National Quantum Mission — Rolling Startup Support Through Four Thematic Hubs
India's quantum programme, with a door for startups
The Union Cabinet approved the National Quantum Mission on 19 April 2023 with an outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore through 2030-31. Its aim is to seed, nurture and scale scientific and industrial R&D in quantum technology, and it built four Thematic Hubs as not-for-profit Section 8 companies inside premier institutions: the Foundation for Quantum Computing Innovation at IISc Bengaluru, the IITM-CDoT Samgyna Technology Foundation at IIT Madras for communication, QMet Technology Foundation at IIT Bombay for sensing and metrology, and QMD Foundation at IIT Delhi for materials and devices.
The mission published dedicated guidelines to support startups and opened a rolling call in July 2025. Eight startups were supported in the first tranche and a further nine since, taking the total to seventeen — among them Bloq, selected in April 2026 for enterprise quantum adoption. Support goes beyond money: scientific mentorship, infrastructure and testbed access, and academic partnerships through the hub.
What the mission provides
| Item | Position |
|---|---|
| Funding | Seed, prototype and scale-up support routed through the T-Hub; DPIIT's June 2026 playbook records support of up to ₹25 crore per startup, with the hub fixing the actual amount |
| Infrastructure | Access to the hub's labs, fabrication and testbeds |
| Mentorship | Scientific mentoring from the hub's faculty and industry partners |
| Ecosystem | Academic collaboration, skilled manpower and international linkages |
DST, the Mission Coordination Cell and the hubs
DST runs the mission through a Mission Coordination Cell and governing board. Startup proposals are evaluated by the relevant T-Hub's expert committee and approved under the mission's startup-support guidelines.
Quantum, Indian-owned, one hub
- •Startup or for-profit institution working in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, or quantum materials and devices
- •Preferably DPIIT-recognised; Indian-owned and controlled as the guidelines require
- •Proposal demonstrating technological impact and a feasible plan to reach commercial or applied readiness
- •Application to only one of the four hubs
What the hub's committee needs
- •Certificate of Incorporation, DPIIT recognition, shareholding with beneficial ownership showing Indian control
- •Technical proposal: quantum vertical, problem, approach, current TRL with evidence, roadmap and milestones
- •Budget and fund-utilisation plan by head and year
- •Team credentials — publications, patents, prior quantum work
- •Letters from collaborating institutions or pilot customers
- •Financial statements and funding history; declaration of other government support
- •Infrastructure and testbed requirements from the hub
Questions founders ask about NQM
Primarily R&D grant support through the hub, per the startup-support guidelines. Check the sanction terms; some hubs structure scale-up support differently.
Yes, under the computing or communication vertical, if the work advances quantum technology rather than merely using it.
No. The call is rolling. Proposals are evaluated as they arrive.
Yes, for distinct work packages. Declare each; the hub checks for double funding of the same activity.