Scientific culture in universities is crucial for countries to participate in the second quantum revolution: Nobel laureate Duncan Haldane
He was delivering the keynote session at the first day of Quantum India Bengaluru 2025.
'The ability of countries to take part in the ongoing second quantum revolution will be dependent on having a vibrant scientific culture in their universities, where quantum-literate researchers and future technologists are trained,' he said.
'World-class science centres critical'
Mr. Haldane noted that it is important for any country to have at least one place where world-class science is done because that serves as an example to their young people who want to go into science.
'Government investment in science education, and allowing universities and institutes to participate in world-class science, will pay back many times over if it produces a local culture where innovation in quantum and other new technologies can flourish locally, with startups, etc,' he said.
Mr. Haldane expressed optimism in the efforts of the Government of Karnataka in this direction.
Collaborative progress
Noting that quantum uses are growing every day, he stressed the importance of collaboration among three communities, namely toy-model builders, people with deep and sophisticated mathematical skills and entrepreneurs.
While toy-model builders were critical to find what kind of unexpected physics can in principle occur, mathematically sophisticated people are required to understand why it happens, he explained.
'You need cutting-edge technology and material science to bring these things to a reality. Otherwise, they're just pipe dreams on a piece of paper,' he said.
Importance of entrepreneurs
Stressing the importance of entrepreneurs, he said they were crucial to look at science and decide if it is really viable.
'If it seems viable, they are the ones who have got to make it happen. Without all this coming together, we will not get the advances that we need,' he said.
Talking about the possibilities of quantum science, he noted that whether or not quantum computers live up to their promised potential, quantum devices as a whole, probably coupled with AI, will be transformative for technology now and in the near future.
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