Karnataka installs 25-qubit quantum computing system at IIIT-Dharwad, IIIT-Raichur under LEAP initiative

The Karnataka state government on Wednesday announced the installation of a 25-qubit quantum computing system, QpiAI Indus, at the Quantum Computing Centre of Excellence at the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Dharwad (IIIT-D), and the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Raichur (IIIT-R), in a move aimed at strengthening the state’s emerging quantum technology ecosystem.

The system, developed by QpiAI, will mark the company’s second deployment in Karnataka and is expected to expand access to quantum computing capabilities for academia and industry.

The initiative is part of the state’s Local Economy Acceleration Programme (LEAP) and aligns with the government’s efforts to develop next-generation technology infrastructure under the Karnataka Quantum Roadmap.


Officials said the system would support both educational and commercial applications, including curriculum development, hands-on student training, and faculty-led research, while also enabling enterprises to experiment with quantum computing for real-world use cases.

IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge said the installation reflects the state’s strategy of building advanced technology infrastructure. “The installation of QpiAI Indus at IIIT-Dharwad’s Quantum Computing Centre of Excellence is a direct outcome of our Karnataka Quantum Roadmap. We now have two quantum computing installations in the state, and this is just the beginning."

Kharge added that the state’s centres of excellence (CoEs) across sectors—from agritech to spacetech—are key pillars of its innovation ecosystem, with quantum computing emerging as the next frontier.

Science & technology minister NS Boseraju said the deployment marked an important milestone for applied science in the state. “By embedding quantum computing within an academic institution of this stature, we are ensuring that research, experimentation, and discovery happen in Karnataka’s classrooms and laboratories,” he said.

Nagendra Nagaraja, CEO of QpiAI, said the deployment represented an important milestone for the company and for India’s broader quantum ambitions. The system would help deepen regional capabilities while expanding national access to quantum infrastructure, he added.

IIIT-Dharwad director Mahadeva Prasanna said the installation would enable students and researchers to gain practical experience with quantum systems while fostering collaboration with industry on commercial workloads.

The deployment at IIIT-Dharwad is expected to support training workshops, course modules, research projects, and industry collaborations. Details on commissioning timelines and user access programmes will be announced by the institute’s Quantum Computing Centre of Excellence in due course.