THEMATIC HUB
Quantum Materials & Devices
IIT Delhi · New Delhi
The sovereign hardware foundation: synthesizing 2D topological insulators, superconducting materials, and single-photon detectors under the QMD Foundation at IIT Delhi.
What this hub does
Mandate, technical execution model, and operational research scope.
Computers, communication links, and sensors are physical devices. They need materials and a way to fabricate them. This hub works on superconductors, semiconductor structures, topological materials, quantum dots, spintronics, and photonic components, including the single-photon sources and detectors that communication and sensing both use.
Incorporated at IIT Delhi as the QMD Foundation (qmdhub.co.in), the hub coordinates nanofabrication and shared national cleanroom facilities at SCL Mohali, CeNSE IISc, IIT Delhi, and IIT Bombay.
Goals
Performance targets and technical delivery milestones.
Target is an aim. Reported is a public claim. Demonstrated has been shown working. Deployed is in service.
- Target
Superconducting materials for transmon qubits and quantum circuits.
- Target
Novel semiconductor structures and wafer-scale topological insulators.
- Target
Quantum dots and spintronic devices.
- Target
Indigenous Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) with detection efficiencies >90% at 1550 nm.
- Target
Domestic sub-20 mK closed-cycle dilution refrigerators to end foreign cryogenic dependency.
- Target
Shared national cleanroom toolchains for high-yield quantum device fabrication.
Participating institutions
Academic hubs, national institutes, and partner research centres.
Hosted by the QMD Foundation at IIT Delhi in partnership with shared national cleanroom facilities at SCL Mohali, CeNSE IISc, and IIT Bombay.
- IIT Delhi
- CeNSE (IISc Bengaluru)
- IIT Bombay
- Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL Mohali)
- Solid State Physics Laboratory (DRDO-SSPL)
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Madras
- TIFR Mumbai
- CSIR-NPL New Delhi
- CSIR-CGCRI Kolkata
- ARCI Hyderabad
- INST Mohali
Technical groups
Designated research task groups established under government sanction.
Three primary Technology Groups (TGs) established under the QMD Foundation to synthesize sovereign quantum-grade substrates, single-photon hardware, and dilution cryogenic systems.
TG 1: III-V Semiconductor Technologies & Quantum Emitters
Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) of III-V heterostructures, single-photon emitters, single-photon avalanche detectors (SPADs), and cryogenic high-frequency transistors.
TG 2: 2D Materials & Wafer-Scale Heterostructures
Wafer-scale synthesis of graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and topological insulators for dissipationless quantum transport and low-loss spin devices.
TG 3: Superconducting Thin Films, Detectors & Dilution Cryogenics
High-purity niobium/tantalum superconducting thin films, Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) with >90% detection efficiency, and indigenous sub-20 mK closed-cycle dilution refrigerators with Zero mK India.
Milestones & Fabrication
Field trials, published standards, and validated hardware benchmarks.
- Demonstrated
DRDO TDF agreement signed with Zero mK India for indigenous 20 mK dilution refrigerators.
Mentored by DRDO's Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), the project builds domestic sub-20 mK cryostats using helium dilution cycles for superconducting quantum processors.
- Reported
Indigenous commercialization of Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs).
Pioneered by IISc spin-off Quan2D Technologies with support from NQM/NM-ICPS, targeting detection efficiencies >90% at telecom wavelengths.
Fabrication
Foundry toolchains, cleanrooms, and packaging infrastructure.
Advanced fabrication and central facilities are being established for shared national access.
The sites provide electron-beam lithography, MBE, and wafer packaging for academia, startups, and defense users. The stated path runs from lab prototype through testing to industry transfer.
- CeNSE (IISc Bengaluru)
- Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL Mohali)
- IIT Bombay Nanofabrication Facility
- IIT Delhi Central Research Facility
- IIT Kanpur
Startups
Domestic deep-tech enterprises and commercialization grantees.
- Pristine Diamonds
- Quan2D Technologies
- Quanastra
Startups supported under NQM/DST initiatives. Startup proposals are routed through NQM's official rolling call portal; unverified third-party incubator claims have been discarded.
Applications
Downstream defense, industrial, and strategic mission impact.
This hub is an enabling layer for the others. It does not have a separate set of end-user applications. Its output is materials, devices, and fabrication for computing, communication, and sensing.
Open challenges
Fundamental scientific and supply-chain hurdles confronting scale.
- Reproducible quantum-grade material synthesis
- Nanofabrication yield and superconducting junction reproducibility
- Isotope availability (Helium-3 for cryogenics, Ytterbium-171, Rubidium-87)
- Localising the hardware supply chain to resist export control bottlenecks
Hub news
Recent developments, research papers, and dispatches.
Public reporting specific to this hub is still thin. Nothing in the latest India feed matched IIT Delhi or quantum materials, so this is the general India list.
INDIA
Indian Scientists Demonstrate Quantum Measure Above 1 in Experimental Breakthrough
ECOSYSTEM
Samsung And IISc Open A New Lab For Quantum Research In India
INDIA
Swavlamban 2026: Indian Navy Seeks Quantum Positioning and Ramjet Engines
ECOSYSTEM
Indian Navy Advances Towards Multi-Domain Ops Incorporating AI, Counter-UAS and Quantum Tech, Confirms Vice Chief of Naval Staff
ECOSYSTEM
Amid Starlink flare-up, Indian Navy Vice Chief says quantum positioning work is on
INDIA
Turning Quantum Uncertainty Into Precision Quantum Sensing
Sources
Departmental notifications and verification records.