Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu has renewed his 2017 offer of a reward of Rs 100 crore for the first Nobel laureate to emerge from the state, this time prodding the scientist-student community to explore quantum science as the avenue to achieve the feat.
The TDP chief, who laid out a blueprint for IT sector growth in united Andhra Pradesh, is now on a mission to make the proposed Amaravati Quantum Valley “the anchor of the knowledge economy of the future”.
Recalling his earlier call of “one IT professional per family,” Naidu issued a similar call for quantum, urging students to understand the vision and plan their future accordingly.
On Wednesday, the chief minister donned the role of a professor, virtually delivering a lecture on quantum technology to thousands of students—a session also joined in by Prof V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras; Prof K.N. Satyanarayana, Director, IIT Tirupati; Dr Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; and experts from various institutions.
Discussing applications of quantum technology, Naidu highlighted its transformative potential in sectors such as green energy, personalised medicine, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. “IT and AI have already transformed our lives. The next breakthrough will be the speed and efficiency of computing driven by quantum,” he said, adding that India is in a position to take first-mover advantage in this global transformation.
The chief minister declared that quantum computer production would begin in Andhra Pradesh within two years. On the push for quantum technology, Bhaskar Katamneni, secretary, ITE & C department, told ThePrint that Naidu sees an immense potential in terms of investment, growth and especially high-paying jobs for the state’s youth.
The state is building the Amaravati Quantum Valley (AQV), which AP officials say is “a pioneering initiative aimed at establishing India’s first dedicated quantum computing and deep tech ecosystem”. The project, allocated 50 acres of land at Amaravati—AP’s mega greenfield capital near Vijayawada—is in alignment with the National Quantum Mission (NQM). It is designed to include startups, MNCs, academia and research laboratories.
According to the plan, IBM is set to install its 156-qubit Quantum System Two—currently the most powerful quantum computer in India; while L&T will handle infrastructure. TCS will provide quantum computing services and hybrid computing solutions for the project.
With the Amaravati Quantum Valley underway, Naidu has now set out to attract AP students’ interest towards quantum science as a career option. The lecture Wednesday where he laid out his vision before 50,000+ plus tech students, officials said, “marks the launch of world’s largest quantum skilling programme in Andhra Pradesh.”
The programme is being implemented through a strategic partnership led by WISER (Washington Institute for STEM, Entrepreneurship & Research) and Qubitech as the India partner. It has already witnessed strong traction, with 50,000 registrations secured within ten days, which Katamneni says underscores the enthusiasm among students and young professionals. Women constitute 51 percent of those who have registered.
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‘Silicon Valley to Quantum Valley’
On Wednesday, CM Chandrababu Naidu addressed students through a structured presentation titled “Silicon Valley to Quantum Valley,” aided by a PowerPoint presentation to outline Andhra Pradesh’s roadmap for leading the global quantum revolution.
“Twenty-five years ago, I presented a vision for IT. Today, I am presenting a vision for quantum. Just like Silicon Valley anchored the digital age, Amaravati’s Quantum Valley will anchor the knowledge economy of the future,” he said. At this juncture, Naidu harked back to the announcement he made at the 2017 Indian Science Congress held at Tirupati.
He had then declared a reward of Rs 100 crore for the first Nobel laureate from the state.
The offer still stands, Naidu told students while goading them to pursue quantum science.
Evoking his role as united AP CM in establishing Hyderabad’s HITEC City, Naidu said the initiative laid a strong foundation for the IT ecosystem, “resulting in Telugu youth today forming a significant part of the global digital workforce”.
He added that Indian-origin households in the US report a median income nearly double the national average there, driven largely by STEM and professional employment. Naidu also said that Telugu entrepreneurs have founded more than 1,200 technology startups in the Silicon Valley, more than 2.5 lakh Telugu professionals hold key positions in top tech firms, and Telugu-origin leaders are at the helm of several Fortune 500 companies.
Outlining his vision for statewide development, he presented multiple development clusters planned across Andhra Pradesh and urged students to think holistically rather than in silos. “Do not look for bits and pieces. Aim for a big vision,” he said.
Naidu concluded by declaring: “We want to produce quantum computers in Amaravati.”
(Edited by Niyati Kothiyal)