India takes big leap in quantum security with IIT Madras-developed QRNG

India’s quantum technology ecosystem received a major boost as IIT Madras announced the licensing of the country’s first silicon photonics-based high-speed Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) for commercial use.

The agreement, worth ₹1 crore, was signed with Indrarka Quantum Technologies Pvt Ltd through the institute’s Technology Transfer Office on Aug 18.

The technology was developed at the Centre for Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits and Systems (CPPICS), IIT Madras, marking a step toward indigenous, field-ready quantum solutions for national and international applications.

“Silicon photonics is an emerging area with a 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,” said Prof V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras.

A prototype of the device was previously delivered to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and an upgraded version has already been deployed at the Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS Chennai) for advanced quantum security use.

The QRNG has wide-ranging applications, including IT security for defense, cryptography, quantum key distribution, scientific modeling, blockchain, financial systems, one-time password generation, and gaming.

By generating truly random numbers, it strengthens encryption and secure communication.

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

The licensing event was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), SETS Chennai, and industry representatives.

MeitY Secretary S Krishnan described the innovation as “a pride for India.”

Prof Manu Santhanam, Dean (IC&SR) at IIT Madras, said the collaboration shows how research, backed by industry partnerships, can deliver technologies of national importance.

Prof Bijoy Krishna Das, Chief Investigator of CPPICS, added, “I believe the field-deployable QRNG module is the first silicon photonics-based product from India, a remarkable milestone in our nation’s research journey.”

The achievement has been credited to faculty, scholars, and engineers at CPPICS, with packaging support from Izmo Microsystems.

By successfully transferring academic research into industry-ready solutions, IIT Madras has reinforced India’s growing position in the global quantum security space.