Pune: Maharashtra must strengthen its research capabilities and ensure students and colleges gain exposure to quantum technology if India is to become a developed nation by 2047, higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil said on Monday, while calling for research institutions in the state to turn technological advances into patents and royalties.“Countries have become wealthy through research, patents and royalties,” Patil said while inaugurating the three-day Qiskit Fall Fest 2026 at the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU), Lonere, in Raigad district. He said India had lost ground in the past but must take emerging technologies seriously to regain its position.“Quantum technology must reach colleges and students through the University. It is important to take this technology seriously,” he said, adding that shortcomings in the ministry’s support to the University would be addressed. He also called for DBATU to develop into a full-fledged campus university and research centre.Patil said more than 90% of technology companies worldwide had Indian or Indian-origin leaders, demonstrating the contribution of Indians to the sector. Building domestic research capabilities, he said, was essential to translate this expertise into technological and economic gains.Amol Mahamuni of NASSCOM-AI said quantum computing could take computational capabilities to new levels and highlighted the growing importance of post-quantum cryptography in supporting the startup ecosystem. “India should not remain merely a user of quantum technology. We must develop the technology ourselves and take the lead,” Mahamuni said, emphasising the need for collaborations with major companies. He said India had often been perceived as lagging in technological advancement while neighbouring countries moved ahead.DBATU vice-chancellor Dr Rajnish Kamat said India missed an earlier opportunity in hardware manufacturing, allowing countries such as China and Taiwan to advance. “We must ensure we do not miss the opportunity that has come now,” he said, pointing to work on future technologies, chips and software. He added that the University was making progress in education, research and technology.Pro-vice-chancellor Dr Vinod Mohitkar said the government, educational institutions, research organisations and industry need to work together to advance engineering and emerging technologies. Maharashtra had announced its Quantum Mission on the lines of the Centre’s National Quantum Mission, he said.More than 50,000 teachers and students completed online quantum technology courses during the previous academic year, Mohitkar said, indicating efforts to expand awareness of the field beyond specialist institutions.Qiskit Fall Fest is being hosted at DBATU for the first time. The University has selected 165 students and 30 teachers for the programme, which will offer practical exposure to quantum computing. Experts from IBM, the Max Planck research network and IISER are expected to guide participants through the sessions.
