Kolkata: West Bengal has taken a step towards building a stronger quantum and semiconductor technology ecosystem with the launch of an Emerging Quantum and Semiconductor Technologies (EQST) section at the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) in Kolkata.
The new section was launched alongside the two-day national conference on Quantum and Semiconductor Technologies: Innovations for the Future (CQST-2026). The initiative aims to create a focused institutional base for research and development in emerging technologies while exploring ways to attract investments and encourage collaboration between research institutions, universities and industry.
The CSIR-CGCRI itself says the EQST section will work on areas including advanced semiconductor processing, superconducting quantum platforms, two-dimensional quantum materials, single-electron transistor technologies and advanced photonic systems.
New Institutional Push for Quantum and Semiconductors
The launch comes as governments and research institutions increasingly focus on technologies that could influence computing, communications, electronics and other strategic sectors.
At the launch, the West Bengal minister for food processing industries and horticulture said the state could not remain a bystander as countries and states invest heavily in quantum and semiconductor technologies.
The state government plans to work with CSIR-CGCRI, its science and technology department and other departments to explore mechanisms that can facilitate quantum and semiconductor investments in West Bengal.
The new EQST section is intended to provide a more focused institutional anchor for these efforts. The minister said the state has scientific talent and ambition but needs stronger institutional structures to translate those strengths into sustained research and investment.
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Building on CSIR-CGCRI’s Existing Expertise
The initiative builds on CSIR-CGCRI’s long-standing expertise in areas connected to advanced materials and photonics.
The institute has decades of experience in glass, ceramics, optical fibre and photonics. Its new EQST initiative will use this existing research base to expand into frontier areas of quantum and semiconductor technology.
The institute has identified several research directions, including:
- Quantum materials and exotic quantum phases
- Qubits, quantum devices and sensors
- Quantum transport and metrology
- Semiconductor materials and processing
- Advanced semiconductor devices
- Quantum and semiconductor optoelectronics
CSIR-CGCRI has also encouraged researchers, academic institutions and industry to participate in research and knowledge-sharing through CQST-2026.
Linking With National Quantum Mission
The West Bengal government has proposed linking the EQST section with the thematic hubs established under the National Quantum Mission (NQM).
The NQM currently operates through four thematic hubs covering quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing and metrology, and quantum materials and devices. The hubs bring together researchers and institutions from across India to advance technology development, human-resource development, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration.
This proposed connection could give researchers and institutions in West Bengal greater scope for collaboration with the wider national quantum research ecosystem.
The Department of Science and Technology says the four NQM thematic hubs involve 152 researchers from 43 institutions across 17 states and two Union Territories.
Focus on Research, Startups and Skills
The state’s plan goes beyond laboratory research. The minister also referred to funding mechanisms announced in the West Bengal budget to support emerging technology ventures.
These include a Science and Technology Talent Attraction Fund, an incubation fund and a venture capital fund aimed at supporting deep-tech startups emerging from research in quantum and semiconductor technologies.
The focus on startups could help bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial applications. Such a link is also a central feature of the National Quantum Mission, which supports entrepreneurship and industry collaboration alongside technology development.
The state has also called for universities and industry to work together on research, technology development and skill-building programmes. This could help create a pipeline of researchers and skilled professionals for sectors that require specialised knowledge in physics, materials science, electronics, photonics and semiconductor engineering.
Why Quantum and Semiconductor Technologies Matter
Quantum technologies are being developed for applications ranging from computing and communications to sensing and precision measurement. Semiconductor technologies, meanwhile, form the foundation of modern electronics and are critical to sectors including telecommunications, computing, automobiles and advanced manufacturing.
India’s National Quantum Mission identifies areas such as quantum communication, sensing, quantum materials and quantum devices as key technology priorities. It also aims to strengthen research, infrastructure, startups and skilled human resources in the sector.
For West Bengal, developing capabilities in these areas could create opportunities to connect its scientific institutions and universities with emerging technology industries.
Kolkata Conference Brings Academia and Industry Together
The CQST-2026 conference provided a platform for researchers, academic institutions and industry representatives to discuss developments in quantum materials, quantum devices, advanced semiconductors and photonic technologies.
According to CSIR-CGCRI, the conference was organised on September 14–15 and marked the launch of the EQST section. Its broader objective is to advance indigenous capabilities in quantum and semiconductor technologies.
The conference also places Kolkata within a wider national conversation on building research capacity and developing practical applications from emerging technologies.
A New Direction for West Bengal’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem
The launch of the EQST section gives West Bengal a dedicated institutional platform for research in quantum and semiconductor technologies while building on expertise already available at CSIR-CGCRI.
The combination of research infrastructure, university-industry collaboration, startup support and links with the National Quantum Mission could help the state strengthen its emerging deep-tech ecosystem.
For West Bengal, the larger objective is to convert its scientific talent into research, innovation, skilled employment and technology-led investment. The EQST initiative marks an attempt to create the institutional support needed to pursue that goal in two of the rapidly developing technology sectors.
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