India’s growing quantum science and life sciences ecosystem converged in Mumbai for the National Conference on Quantum Biotechnology, bringing together researchers, clinicians, industry representatives, startups and students to explore how quantum technologies can address emerging challenges in healthcare and biological sciences.
Hosted by Qmet Tech at the PC Saxena Auditorium on the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay campus, the one-day conference focused on accelerating the transition of quantum research from laboratory experiments to practical applications. The discussions were aligned with the objectives of India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM), particularly its emphasis on developing advanced quantum technologies and building a strong domestic innovation ecosystem.
DST Secretary Highlights Strategic Importance
Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), delivered the keynote address during the inaugural session and highlighted the strategic relevance of quantum biotechnology for India’s scientific and technological ambitions.
The conference examined opportunities emerging at the intersection of quantum sensing, imaging and computing with biotechnology and medicine. Quantum-based measurement technologies are increasingly offering researchers the possibility of studying biological systems with levels of sensitivity and precision that conventional instruments may not be able to achieve.
QMet Tech Foundation, which organised the event, serves as the thematic hub for Quantum Sensing and Metrology under the National Quantum Mission at IIT Bombay. The hub has been established with support from the Department of Science and Technology.
Focus on Translating Research into Healthcare
The conference sought to strengthen collaboration between different scientific disciplines and create a clearer pathway from fundamental research to technologies that can eventually be deployed in healthcare.
Potential applications discussed included advanced diagnostics, biomedical imaging, biosensing, drug discovery and precision medicine. The convergence of quantum technologies with life sciences could enable the development of highly sensitive diagnostic tools and new approaches to understanding biological processes.
Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, emphasised the importance of an integrated approach to technology development. He stressed that progress in the technology sector requires coordinated efforts across different aspects of research, development and deployment.
Prof. Kasturi Saha, Project Director, Qmet Tech Foundation, underlined the potential of quantum sensing to address complex biological and clinical questions. She noted that the next step is to apply highly precise quantum sensors to problems that remain difficult to resolve using existing approaches, while bringing physicists, biologists and industry stakeholders together to accelerate translation.
Industry and Startup Ecosystem in Focus
The role of industry and startups also emerged as an important theme during the conference. Hardik Joshi, CEO of Qmet Tech Foundation, pointed to the increasing interest from industry in quantum biotechnology and stressed the importance of converting scientific capabilities into deployable technologies.
He highlighted the need to simultaneously support startups, develop specialised talent and establish manufacturing and testing infrastructure as quantum-enabled technologies move closer to clinical applications.
Such an ecosystem, participants noted, will be essential for ensuring that promising research outcomes can progress beyond proof-of-concept demonstrations and ultimately contribute to products and services.
Three Technical Sessions and Panel Discussion
The conference featured three major sessions covering the academic landscape of quantum applications in biology, the translation of quantum biosensors from laboratories to industry, and innovation in biosensing applications.
A dedicated panel discussion titled “Quantum Biotechnology in India: Opportunities, Challenges, and the Path Forward” provided an opportunity to examine the opportunities as well as technological and ecosystem-related challenges facing the emerging field.
Among those participating in the deliberations were Dr. JBV Reddy, Head of the Quantum Technology Cell at DST; Dr. Rajneesh Gaur, Scientist ‘F’ at the Department of Biotechnology; Prof. Himadri Dhar and Prof. Swaroop Ganguly of IIT Bombay; and Hardik Joshi of Qmet Tech Foundation.
Building an Application-Driven Quantum Ecosystem
By bringing experts from quantum science, biotechnology, healthcare and industry onto a common platform, the conference highlighted the growing importance of interdisciplinary research.
The discussions reinforced the National Quantum Mission’s broader vision of developing a collaborative and application-oriented quantum ecosystem in India. Quantum biotechnology, participants indicated, could become an important frontier for future research and healthcare innovation, provided that scientific discoveries are supported by talent development, industrial participation, testing infrastructure and pathways for clinical translation.
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Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
