In a move that emphasises the growing international significance of quantum research, a high-level delegation from the Indian state of Karnataka, led by Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology N.S. Boseraju, recently visited ETH Zurich to explore new opportunities for collaboration in quantum technologies.

During their visit to the ETH Quantum Center, Minister Boseraju met with Professor Andreas Wallraff, Professor Jonathan Home, and Professor Klaus Ensslin, whose pioneering work in superconducting qubits and trapped ion systems places ETH Zurich among the global leaders driving the next generation of quantum computing.

“ETH Zurich represents the birthplace of modern quantum computing, where fundamental science has been transformed into working technology,” said Minister Boseraju. “Connecting Karnataka’s emerging quantum ecosystem with such world-class expertise is a privilege and an opportunity for transformative collaboration.”

The visit comes as Karnataka, home to India’s technology capital, Bengaluru, advances its vision to establish Quantum City (Q-City), a new multidisciplinary research and innovation hub for quantum technologies. The state aims to emulate ETH Zurich’s collaborative model, which connects academia, startups, and industry across Switzerland through shared research infrastructure and interdisciplinary exchange.

A Glimpse Into ETH’s Quantum Ecosystem

At ETH Zurich, the delegation explored state-of-the-art Superconducting Qubit and Trapped Ion laboratories, witnessing firsthand how ETH’s coordinated approach has enabled groundbreaking progress in quantum science and technology. These efforts are spearheaded by the ETH Quantum Center, founded in 2020 under the ETH+ Initiative on Quantum Science and Technology. The center serves as a collaborative platform uniting more than 30 research groups across disciplines, from physics and engineering to computer science and materials research.

Professor Andreas Wallraff, founding director of the Quantum Center and a world-renowned expert in superconducting quantum circuits, shared insights into ETH’s strategy for fostering innovation through both academic excellence and entrepreneurial spin-offs. One such success story is Zurich Instruments, an ETH spin-off that develops precision measurement systems used in quantum laboratories worldwide, including in India.

Inspiring Global Collaboration

Minister Boseraju’s discussions with ETH researchers focused on how Karnataka can adapt and localize ETH Zurich’s model of coordinated quantum research under the Q-City Bengaluru initiative. The envisioned hub will combine academic excellence, industrial innovation, and startup entrepreneurship to advance quantum hardware development and strengthen India’s position in the global quantum landscape.

“The collaboration between ETH Zurich and Karnataka reflects a shared vision,” said Andreas Wallraff. “Quantum technology has immense potential to shape the future of computing, communication, and sensing. By connecting leading research ecosystems, we accelerate both scientific discovery and real-world impact.”

ETH Zurich at the Forefront of Quantum Innovation

For decades, ETH Zurich has played a central role in shaping the field of quantum science, from foundational physics to real-world applications. As the home of the Quantum Engineering Master’s Programme, the ETH+ Quantum Initiative, and several leading research laboratories, ETH continues to act as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and talent development.

Professor Wallraff’s own journey exemplifies ETH’s pioneering spirit. His research has advanced our understanding of quantum electrodynamics in superconducting circuits, laying the groundwork for scalable quantum processors. Under his leadership, ETH has established one of the world’s leading infrastructures for quantum experimentation and training, enabling students, researchers, and partners to collaborate at the highest scientific level.

Towards a Shared Quantum Future

The Karnataka delegation’s visit marks a milestone in strengthening academic and innovation ties between India and Switzerland. As both regions invest in the future of quantum technology, ETH Zurich remains committed to fostering open collaboration, sharing expertise, and nurturing the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers. With initiatives like Q-City in Bengaluru and the ETH Quantum Center in Zurich, a global network of quantum innovation is taking shape, one that connects continents, accelerates knowledge exchange, and drives technological transformation for a sustainable future.

Now in my third year of the physics bachelor’s at ETH Zurich, I recall the dramatic shift of focus towards large language models, and in general, machine learning after the release of ChatGPT in 2022, right at the start of my studies. My name is Kilian Teck, and it is my pleasure to share my experience from attending the ML4QT symposium. I first heard about the conference through an Instagram post by ETH on the day of the application deadline. At the time, I was travelling to the World of Quantum exhibition in Munich for a hackathon and only decided last minute to write to ETH Studios. A few days later, I was delighted to hear that I was invited to attend.

In Zurich, I met up with Isidor Schoch, and we headed to Heilbronn. The opportunity to connect with Isidor, who is an ETH alumnus, was great. He has a master’s degree in quantum engineering and continues to work in the field at NVIDIA. Close to the completion of my bachelor’s, I am in the process of deciding on a direction for my master’s and having an advanced mentor at hand is indispensable.

At first, we were both slightly surprised by the location of the symposium. Heilbronn is a small city, only recently having gained the title of university city. But throughout the stay, I was amazed at the efforts being implemented to grow the location into a hub for innovation. As we learned during a tour with colleagues from ETH Studio Heilbronn, the ‘Bildungscampus’ is being greatly expanded over the next few years, hosting renowned institutes, including ETH, TUM, Fraunhofer and the Max Planck Gesellschaft. Thank you to Marc Ebert and Michele de Lorenzi for showing us first-hand how ETH fosters excellence internationally.

Over two days, I got to hear a plethora of talks on various aspects of applying classical machine learning to accelerating the development of quantum hardware as well as software. Speakers ranged from renowned experts such as Jens Eisert to emerging researchers and companies. The University of Waterloo co-hosted the event with the Fraunhofer IAO and IPO. During numerous coffee breaks, chatting with researchers from across the pond, it was incredibly valuable to hear about the international efforts of pushing quantum technologies to a useful scale. In particular, I recall the talk by Prof. Christine Muschik from the Perimeter Institute and the Waterloo Institute for Quantum Computing, which highlighted how using qudits—quantum systems with more than two states, as opposed to the conventional two states of a qubit—can reduce the number of required operations and therefore potentially enhance the accuracy of calculations performed on quantum computers.

In the evening, we had the chance to enjoy Heilbronn by canoe. A guided tour on the Neckar proved to be a lot of fun. Racing fellow attendees on the water and a ‘Literaturstunde’ by the guide, with a humorous quote about the river Neckar by Mark Twain. The bit of exercise was followed by a delicious dinner at the Experimenta itself.

The symposium was an incredible experience, and I am very grateful to ETH Studios for making it possible to meet with so many interesting people in one place to learn about quantum initiatives.

Find out more about the ETH Studios here: https://ethz.ch/en/the-eth-zurich/global/network/eth-studios.html