By Vasudevan Sridharan | 2026-02-02

India and Taiwan are emerging as natural partners in the global race to develop quantum technology, with complementary strengths in talent, software, hardware and manufacturing, creating scope for closer cooperation, observers from both sides say.

Both governments see quantum technology as a strategic priority, not merely for scientific collaborations but for long-term economic and technological resilience, the experts said.

Strategic convergence

As global export controls tighten and supply chains become more politicized, mid-sized technology powers such as India and Taiwan are increasingly looking to one another to build capability without overdependence on China. Both countries have political, economic and military tensions with China.

"India ranks as an emerging leader in quantum technology globally, overall, while excelling in specific areas like research publications (3rd worldwide) and quantum-ready talent (2nd globally)," Arun Pati, an Indian physicist often described by peers as a pioneer of quantum computing in India, told Focus.

Pati cited a wide variety of initiatives kicked off by the country's prominent education institutions in recent years.

By his estimate, roughly 170 professors across India are working in quantum-related fields, supported by large-scale training initiatives that have broadened the talent pipeline. Premier institutions including IISc Bangalore, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay host thematic hubs under India's National Quantum Mission (NQM), focusing on quantum computing, communication, sensing and materials, Pati said.

In April 2023, New Delhi launched the NQM with an outlay of 60 billion INR (about $720 million) for a six-year plan. The budget is aimed at nurturing research, funding promising startups and strengthening academia.

"India is actively engaging with like-minded international partners. However, at this stage, any formal comments on specific international cooperation initiatives may not be shared," a spokesperson for the quantum technology cell of India's Ministry of Science and Technology told Focus in mid-January.

India has made notable progress in quantum communication and cryptography, including intercity quantum links and work on post-quantum encryption. But the country still trails global leaders on hardware.

This hardware gap is precisely where Taiwan enters the picture.

Taiwan and India are well placed to build a "hardware-software integration" model that combines India's strengths in algorithms and software with Taiwan's globally recognized expertise in semiconductors and precision manufacturing, according to Robert Chang, executive secretary at Taiwan's Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Hardware-software synergy

"Both Taiwan and India view quantum technology as a critical national priority," Chang said in an exclusive interview with Focus, while referencing a Taiwanese-Indian symposium held in Bangalore last September that identified opportunities across quantum materials, communication, sensing and computing.

The technical goals of India's Department of Science and Technology (DST) Thematic Hubs align closely with Taiwan's own quantum initiatives, creating room for structured collaboration.

"To harness this India-Taiwan partnership, we aim to leverage the existing joint research framework between the NSTC [Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council] and DST. In the short term, efforts may focus on institutionalizing the bilateral symposium and utilizing funding to promote personnel exchanges, particularly for young researchers," said Chang.

Taiwan sees India as a strategic partner as both sides seek to translate technological strengths into economic growth, said Chang. "Technological development has become a key indicator of national competitiveness and strategic resilience, India is undoubtedly a strategic partner that Taiwan highly values," he said, citing India's Viksit Bharat 2047 and Taiwan's Chip-based Industrial Innovation Program.

Both sides expect their collaboration to span the development and fabrication of advanced quantum components such as quantum processing units and photonic integrated circuits, alongside higher-level software stacks and applications. In practical terms, the engagement could extend from chip fabrication and device engineering in Taiwan to algorithm design, control software and system integration in India.

Geopolitics at work

Geopolitics is essentially shaping the trajectory of this partnership. As quantum technology and artificial intelligence become markers of national competitiveness, both sides are embedding advanced technologies into broader development visions. India's long-term growth roadmap and Taiwan's industry-focused innovation strategies both treat deep-tech capability as central to economic security.

The existing science cooperation framework between NSTC and DST could be used to formalize regular Taiwanese-Indian engagements, expand funding for joint projects and support researcher exchanges, particularly for younger scientists, said Chang.

Shared use of specialized facilities is also on the table. Access to advanced fabrication lines, cryogenic infrastructure and precision measurement systems remains a bottleneck for many quantum programs. Facility-sharing arrangements could allow Indian researchers to work with hardware platforms that are not yet widely available domestically, while Taiwanese teams could plug into India's growing software and application ecosystem.

"Taiwan and India will continue to expand this strategic partnership, aiming to build the Indo-Pacific's most resilient and vibrant innovation powerhouse," said Chang.