Qmet Tech, IIT Bombay

NextSense drives entrepreneurship development in quantum sensing and metrology, accelerating startups from ideation to impactful solutions. It provides funding support, mentorship, and access to technical and business experts. Funding amounts range from up to ₹1 Crore for Idea to POC, up to ₹5 Crores for POC to product/customer pilot, and up to ₹25 Crores for scale up of technology, product development, and commercialization. The funding instrument is Equity or CCPS. Eligibility requires a business idea with market fit, viable commercialization, and scalability in quantum sensing and metrology, DPIIT registration (or eligibility), technology-enabled core product/service, and being an 'Indian Company' with at least 51% Indian promoter shareholding. Funds can be used for R&D and Prototyping, Equipment Purchase, Salaries (promoters' salary not exceeding 20% of fund support), Testing/Validation/Certification, Marketing & Outreach, and Contingencies (not exceeding 10%).

This program aims to strengthen academia-industry linkages and build a skilled workforce in QTA, specifically in quantum sensing and metrology (QSM). The UG program offers hands-on internships for up to 10 months with a monthly stipend of INR 15,000 and up to INR 20,000 for consumables. Eligibility requires completing the first year of an engineering/science course, having at least 10 months left, a minimum CGPA/CPI of 6.0 (or 60% marks), and not receiving other government-funded scholarships. The PG program offers a fellowship for up to 2 years with a monthly stipend of INR 20,000 and up to INR 20,000 per year for consumables. Eligibility includes admission to a PG program in QTA or related areas at IITs, NITs, CFTIs, or AICTE/UGC approved institutions, a valid GATE/JAM score (dual degree students from IITs without GATE score are eligible), a minimum CGPA/CPI of 6.0 (or 60% marks), and no other government-funded fellowships. The PhD fellowship provides a monthly stipend of INR 70,000 for the first two years, INR 75,000 for the third, and INR 80,000 for the fourth and fifth year, for a duration of 5 years, plus a research grant of up to INR 2,00,000 per year. Eligibility requires admission to a PhD program in QTA or related areas, a minimum CGPA/CPI of 7.5 (or 70% marks), and no other government-funded fellowships. The program covers application areas like Time keeping, Gravity sensing, Navigation (GPS-free), Biomedical imaging & diagnostics, Magnetic/electric field sensing, Precision measurement, and Quantum Imaging.

This fellowship encourages in-depth analysis and knowledge enrichment in QTA, aiming to create new scientific knowledge/technology solutions and solve industry problems. It supports motivated young researchers and grooms them as independent researchers. The support includes an honorarium of Rs. 1,24,000 per month (Rs. 100,000 + 24% HRA, if not residing in hostel/institute facilities), a non-lapsable contingency grant of Rs. 50,000 per annum, and travel support for conferences/workshops. The initial term is 1 year, extendable for another 2 years based on performance and outcomes like technology commercialization, high-quality research publications, IP generation, and startup initiation. The workplace is the respective college of the mentor faculty in India. Eligibility requires a PhD degree or submission of a PhD thesis (awaiting examination), research experience in QTA with publications, patents, or professional activities, preferably below 32 years of age, and not receiving any other government-funded fellowships. Indian citizens, including those residing abroad, are eligible.