IIT Madras develops India's first silicon photonics-based high-speed Quantum Random Number Generator

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has indigenously developed and licensed India’s first silicon photonics-based high-speed quantum random number generator (QRNG).

IIT-M signs ₹1 crore licensing agreement

The Technology Transfer Office (TTO), IIT Madras, has also signed a ₹1 crore licensing agreement on Monday with Indrarka Quantum Technologies Pvt Ltd for the commercial deployment of the silicon photonic QRNG.

It has been developed at the Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CPPICS), IIT Madras.

V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said: “Silicon photonics is an emerging area with strong interface with quantum technologies. Random number generation is a critical building block for secure computing and communication. I am extremely excited that the CPPICS has developed this QRNG that could be readily deployed in the market.”

The prototype version of the QRNG module was earlier delivered to the Young Scientist Laboratory - Quantum Technologies under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 

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Advanced version of QRNG module

Reportedly, the institute has also developed an advanced version of the QRNG module, which was deployed at the Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS Chennai) for quantum security applications.

S Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, congratulated the CoE-CPPICS team, saying: “Indigenously developed, field-deployable silicon photonic-based quantum random number generator module is a pride for India.”

Dinanath Soni, Director, Indrarka Quantum Technologies Pvt Ltd, said: “We are honoured to partner with IIT Madras in bringing India’s first silicon photonics-based QRNG to market. This ground-breaking technology represents a significant leap forward in quantum security solutions and exemplifies the success of the Make in India initiative.”

Manu Santhanam, Dean (IC&SR), IIT Madras, said: “The Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems embodies IIT Madras’s vision of transforming world-class research into transformative solutions. The successful development and licensing of the silicon photonics-based QRNG is a testament to how focused R&D, backed by strong industry partnerships, can deliver technologies of national importance.”

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