India’s quantum science and life sciences communities came together at the National Conference on Quantum Biotechnology at IIT Bombay to explore the potential of quantum technologies in healthcare and life sciences, with discussions focused on diagnostics, biomedical imaging, drug discovery and precision medicine.

The one-day conference was hosted by Qmet Tech Foundation, the thematic hub for Quantum Sensing & Metrology established under India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM) at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

Researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, startups and students participated in the conference, which aimed to strengthen collaboration between quantum science and the life sciences and accelerate the translation of laboratory research into deployable healthcare technologies.

Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session, Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, highlighted the strategic importance of quantum biotechnology and its potential role in advancing India's technology and healthcare capabilities.

Quantum biotechnology represents an emerging intersection of quantum sensing, imaging and computing with biology and medicine. Quantum-enabled measurement technologies could enable researchers and clinicians to detect biological signals and phenomena with a level of sensitivity that conventional instrumentation may not achieve.

The conference sought to establish an interdisciplinary platform to identify national research priorities while addressing the challenges involved in moving quantum technologies from laboratory demonstrations towards practical healthcare applications.

Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, emphasised the importance of an integrated approach to technology development.

“Unless we work on all sides of the technology in an integrated and strategic manner, we cannot take India ahead in the technology domain,” he said.

Prof. Kasturi Saha, Project Director, Qmet Tech Foundation, highlighted the potential of quantum sensing in biosensing applications.

“Quantum biotechnology is where our sensing capabilities meet real clinical needs. At Qmet Tech, we are building quantum sensors of remarkable precision. The task now is to point them at the questions biology has been unable to answer. Bringing physicists, biologists, and industry into one room is how that translation begins,” she said.

The conference also focused on the need to build an ecosystem capable of taking quantum technologies beyond research and into commercial and clinical applications.

Hardik Joshi, CEO, Qmet Tech Foundation, said the growing participation of industry demonstrated increasing interest in quantum biotechnology.

“What struck me today is how much industry interest quantum biotechnology is attracting. Qmet Tech's role is to convert it into deployable technology, supporting startups, developing talent, and creating the manufacturing and testing capability India will need as these tools move towards the clinic,” he said.