Quantum And AI: Can Kashmir Emerge As A Deep-Tech Hub?

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer)
Dr. Rukhsan ul Haq

Dr. Rukhsan ul Haq, a visionary tech evangelist and Quantum Computation Scientist sat down for a tête-à-tête with Kashmir Observer. In this exclusive excerpt from the interview, Dr. Rukhsan shares insights into his groundbreaking work in quantum computing and his journey as the first Kashmir-born scientist to join the prestigious IBM Quantum team.

Here are the excerpts from the interview.

1. You are the first Kashmir-born scientist to join IBM Quantum! How does it feel to be a pioneer in this field, and what drives your passion for pushing the boundaries of emerging technologies?

Indeed, it is a great feeling, as IBM is the leader in the quantum computing space. It has been active for the last four decades. There has been a lot of impactful research that IBM has produced over the last many decades, and being a part of that legacy is something I value deeply. Also, being the first scientist from Kashmir to be a part of IBM Quantum is a privilege. From early on, I developed a passion for quantum physics and went on to pursue it. It has become a lifelong interest for me, as it is very important from a quantum computing point of view as well as being a foundational framework of our understanding of how the universe works. As they say,“Quantum is the future, and the future is quantum.” I feel it is very important and equally exciting to be at the frontiers of this field and push its boundaries.

2. Your work in quantum computing has led to published papers and filed patents. Can you share a particularly groundbreaking discovery or innovation you've been a part of and its potential real-world applications?

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I have had wide research interests with many paper publications and patents. One important work I did was with Louis Kaufman, a renowned mathematician from the USA. We worked on the topological protection of qubits, which is very important to topological quantum computing. I was also part of the team that patented a new neural network architecture that is very fast and robust and finds application in solving some quantum machine learning problems. We have applied it to some problems related to ESPN sports, and it gave amazing results. I developed a method for solving certain quantum many-body problems, which has been acknowledged and referenced in IBM's official Qiskit Notebook.

3. Not many people leave a senior position at a tech giant like IBM. What made you believe that you could achieve more at Chinar Quantum AI (CQAI) than you could at IBM?

It was a tough decision, but I always had an entrepreneurial mindset and always wanted to build new enterprises. A few years ago, I had also secured funding for a quantum computing company from UK-based talent investor Entrepreneur First. I resonated deeply with the vision of Chinar Quantum AI and found it perfect for my entrepreneurial pursuits. I believe in its potential to achieve great breakthroughs and establish a distinct presence in the global deep-tech landscape.

4. As the CEO of Chinar Quantum AI, what is your vision for CQAI, and how do you see it shaping the future of AI and quantum computing?

The vision for Chinar Quantum AI is centered around the fact that we live in times where the economy is becoming a knowledge economy. There are emerging technologies like quantum computing, generative AI, the semantic web, and blockchain that are becoming pivotal to this global knowledge ecosystem. In these knowledge economies, knowledge centers and knowledge capital are going to be very important. So, we are setting up CQAI in a way that it capitalizes on knowledge and establishes research and innovation centers. We want to create IP at the frontiers of technology and democratize the technology for businesses, organizations, and individuals for a larger impact. Having a team that has worked in international organizations and research centers at the forefront of AI and quantum computing, I believe we are well-equipped to drive innovations that will shape the future of these fields.

5. You've secured significant pre-seed funding for your quantum computing startup. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and startups in Kashmir and beyond, looking to navigate the complex landscape of deep-tech startups?

For entrepreneurs in India, these are exciting times. India as a country is putting a lot of focus on innovation, and deep tech is playing a major role in its progress. But in Kashmir, we are lagging both in adoption as well as the development of these technologies. So, for Kashmiri entrepreneurs, my recommendation would be to actively explore this deep-tech space. There are a lot of investments coming into this domain. Also, the national missions are there to support deep-tech startups, my advice would be that Kashmiri entrepreneurs should go beyond conventional businesses like agriculture and tourism and work on more innovative and disruptive technologies.

6. As a dedicated mentor, what do you believe are the most critical skills and knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to foster a robust startup ecosystem in Kashmir ?

One of the critical gaps that I see in local entrepreneurs and the startup culture is that there is no grounded ecosystem to nurture technology-based startups in Kashmir. It is high time that we fill this gap. This can be done by connecting with mentorship programs and startup incubators across India. Locally, we can set up incubators and startup learning centers-centers of excellence where we can train people and connect them to technology.

Another thing that is lacking here is that there is not a lot of tech-to-business mapping. There is no place that trains people in how technology adoption can boost business productivity or how deep-tech startups work. There is no pipeline in place through which local entrepreneurs can connect to innovation and technology and set up impactful ventures. At CQAI, an integral part of our vision and planning is to set up these training centers in Kashmir.

7. Your commitment to transformative education and research is evident through the Kashmir Institute of Mathematical Sciences (KIMS). How do you envision KIMS addressing 21st-century socio-economic challenges and nurturing future leaders in critical research areas?

KIMS was founded as a base for establishing knowledge centers. As I already discussed, the 21st century is more about the knowledge economy and knowledge capital. Therefore, at KIMS, which we now call the Kashmiri Society of Mathematical Sciences (KSMS), our major focus is to establish these centers and enable people to connect with technology, as mathematical sciences are at the heart of technology.

We want to connect people to mathematical and computational domains so that they can get into research, build technology, develop businesses, and pursue entrepreneurship. There is no scope for impactful innovation and disruption if we are not grounded in mathematical science. The major focus of KSMS is to establish strong foundations in this important field. It is also serving as an intellectual idea and knowledge exchange center in the realm of mathematical sciences, where we want to connect Kashmir to the global mathematical sciences community

9. The world is gearing up for the prospects of quantum computing in the near future. How do you see this technology shaping industries, and how prepared is the world for this transformation?

Quantum computing is an emerging technology. It is not mature enough as of now, but it already is showing promise. It has not yet created any significant commercial value, and as of now, there are not many use cases across domains where there is a clear quantum advantage or where quantum technology is significantly better than classical technology in terms of commercial value. There's a lot of research being done, and it is believed that by around 2030 or so, we will be able to reap some of the benefits of quantum computing. The breakthroughs in quantum security, materials science, and drug discovery are proving its potential. Companies are actively exploring quantum for better batteries, faster drug development, and stronger cybersecurity. Quantum computing is a natural approach to understanding and solving these business problems. Therefore, it's clear that quantum computing has its advantage over classical technologies when it comes to some special and niche areas, which are, at the same time, very important. So, quantum computing is going to be a game changer in certain sectors, and it is going to be the way forward in these departments.

I'm excited for quantum computing to reshape the economy, revolutionize industries, and unlock new applications that were previously unimaginable.

10. Getting to the forefront of technology is no longer a matter of choice but an existential necessity. How do you see deep tech shaping global competitiveness, and what lessons should India, particularly Kashmir, learn in this regard?

Yes, you're absolutely right. As I said, we are currently living in or getting closer to knowledge economies, where the power dynamics of the world and geopolitical matters will also be determined by technologies or what I call the knowledge capital of countries. Therefore, it's existential for any country and community to make progress in these domains. It's strategically important that every country focuses on adopting and building its own technologies, especially one like quantum, because, In the future, security, the internet, and other very critical technologies will be determined by quantum.

11. Recently, you traveled to Kuwait for a workshop. How do you see different countries approaching advancements in AI and quantum computing, and what can we learn from their strategies?

There are three major responses in terms of the adoption of these technologies. Some countries are on the developed side-they have already adopted these technologies and are doing so very consciously. That's the first response we see, especially from the West, particularly Europe. Similarly, India and China, as developing countries, are also adopting these technologies very consciously, considering their economic potential. Then, there is another category of countries that are trying to catch up but are progressing slowly at the same time. Finally, there is a third category of countries that are indifferent and not taking much interest. Kuwait is a country that is trying to catch up and has already started certain initiatives, showing a lot of receptivity toward these technologies. Similarly, other Arab countries are also willing to catch up in these areas.

12. Looking at the deep tech ecosystem in India, particularly in Kashmir, how would you assess its growth? What are the key gaps, and what steps need to be taken to make it globally competitive?

Regarding the startup ecosystem in India, I think India is very clear about the role of technologies, as I said earlier. Conscious efforts are being made by entrepreneurs and through various collaborations between academia and industry. People are trying to enter deep tech. However, there is a lack of foundational expertise in India. That's why India has not yet produced deep tech products or something highly original on a global scale.

When it comes to Kashmir, I think the gaps are quite large. There is no systematic ecosystem in Kashmir, which makes it difficult for entrepreneurs to build things. Simultaneously, another major problem is the lack of expertise. I don't think Kashmir is ready yet-it doesn't have the necessary expertise or an established ecosystem. However, I do see a willingness among people; they are trying to move forward and explore these fields. Hopefully, in the coming years, we will see significant developments from Kashmir. India is already undergoing a major transition, and we at Chinar Quantum AI are excited to play a role in shaping this ecosystem in Kashmir.

13. Looking back on your journey, what advice would you give to your younger self, and what wisdom would you share with aspiring scientists, entrepreneurs, and educators in Kashmir and beyond?

I think it's an interesting question. I believe I have had a very nice and rewarding journey. It has been a fascinating exploration, starting from my student days all the way to becoming a quantum physicist, and the journey continues. However, I think I would have changed certain things in my journey. One thing I would have liked early on in my life was to go to Bangalore, where I could have gained more exposure to business, startups, companies, and industry when I was younger. That was something missing in my journey because I studied mostly in Kashmir, where we do not have much exposure to what's happening on a global scale. Apart from that, I think everything else in my journey has been great.

To the aspiring entrepreneurs of Kashmir, I would like to tell that we are living in exciting times in terms of business, science, and technology, as well as entrepreneurship in Asia, particularly in India and China. These are exciting times for any entrepreneur. There is a lot of support available, and I think entrepreneurs should not be constrained by anything. They should move forward, ensuring they have a clear business idea. Once they are confident in their idea, they should network and explore the numerous opportunities available. We should think big and contextualize ourselves properly in the 21st century, as there are huge opportunities both nationally and globally.

As I said, these are exciting times for anyone who wants to become a scientist, an entrepreneur, or start a business, especially in deep tech. I would encourage everyone to move forward and not limit themselves. They should not be discouraged by difficulties but should leverage all available opportunities. At CQAI, we would love to support more entrepreneurs, especially tech-driven ones. They should reach out to us, and we would be happy to support them, regardless of where they come from. Our goal at CQAI is to nurture talent, support innovation and research, build startups, and contribute to economic growth.

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