IRUS – Quantum

Advances in Quantum Computing – Where are we now?

Prof. Anirban Pathak, JIIT, Noida, India

Prof.Anirban Pathak is a theoretical physicist. He did his Ph.D. from Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, India. Subsequently, he was a post-doctoral fellow at the Freie University, Berlin. He joined JIIT, Noida in 2002. At present, he is actively involved in teaching and research related to several aspects of quantum optics and quantum information with a focus on quantum cryptography and photonic quantum computing. He is a fellow of The National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) and Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering (IETE).  He was a visiting scientist at Palacky University, Czech Republic for a long period. He is also one of the editors of Quantum Information Processing, Springer-Nature. He is a recipient of 2017 Shri O. P. Bhasin Award in the field of Electronics and Information Technology. He has designed several schemes for secure multi-party computation and different other cryptographic tasks. He has also worked extensively on different types of quantum algorithms.

Dr. Arita Sarkar, Fujitsu Research, India

Dr. Aritra Sarkar is a Senior Researcher at Fujitsu Research of India Private Limited, Bengaluru, focusing on Quantum Software Automation. Previously, he worked as a scientist at ISRO, contributing to the development and programming of 10+ remote-sensing satellites. He is particularly proud of the code he wrote for the Chandrayaan orbiter missions. In 2016 he shifted gears from the vastness of outer space to the tiny realm of quantum by joining the Quantum and Computer Engineering Department at Delft University of Technology. Unlike most in quantum computing, his academic foundation is rooted in full-stack system architecture aspects. During his PhD, he developed first-of-its-kind quantum algorithms for applications in bioinformatics and reinforcement learning. Prior to returning to India and joining Fujitsu, he was part of the Quantum Machine Learning group at QuTech in the Netherlands.

Aritra is driven by the goal of bridging the gap between the engineering physicists who build quantum processors and the complexity theorists who design algorithms for them. His research interests lie in algorithmic information theory, a branch of theoretical computer science, that underpins universal reinforcement learning, explainable AI, and aspects of artificial general intelligence. He works on developing quantum counterparts of these ideas and applying them to automated scientific discovery, particularly in quantum compilation and system architecture.

Dr. Anindita Banerjeer, CDAC, India

Anindita is a Senior Scientist at CDAC Pune who leads various quantum-related initiatives of CDAC. At present, she is working on fiber QKD, QRNG and aerial quantum communication platforms. In the area of quantum computing, she is working on different quantum computing applications on accelerated platforms. Earlier, she worked as Quantum Research Head and VP at QuNu Labs Pvt Ltd, focusing on quantum-safe solutions for cybersecurity. At QuNu Labs, she developed India’s first fiber-based QKD system from TRL 2 to TRL6. Specifically, she realized the distributed phase reference protocols for QKD in fiber-based systems. She was also involved in theoretical security proofs, simulation and key rate analysis. Further, she developed India’s first QRNG based on Time-of-Arrival and mixed QRNG. Further, during PhD, Anindita had developed novel quantum communication protocols and worked on synthesis and optimization of quantum circuits. As a post-doctoral fellow, she established a quantum optics lab in Bose Institute, Kolkata and conducted some foundational experiments. The products developed by her are tested by various government and industry organizations. She has already received 4 US and 1 Indian patents as recognition of her success in converting academic research into useful products. She has also written several well-cited research papers.

She leads a team of young researchers in Pune. She has trained many scientists and student interns over the year. She has also co-authored a book published by SPIE (Optical quantum information and quantum communication, A. Pathak and A. Banerjee, SPIE Spotlight Series, SPIE Press (2016) ISBN: 9781510602212) which has helped many researchers and students to learn the basics of optical quantum information. She is part of the AICTE committees that developed courses for minor degree and MTech degree in Quantum Technologies. She has also developed a course materials called CAKES for CDAC employees interested to learn quantum technologies. She has also delivered a Ted talk and several invited talks to promote and popularize the area of quantum information in India. In addition, the following may be noted.

Aravind Ratnam, Q-Ctrl

Aravind is a seasoned deep tech leader across aerospace & defense, semiconductors, software, consulting, autonomous driving and quantum technology. He is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at Q-CTRL. In his role, Aravind oversees strategy, revenue, product, and partnerships, working across Q-CTRL and overseeing some of the industry’s fastest growth. Aravind has advised several deep tech companies, is a limited partner and advisor to venture funds, and has worked on some of the world’s most cutting edge technology at NASA (where he worked on a space instrument for Shuttle Endeavor), ASML (where he worked on the world’s first EUV light source) Intel and leading intelligent sensor  companies. Aravind holds two Master’s degrees- in Space Science from Florida Tech, and in Engineering & Management from MIT.

Dr. Abhishek Shukla, Hasselt University, Belgium

Dr Abhishek Shukla is a Researcher-expert in the Q-Lab IMO-IMOMEC (a joint research institute of IMEC and Hasselt University, Belgium), where he has played a crucial role in enabling the research and development of quantum technology. He did his PhD in quantum computing and its NMR implementations from IISER-Pune under Prof T. S. Mahesh and extended his knowledge dimensions through multiple postdocs in USTC-China, Hebrew University-Israel, IMEC-Belgium. His expertise covers the quantum & quantum machine learning algorithms, efficient characterization and optimal control of quantum dynamics, development of solid-state quantum sensors & quantum repeaters, nanoscale NMR & post-quantum communication, and gravitational wave detection. He is contributing to several quantum technology projects that play crucial roles both in the scientific & technological development and deployment towards field applications, for example, represented Belgium as co-PI in LUMI-Q, SPINUS project for quantum computation platform, in C-QUENS for developing capacitance for entanglement enhanced quantum sensing, Be-QCI, Bel-NET, and Q-NMR, Qu-Micro, etc. Dr shukla has also played key role in qualifying technical round for DLR funding and advising other startups before founding QuISTechAI.

Dr Shukla is also the founder and CTO of  QuISTechAI, an India-based startup, working in the domain of quantum technology and AI. Specifically, QuISTechAI is working on developing hybrid quantum-classical & hybrid QML approaches for applications in medical science & pharmaceuticals, fluid dynamics, finance, and optimisation, quantum-safe cryptography, and development of solid-state non-invasive quantum sensors and applications exploiting developed capabilities.  

Dr Abhishek Shukla is also the founder and CTO of  QuISTechAI, an India-based startup, working in the domain of quantum technology and AI. Specifically, QuISTechAI is working on developing hybrid quantum-classical & hybrid QML approaches for applications in medical science & pharmaceuticals, fluid dynamics, finance, and optimisation, quantum-safe cryptography, and development of solid-state non-invasive quantum sensors and applications exploiting developed capabilities.

Dr Shukla is also working as researcher-expert in the Q-Lab IMO-IMOMEC (a joint research institute of IMEC and Hasselt University, Belgium), where he has played a crucial role in enabling the research and development of quantum technology. He did his PhD in quantum computing and its NMR implementations from IISER-Pune under Prof T. S. Mahesh and extended his knowledge dimensions through multiple postdocs in USTC-China, Hebrew University-Israel, IMEC-Belgium. His expertise covers the quantum & quantum machine learning algorithms, efficient characterization and optimal control of quantum dynamics, development of solid-state quantum sensors & quantum repeaters, nanoscale NMR & post-quantum communication, and gravitational wave detection. He is contributing to several quantum technology projects that play crucial roles both in the scientific & technological development and deployment towards field applications, for example, represented Belgium as co-PI in LUMI-Q, SPINUS project for quantum computation platform, in C-QUENS for developing capacitance for entanglement enhanced quantum sensing, Be-QCI, Bel-NET, and Q-NMR, Qu-Micro, etc. Dr shukla has also played the key role in qualifying technical round for DLR funding and advising other startups before founding QuISTechAI.