New Delhi, May 5 -- The National Quantum Mission (NQM) has awarded up to Rs.30 crore each to eight startups, aiming to jumpstart India's presence in quantum technologies ranging from quantum computing, sensing, communications, and materials.

This makes it the largest government-led startup investment initiative, according to Ajai Chowdhry, chairman of the Mission Governing Board of the National Quantum Mission, and EPIC Foundation.

"No other central government scheme has disbursed such large individual funding amounts to early-stage ventures," he told Mint in an interview. Government initiatives like Startup India or MeitY's TIDE 2.0 have supported thousands of startups, but funding was typically capped at Rs.1-2 crore.

NQM was launche...