Q-PIER 2026
National Summit on Quantum Computation, Precision Instrumentation and Emerging Research Infrastructures, held with the formal inauguration of IMJIR during IMJ Founders' Week.
Looking for Q-SFDP? Go to the Q-SFDP portal.
At a glance
- Pre-summit workshop
- 11–12 April 2026
- Summit
- 13–14 April 2026
- Speakers
- 14 invited speakers
- Inaugurated
- IMJIR and the Delta Q Quantum Research Laboratory
Q-PIER 2026 brought researchers, policymakers, industry and students to Moodlakatte to talk about quantum hardware rather than theory alone: ion traps, precision instrumentation, quantum computing platforms, and building research infrastructure beyond the big cities. It was also the public launch of IMJIR as a national research institution.
Speakers came from TIFR, IISc, RRI, IISER Pune, IISER Kolkata, IUCAA, VECC, IBM Quantum, TCS Research and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
Guests
- Organised by
- Dr. K T Satyajith, Founder Director, IMJIR, and Siddharth J. Shetty, Chairman, IMJ Institutions
- Inaugural keynote
- Prof. M. Krishnamurthy, Director, TIFR Hyderabad
- Valedictory chief guest
- Shri U. T. Khader, Hon'ble Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly
- Distinguished guests
- Prof. Sharath Ananthamurthy (Vice-Chancellor, Kuvempu University), Prof. Saptarishi Chaudhuri (Lead PI, NQM, RRI), Prof. Siddappa (former Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University)
Shri N. S. Boseraju, Hon'ble Minister of Science and Technology, Government of Karnataka, was invited as chief guest for the inauguration but could not attend. He visited the quantum computing laboratory at IMJIR on 13 May 2026.
Pre-summit workshop
11–12 April 2026 · Lectures and hands-on sessions on ion trapping, quantum mechanics, optics and electronics, at IMJIR and the Delta Q lab.
| Day | Time | Session | Speaker | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr | 13:00–13:40 | Can you confine an atom in space? | Dr. K T Satyajith, Vishwa Chandrasekaran | Lecture |
| 11 Apr | 13:40–14:20 | Devices that confine atoms | Dr. K T Satyajith, Vishwa Chandrasekaran | Lecture |
| 11 Apr | 14:20–14:45 | Penning traps | Vyshnav Haridas | Lecture |
| 11 Apr | 15:00–16:00 | High-resolution spectroscopy using Paul traps | Dr. Pushpa M. Rao | Lecture |
| 11 Apr | 16:00–17:00 | Vacuum and detection | Dr. K T Satyajith, Ahalya P Krishnan | Lecture |
| 12 Apr | 09:30–10:45 | Quantum mechanics for quantum computation | Dr. T. Subeesh, Amrita University | Lecture |
| 12 Apr | 11:00–12:30 | Ion traps as quantum computing devices | Vishwa Chandrasekaran | Lecture |
| 12 Apr | 13:30–15:00 | Optics | Dr. Praveen Parthasarathy | Hands-on |
| 12 Apr | 15:20–16:30 | Electronics | Ananthakeshava | Hands-on |
Day 1 · 13 April: Inauguration and technical summit
A morning on democratising science, the inauguration of IMJIR and the Delta Q laboratory, an afternoon on quantum computation, and Yakshagana in the evening.
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 09:25–09:45 | Keynote: Shaping India's research future — policy, funding and infrastructure for emerging regions | Prof. M. Krishnamurthy, Director, TIFR Hyderabad |
| 09:45–10:05 | Universities as living spaces of learning and discovery: teaching and research in Tier-2/3 India | Prof. Sharath Ananthamurthy, Vice-Chancellor, Kuvempu University |
| 10:05–10:25 | Building large scientific facilities in universities: lessons from the Mangalore Microtron and beyond | Prof. Siddappa, former Vice-Chancellor, Bangalore University |
| 10:25–10:45 | Decentralising research: a wake-up call for India's scientific future, catalysed by quantum technologies | Prof. Saptarishi Chaudhuri, RRI; Lead PI, NQM |
| 11:00–13:00 | Inauguration of IMJIR and the Delta Q Quantum Research Laboratory | IMJIR leadership |
| 14:00–14:40 | The emergence of quantum technology from quantum science in the 21st century | Prof. Prasanta K. Panigrahi, IISER Kolkata |
| 14:40–15:15 | Keynote: Quantum computing and its status in India | Prof. Saptarishi Chaudhuri, RRI |
| 15:30–16:10 | Quantum computing with photons | Dr. C. M. Chandrashekar, IISc Bengaluru |
| 16:10–16:40 | Challenges in realising scalable quantum systems | Dr. Mahesh T. S., IISER Pune |
| 19:00–20:00 | Cultural programme: Yakshagana |
Day 2 · 14 April: Ecosystem and capacity building
Precision instrumentation, ion trap hardware, hands-on Qiskit, deep-tech entrepreneurship and two panel discussions, closing with the valedictory.
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30–10:10 | Precision instrumentation: noise and vibrations | Dr. Suresh Doravari, IUCAA Pune |
| 10:10–10:45 | Precision instrumentation: optics | Prof. Ayan Banerjee, IISER Kolkata |
| 11:00–11:30 | Electronic detection of trapped ions and electrons | Dr. Arindam Kumar Sikdar, VECC Kolkata |
| 11:00–12:15 | Qiskit hands-on workshop (parallel session) | Dr. Debasmita Bhoumik, IBM Quantum India |
| 11:30–12:00 | Fundamental physics with ion traps: principles and experiments | Dr. Parnika Das, VECC Kolkata |
| 12:00–12:30 | The quantum computing experiment at Delta Q | Vishwa Chandrasekaran, IMJIR |
| 12:30–13:15 | From lab to market: the real mechanics of building a deep-tech venture | Kalairasi |
| 14:00–14:45 | Special lecture: Ion trap quantum computing — progress and challenges | Prof. Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler, JGU Mainz, Germany |
| 14:45–15:45 | Panel: Bridging academia and industry | Dr. M. Girish Chandra (TCS), Dr. Debasmita Bhoumik (IBM), Prof. Saptarishi Chaudhuri (RRI), Prof. Ayan Banerjee (IISER Kolkata), Dr. Suresh Doravari (IUCAA), Dr. Praveen Parthasarathy |
| 16:15–17:00 | Panel: Can India become a global hub for quantum hardware? | Prof. Saptarishi Chaudhuri, Dr. C. M. Chandrashekar, Dr. Sugam Kumar, Dr. Mahesh T. S., Prof. Siddappa |
| 17:00–17:30 | Valedictory and closing ceremony | Chief guest: Shri U. T. Khader, Hon'ble Speaker, Karnataka Legislative Assembly |
Speakers
- Prof. M. KrishnamurthyTIFR Hyderabad
- Prof. Sharath AnanthamurthyKuvempu University
- Prof. SiddappaFormer VC, Bangalore University
- Prof. Saptarishi ChaudhuriRRI Bengaluru; Lead PI, NQM
- Prof. Prasanta K. PanigrahiIISER Kolkata
- Dr. C. M. ChandrashekarIISc Bengaluru
- Dr. Mahesh T. S.IISER Pune
- Prof. Ferdinand Schmidt-KalerJGU Mainz, Germany
- Dr. Suresh DoravariIUCAA Pune
- Prof. Ayan BanerjeeIISER Kolkata
- Dr. Parnika DasVECC Kolkata
- Dr. Arindam Kumar SikdarVECC Kolkata
- Dr. Debasmita BhoumikIBM Quantum India, Bengaluru
- Dr. M. Girish ChandraTCS Research, Bengaluru
- Dr. Pushpa M. RaoRetd. Senior Scientist, BARC; felicitated at the inauguration
- Dr. Praveen ParthasarathyJayanagara National College, Bengaluru
Advisory board
Members from IISc, RRI, IISER Pune, IISER Kolkata, IIST, IBM Quantum R&D, VECC and IIT Dharwad, with international partners at SUTD Singapore, Helmholtz Institute Mainz and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.