The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved a technology development initiative called the National Quantum Mission to enhance the country’s capacities in an area with applications ranging from secret communications to superfast computers.

The mission, for which the cabinet has approved about Rs 6,000 crore from 2023-24 through 2030-31, will seek to “seed, nurture, and scale up” scientific and industrial research in quantum technologies, the Centre said.

Research efforts under the mission will aim to develop intermediate-scale quantum computers through superconducting platforms and photonic technologies, satellite-based secure quantum communications across 2,000km distances, and long-distance secure quantum communications with other countries within eight years.

“We’re hoping this mission will enable us to build on our current small lab-scale quantum systems towards bigger systems for real-world applications,” said Urbasi Sinha, professor and head of the quantum information and computing group at the Raman Research Institute, Bangalore.

Quantum technologies use lasers and other optical systems or special materials to design systems that exploit physical laws that govern the subatomic world to enhance computing power or security levels in communications.

Sinha is already involved in a project with the Indian Space Research Organisation to establish quantum communication via satellite and another project with the Indian Navy to develop the most secure communications possible.

The mission will also support the design and synthesis of quantum materials such as superconductors, novel semiconductor surfaces and materials and single photon sources and detectors required for quantum devices.

Besides Sinha’s lab at the RRI, research groups at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, are also currently involved in labs-scale quantum technology development. Scientists at the SN Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Calcutta, are working on quantum materials.