VTU, QNu Labs to Train 400,000 Engineers in Quantum Lab at Bengaluru Hub
When I saw the announcement at India Mobile Congress 2025 in Delhi, VTU’s Bengaluru campus was already buzzing about a new quantum communication lab. The university is teaming up with QNu Labs, a quantum-cybersecurity startup, to set up the facility inside VTU’s Center for Research, Industry Innovation, and Incubation (CRi3). They’re aiming to train roughly 400,000 engineers over the next few years, so the space will be busy.
India’s demand for quantum-savvy talent is growing fast, and the supply isn’t keeping up. Global money is pouring into quantum computing and cryptography, which makes the shortage feel more urgent. The VTU-QNu lab should give students real-world practice with quantum key distribution (QKD) gear and other hardware - not just textbook theory.
Reaching four-lakh engineers is a bold pledge, and it hints at a serious push to build home-grown capacity for national security and tech competitiveness. For QNu Labs, which focuses on quantum-safe encryption, the partnership offers a direct line to a large pool of future specialists. If the hub works as hoped, it could become a template for other university-industry collaborations trying to close the quantum skills gap.
Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has partnered with the quantum cryptography startup, QNu Labs, to set up a quantum communication lab at its research and industry incubation facility in Bengaluru. The lab was announced at the India Mobile Congress 2025, being held in Delhi, and aims to prepare students and faculty for careers in quantum technology. Sunil Gupta, CEO of QNu Labs, said, “This isn’t just about setting up a lab; it’s about creating a sustainable ecosystem where students and faculty will actually work with quantum systems and understand what this technology means for India’s future.” The initiative will provide hands-on experience to more than four lakh students across VTU’s 200 affiliated colleges.
The facility will support training, research, and curriculum development in line with India’s National Quantum Mission and Karnataka’s goal to become a hub for quantum innovation. Commander Devendra Singh, director of research and development at VTU, said that the collaboration would also support “strategic military capabilities” and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The deal between VTU and QNu Labs feels like a concrete step toward formalising India's quantum talent pipeline. Sure, big tech players and governments are throwing billions at quantum research, but the real choke point is still a shortage of trained people. This programme tries to fix that by putting hands-on, industry-focused training inside a big university.
Aiming to teach up to 400,000 engineers, the goal appears to be building home-grown capacity from scratch and, over time, leaning less on overseas expertise. For QNu Labs, the tie-up gives them a way to nurture future hires and tweak the syllabus to suit their quantum-cryptography products. Setting the lab in a well-known incubation hub also hints at a commercial push, trying to close the gap that often exists between academic work and market-ready solutions.
If it works, the approach could become a template for other states or private firms that want a slice of the still-young but strategically important quantum sector.
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Common Questions Answered
Where will the new quantum communication laboratory be located within VTU?
The quantum communication laboratory will be housed within VTU's Center for Research, Industry Innovation, and Incubation (CRi3) at its Bengaluru hub. This location is intended to serve as a central node for practical quantum education and industry collaboration.
What was the significance of the India Mobile Congress 2025 for this initiative?
The partnership between VTU and QNu Labs was officially announced at the India Mobile Congress 2025 held in Delhi. This event served as the public platform to introduce the ambitious plan to train 400,000 engineers in quantum technology.
How does this partnership aim to address the workforce gap in quantum technology?
The initiative directly tackles the critical bottleneck of skilled workforce scarcity by embedding practical, industry-relevant training within a major academic institution. By targeting the training of 400,000 engineers, it represents a strategic move to build domestic quantum talent on a massive scale.
What is the role of QNu Labs in the partnership with VTU?
QNu Labs, a quantum cybersecurity firm, is partnering with VTU to establish the dedicated quantum communication laboratory. According to CEO Sunil Gupta, their role extends beyond just setting up a lab to actively creating a sustainable ecosystem for quantum careers.