India is becoming an increasingly important part of the global technology industry, with growing work in artificial intelligence (AI), advanced computing, cybersecurity, and semiconductor development. IBM is strengthening its presence in these areas by working with Indian universities, supporting technical education, and contributing to research that could shape the next generation of computing.
The company’s work covers several important technologies, including quantum computing, post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and AI chip development. These fields address different challenges, but they share a common goal: making computing more powerful, secure, and useful for businesses and researchers.
IBM’s recent activities in India include expanded research collaborations with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The company is also helping develop quantum computing skills through educational initiatives and partnerships. These efforts show how India is contributing to both the research and engineering behind emerging technologies.
IBM Expands Research Partnerships in India
On October 1, 2026, IBM announced expanded academic collaborations with IIT Bombay and IISc. The partnerships focus on agentic AI, sovereign AI, quantum computing, and next-generation computing systems.
The collaboration with IIT Bombay began in 2018, while IBM’s work with IISc started in 2021. By extending these relationships, IBM aims to connect academic research with practical technology challenges faced by businesses and industries.
At IIT Bombay, the research includes AI models for energy analytics, improvements in knowledge retrieval, multimodal AI, and systems designed to support scientific and industrial applications.
The work with IISc includes agentic AI systems, AI applications, and quantum computing algorithms. Researchers are also exploring ways to coordinate quantum computers with conventional high-performance computing systems.
These partnerships are important because advanced computing requires more than powerful hardware. It also depends on software, algorithms, research talent, and practical applications that can solve real problems.
India’s Growing Role in Quantum Computing
Quantum computing is one of the most important areas in IBM’s long-term technology strategy. Unlike conventional computers, which process information using bits represented as zeros or ones, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, to perform certain types of calculations in different ways.
Quantum systems could eventually help researchers investigate complex problems in chemistry, materials science, optimization, and other scientific fields. However, today’s quantum computers still face technical challenges, including errors, stability, and the difficulty of scaling systems.
IBM is working with Indian researchers and institutions to develop quantum algorithms and explore how quantum computing can work alongside conventional computing infrastructure.
A notable example is the planned Quantum Valley Tech Park in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh. Construction began in February 2026, and the facility is intended to host India’s first IBM quantum computer. While the facility is being developed, eligible participants can access IBM quantum computers through the cloud with support from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
This approach gives researchers and students opportunities to work with quantum technology before the local facility becomes operational.
Building Quantum Computing Skills
Developing quantum technology requires people who understand physics, mathematics, computer science, and specialized programming tools.
IBM has supported quantum education in India through a course created with IIT Madras and offered through the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL).
IBM reported that the introductory quantum computing course attracted more than 208,000 enrolments in 2026. The program is designed to make quantum computing concepts accessible to learners who want to develop skills in this emerging field.
This type of education can help prepare students for careers in research, software development, engineering, and advanced computing. It may also help Indian companies explore quantum applications as the technology develops.
However, quantum computing remains a specialized field, and broad commercial adoption will depend on continued progress in hardware, software, reliability, and useful real-world applications.
What Is Post-Quantum Cryptography?
Post-quantum cryptography, commonly known as PQC, is another important area of advanced computing.
Most digital services depend on encryption to protect information. Banks use cryptography to secure transactions, businesses use it to protect confidential files, and websites rely on it to keep communications private.
Some widely used public-key encryption systems could become vulnerable to sufficiently powerful future quantum computers. PQC aims to develop cryptographic methods that can resist attacks from both conventional computers and quantum computers.
It is important to understand that quantum computers do not automatically make all existing encryption useless. The risk depends on the cryptographic system, the capabilities of future quantum hardware, and how quickly organizations adopt stronger protection.
Why Businesses Need to Prepare for PQC
Organizations cannot always replace their security systems quickly. Large companies may depend on thousands of applications, connected devices, databases, and digital services.
Moving to post-quantum cryptography therefore requires planning. Businesses need to identify where cryptography is used, check which systems could be affected, and develop a practical migration strategy.
Another concern is known as harvest now, decrypt later. In this scenario, an attacker collects encrypted information today and stores it in the hope of decrypting it when more powerful technology becomes available.
This could be a concern for information that must remain confidential for many years, including sensitive government records, financial data, and intellectual property.
IBM’s wider quantum-safe security work reflects the need to prepare organizations for future cryptographic risks. India-based engineering and security teams can contribute to the development, testing, and implementation of technologies that help organizations prepare for this transition.
For businesses, the main lesson is that quantum-safe security should be treated as a long-term technology planning issue rather than a problem to address only when powerful quantum computers arrive.
IBM’s Role in AI Chip Development
AI development depends on more than software models. It also requires computing hardware capable of processing large amounts of data efficiently.
AI chips and accelerators are designed to handle workloads such as model training, inference, image processing, and scientific calculations. Their performance can affect how quickly AI systems operate and how much energy they consume.
IBM’s India Systems Development Lab (ISDL) contributes to engineering work involving processors and AI accelerators. In an interview published by EE Times in September 2026, IBM engineer Rahul Rao discussed India’s role in processor design, AI accelerators, quantum computing, and post-quantum cryptography.
This work is relevant because AI systems continue to grow in size and complexity. Businesses need computing infrastructure that can support demanding workloads without making operating costs and energy consumption unmanageable.
AI accelerators can help speed up specific calculations used by machine learning models. However, the effectiveness of a chip also depends on its memory, software support, networking, and the type of AI workload being processed.
India’s engineering workforce can contribute to this wider ecosystem through processor design, system engineering, software optimization, testing, and related development activities.
It is important to distinguish these contributions from semiconductor manufacturing. Designing or developing AI processors does not automatically mean that all chips are manufactured in India. Chip design, fabrication, packaging, and testing are separate parts of the semiconductor supply chain.
How AI, Quantum Computing, and PQC Connect
Although these technologies solve different problems, they are becoming increasingly important to the future of computing.
| Technology | Main purpose | Potential impact |
|---|---|---|
| Quantum computing | Uses quantum systems for specialized calculations | Scientific research, chemistry, materials discovery, and optimization |
| Post-quantum cryptography | Protects digital information against potential quantum attacks | More resilient encryption and long-term data security |
| AI chips and accelerators | Speed up demanding AI calculations | Faster AI applications and improved computing efficiency |
| High-performance computing | Handles complex scientific and industrial workloads | Research, simulation, forecasting, and large-scale analysis |
These fields may also work together. Researchers can explore combinations of quantum and conventional computing, while AI systems can help analyze scientific data and improve certain engineering workflows.
At the same time, stronger cryptography is important for protecting the data and infrastructure used by advanced computing systems.
IBM’s research partnerships in India provide a way to investigate these technologies while building expertise across universities and industry.
What This Means for India’s Technology Industry
IBM’s activities could create opportunities for India’s research and engineering ecosystem in several ways.
First, university partnerships can give students and researchers more opportunities to work on advanced technical problems. These experiences may help them develop skills that are difficult to gain through classroom learning alone.
Second, access to quantum computing tools and educational programs can help more people understand how the technology works. A larger pool of trained professionals could support future research and business experimentation.
Third, engineering work in AI accelerators and processors can contribute to India’s broader semiconductor and AI ambitions. As companies invest in AI infrastructure, demand may grow for specialists in hardware, software, security, and system optimization.
Finally, PQC creates a need for cybersecurity professionals who can help organizations identify cryptographic risks and prepare for future standards.
These opportunities are not guaranteed to produce immediate commercial results. They depend on sustained investment, research progress, industry demand, and the ability to turn technical developments into reliable products and services.
Challenges IBM and India Must Address
Despite the opportunities, advanced computing technologies face several challenges.
Quantum computers remain difficult to build and operate reliably at large scales. AI chip development requires significant engineering resources and close coordination between hardware and software teams. PQC migration can also be complex because organizations need to update existing systems without disrupting critical services.
India will need continued investment in research facilities, technical education, infrastructure, and collaboration between universities and businesses.
Another challenge is translating research into practical results. A successful research project does not always become a commercial product, and promising technology may take years to reach widespread use.
Long-term progress will therefore depend on realistic expectations, strong research practices, and continued cooperation between industry, academia, and government.
Looking Ahead
IBM’s expanding work in India highlights how the country’s technology sector is becoming involved in areas beyond traditional IT services. Research collaborations, quantum education, processor engineering, and security preparation are all part of the wider shift toward advanced computing.
Quantum computing may take time to reach broad commercial use, while AI chips are already important to modern AI infrastructure. Post-quantum cryptography is also becoming a planning priority for organizations that need to protect sensitive information over the long term.
By developing expertise across these fields, India can strengthen its role in the global technology ecosystem. The long-term impact will depend on continued research, skilled professionals, reliable infrastructure, and the ability to turn innovation into useful solutions.
