Ambassador Kwatra visits IBM Research Center, discusses National Quantum Mission
Washington DC, January 8
Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra paid a visit to the IBM Thomas J Watson Research Centre Think Lab and discussed IBM's expanding footprint in India and the National Quantum Mission.
In a post on X, Ambassador Kwatra shared details of his visit and highlighted that India is taking steps to build research collaborations and innovation hubs.
"Had an exciting visit to the IBM Thomas J Watson Research Centre Think Lab to witness the cutting-edge research work taking place in quantum computing. We spoke about IBM's expanding footprint in India and the National Quantum Mission, under which India is taking dedicated steps to build world-class research collaborations and dedicated innovation hubs."
The National Quantum Mission (NQM), is a major initiative by the Indian Government to propel the nation to the forefront of quantum technology research and development. Approved on April 19 2023 by the Union Cabinet, the mission is set to span from 2023-24 to 2030-31, with a budget allocation of ₹6,003.65 crore, as per a statement by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Through the mission, India aims to harness the power of quantum technology to drive innovation, strengthen security, and boost various industries, positioning itself as a global leader in this cutting-edge field.
He also met Yan Le Cun and spoke about Artificial Intelligence and India's priorities towards leveraging AI for development.
"Delighted to meet Prof. Yann Le Cun @ylecun a preeminent voice in AI research. We spoke about the future of AI research and India's priorities towards leveraging AI for development at home".
Earlier in November last year, Kwatra met Congressman Jay Obernolte and held discussions with him to enhance the cooperation between India and the US in areas such as science, technology, artificial intelligence and innovation.
He also held a conversation with Francis Pedraza, the founder of Invisible Technologies, on evolving innovation and technology. He shared that Pedraza's Eternity Civilization Foundation is working on an ambitious project to translate the works of the ancient Nalanda library using AI tools.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While the mission's goals are admirable, I hope the ₹6,000+ crore budget translates into real, on-ground research and not just another headline. We need to see results in our universities and startups, not just diplomatic visits.
The part about using AI to translate ancient Nalanda library works gave me goosebumps! This is how we bridge our glorious past with a tech-powered future. Proud moment for Indian knowledge systems.
As someone working in tech, this US-India collaboration on quantum and AI is crucial. It's not just about funding, but about creating the right ecosystem for innovation. Hope it creates more opportunities for young Indian researchers.
Quantum technology can revolutionise everything from medicine to cryptography. Glad to see India is not being left behind in this race. The ambassador is doing good work building these strategic partnerships.
Meeting Yann Le Cun is a big deal! Hope these discussions lead to concrete AI research projects in India, especially in agriculture and healthcare where we need it most. The focus should be on solving local problems.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.