Jaipur: MNIT Jaipur is set to strengthen its research and innovation ecosystem with the establishment of an Advanced Quantum Computing and Quantum Communications Lab and a new Artificial Intelligence Lab, as announced by Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Railways and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The initiatives are aimed at equipping students and researchers with cutting-edge infrastructure while expanding the institute’s capabilities in emerging technologies.
The Advanced Quantum Computing and Quantum Communications Lab at MNIT Jaipur will be established under the Electronics and ICT Academic Project of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
The facility will focus on building indigenous capabilities in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Quantum Computing simulation, and Quantum Sensing hardware components.
Addressing students and faculty members, the Union Minister said that while the current technological wave is being driven by artificial intelligence, the next major technological wave will be led by Quantum Technology.
The Minister stated that the work to be undertaken under this project will be of significant importance for the country.
The laboratory at MNIT Jaipur will also undertake research in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which he highlighted as being important from the national security perspective.
Shri Vaishnaw urged MNIT Jaipur to take a leadership role in the area of post-quantum cryptography and contribute towards strengthening India’s technological capabilities in this critical domain.
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Students to Access Lam Research’s Semiverse Platform
The Union Minister also announced that students of MNIT Jaipur will gain access to Lam Research’s “Semiverse” platform, a digital twin-based semiconductor fabrication and training ecosystem.
Through the Semiverse platform, students will be able to study semiconductor chip structures in 3D, understand chip manufacturing processes, and simulate fabrication steps in a virtual environment, providing hands-on exposure to advanced semiconductor technologies.
Speaking about the semiconductor sector, Vaishnaw noted that industry estimates indicate a demand for more than a million semiconductor design professionals, adding that India can effectively bridge this workforce gap.
He highlighted that companies such as NVIDIA, Qualcomm, ARM, and AMD are already designing advanced 2 nm and 3 nm semiconductor chips in India, made possible by the country’s growing design workforce.
He further said that under the Government of India’s Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme, Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools are being provided to more than 323 universities across the country.
These state-of-the-art semiconductor design tools come from leading companies including Synopsys, Cadence, and Renesas.
Using these tools, more than 100 student-designed chips from institutions across India have been fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali. The Minister encouraged students at MNIT Jaipur to make full use of these advanced EDA resources.
Artificial Intelligence Lab to Boost Research and Innovation
In another major announcement, Vaishnaw said that an Artificial Intelligence Lab will also be established at MNIT Jaipur.
The proposed AI Lab will provide advanced computing facilities and research tools to support innovation and academic research. Its focus will be on connecting with the network of the IndiaAI Mission to strengthen collaborative development in artificial intelligence technologies.
While discussing AI initiatives, the Minister highlighted the work being undertaken by the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur in developing deepfake detection technology.
Makers Lab Inaugurated at MNIT Jaipur
Later, the Union Minister, along with Heeralal Nagar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Energy Department in the Government of Rajasthan, and Gopal Sharma, Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly representing Civil Lines, Jaipur, inaugurated the Makers Lab at MNIT Jaipur.
The Makers Lab has been designed to provide students with experiential and hands-on training opportunities across software and hardware technologies.
The facility will include work involving sensors, embedded systems, computing devices, and electronics systems, enabling practical learning and innovation.
During his visit, Vaishnaw also interacted with students and faculty members at MNIT Jaipur.
Students showcased several projects and applications spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, drones, structural engineering, and post-quantum cryptography, reflecting the institute’s growing focus on advanced technology research and development.
