global leaders advancing next-generation quantum technologies. This also included HR program to support quantum computing development in the country. Under the Quantum Computing Hub, both IISc and IIT Bombay will host a central facility for fabricating Superconducting, Photonic and Spin Qubit Processors with an investment of ~557 Crs. India’s first generation 100-qubit QPU will be fabricated in the central fabrication facility by 2030.
Infrastructure is one of the building blocks for sustained development of any technology. The infrastructure is divided into three main categories: Manufacturing Facility, Characterization and Testing Facility, and Packaging Facility. Creating and maintaining these facilities requires significant investment, and insufficient investment would fail to achieve the desired impact. The T-Hub envisages the creation of central facilities that can be accessed by all the Technical Groups, various stakeholders, including academic researchers, public and private industry, start-ups, and the strategic sector.
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE (CENTRAL FACILITIES)
FABRICATION FACILITY
At the core of the central fabrication facility is the micro and nanofabrication facility. This facility requires highly controlled environments, such as cleanrooms, to prevent contamination during the intricate process of device fabrication. Cleanrooms are categorized based on the level of particulate cleanliness, and for quantum technologies, a Class 1000 or better environment is necessary. Within these cleanrooms, facilities would house advanced micro and nano fabrication tools to perform lithography, etching, material growth and deposition, etc. While the fabrication technology might be identical for semiconductors, superconductors and photonics platforms, the processes required are very different.
At the core of the central fabrication facility is the micro and nanofabrication facility. This facility requires highly controlled environments, such as cleanrooms, to prevent contamination during the intricate process of device fabrication. Thus, the fabrication facility should be broad enough to accommodate the requirements so as to support the requirements. However, wherever possible the process tools could be shared for effective usage of capital resources. The quantum computing T-Hub envisages creation of a world-class micro and nano fabrication facility dedicated for quantum technology applications.
CHARACTERIZATION AND TESTING FACILITY
Equally important is the characterization and testing facility. Quantum devices, due to their delicate nature, require precise measurement techniques to evaluate their performance. This segment should include cryogenic systems for superconducting platforms to maintain ultra-low temperatures necessary for certain quantum experiments, high-precision measurement equipment such as scanning tunnelling microscopes and atomic force microscopes, and electromagnetic shielding to isolate experiments from environmental noise.
For photonics technology, dedicated lasers and detectors are necessary for characterising and benchmarking quantum emitters and detectors. Thus, based on the requirements, the T-Hub would enable the creation and maintenance of a central facility for characterisation and testing devices and circuits.
PACKAGING FACILITY
Finally, the packaging facility plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and functionality of quantum devices for field usage.
Packaging involves not only the physical housing of quantum components but also the integration of these components into larger systems. This requires specialized tools for delicate assembly and bonding processes, as well as testing equipment to ensure that the packaged devices meet stringent performance criteria. Packaging for various technologies may vary.
Thus, T-Hub will consider all the requirements and create an inclusive facility that can be accessed by all the technology platforms.
FACILITY ACCESS MODEL
The primary mandate of the central facility is to address the technical needs of the TGs to ensure the achievement of mission deliverables. This facility will be made available to investigators, their students, and staff members appointed under the mission projects. The T-Hub will have a discretionary role in determining the level of facility access support provided by the T-Hub.
Access to the central facility will be facilitated through a dedicated portal managed by an operations team. While the facility is designed to be accessible to mission TGs as well as external users, it is essential to acknowledge the specialized nature of the tools, and the expertise required for their operation and maintenance.
In addition to the TGs, including both spokes and spikes, the central facility will be open to users across the country and worldwide. Access will be granted on a fee-for-service basis, with the cost determined by the operational expenses and the category of the user—domestic academic, startup, industry, or international academic and industry.