The Karnataka Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has approved the establishment of the second phase of the Quantum Research Park in Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, announced Priyank Kharge, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and Minister for Information Technology and Biotechnology.

The park will be developed on the IISc campus with an allocation of ₹48 crore, the minister said on Thursday.

The development of this park will enable the creation of advanced infrastructure, enhance research and development capabilities and nurture a highly skilled quantum-ready workforce. The park will provide shared access to laboratories and research equipment and will function as a hub for academia, start-ups, and industry to collaborate on next-generation quantum technologies, the minister added.

The park will host a training centre to reskill youth and professionals in quantum technology and train educators, hands-on learning laboratories aimed at solving real-world problems. It is expected to support 55 Karnataka R&D projects and 13 start-ups. Alongside, there will be internal R&D funding for 15 IISc faculty members.

This initiative is a strategic move to position Karnataka as a national leader and a global player in the quantum ecosystem. Expected outcomes include attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), increasing intellectual property creation and opening new economic frontiers in areas such as pharmaceuticals, cyber security, climate modelling, and finance.

Published on June 5, 2025