Karnataka Unveils Ambitious Plan to Establish $20 Billion Economy by 2035

Karnataka Unveils Ambitious Quantum Roadmap to Become Asia's Leading Quantum Innovation Hub

On April 15, the Karnataka government unveiled a comprehensive Quantum Roadmap (2026–2035) to position the state as Asia's leading quantum innovation hub and build a $20 billion quantum economy over the next decade. The announcement, made on World Quantum Day, also marked the launch of Phase 1 of the roadmap and the unveiling of India's first comprehensive Quantum Ecosystem Map, prepared by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

The Karnataka Quantum Mission (KQM), backed by an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore, is at the core of the plan. The mission will drive investments in talent, infrastructure, startups, and global partnerships, while aligning with India's National Quantum Mission. The roadmap outlines a strategy spanning research, infrastructure, talent development, and industry growth, with a focus on translating cutting-edge research into real-world applications and exports.

Key Highlights of the Quantum Roadmap

| Component | Target | Timeline | | --- | --- | --- | | Quantum-ready professionals | 10,000 by 2035 | 2026-2035 | | Quantum startups | Over 100 | 2026-2035 | | Patents | Over 100 | 2026-2035 | | Quantum economy | $20 billion by 2035 | 2026-2035 | | Global quantum market share | 20% by 2035 | 2026-2035 |

A key highlight is the development of Q-City, an integrated quantum technology hub near Bengaluru. Envisioned as a single-window ecosystem, Q-City will bring together research institutions, startups, manufacturing units, and global companies to accelerate the commercialisation and export of quantum technologies. The government said the detailed project report (DPR) for Q-City will be initiated shortly and overseen by the state's Quantum Task Force.

To support the ecosystem, Karnataka will establish critical infrastructure such as a Quantum Hardware Park, a Quantum Fabline for prototyping, and cloud-based Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS) platforms. The state's strong research base, including IISc, RRI, JNCASR, ICTS, NCBS, and IIA, will anchor the ecosystem. Karnataka plans to expand quantum innovation beyond Bengaluru through regional hubs in Mysuru, Dharwad, and Mangaluru.

The roadmap identifies four key pillars: talent and skilling, research and technology, infrastructure, and industry development. The state aims to create over 10,000 quantum-ready professionals by 2035 through doctoral programmes, fellowships, and integration of quantum curricula in universities. On the technology front, Karnataka plans to scale from early-stage systems to advanced, fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2035, with focus areas including computing, communication, sensing, and materials.

The roadmap targets the creation of more than 100 quantum startups and over 100 patents. A dedicated Quantum Venture Fund will support companies from early-stage innovation to scale-up. Global collaborations will form a key component, with partnerships planned with international institutions and platforms such as Swissnex and global research networks.

Minister NS Boseraju also announced the appointment of Arindam Ghosh as chairman of the Karnataka Quantum Task Force, expressing confidence that the sector will see accelerated growth under his leadership. The government has also announced a Rs 10 crore grant to support skilling, research, and startups in the quantum space.

Highlighting the state's broader deep-tech push, IT & BT Minister Priyank Kharge said Karnataka has declared the coming decade as the "Deep Tech Decade", backed by a Rs 400 crore fund. By 2035, Karnataka aims to secure a 20 percent share of the global quantum market, generate high-value jobs, and emerge as a major exporter of quantum technologies, strengthening its position as a global deep-tech leader.