Prof. Urbasi Sinha Honored with Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 for Contributions to Quantum Research

Bengaluru: Professor Urbasi Sinha, a prominent faculty member in the Light and Matter Physics theme at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), has been awarded the prestigious Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize 2025 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at Cambridge, UK.

The award celebrates Prof. Sinha’s groundbreaking work in quantum technologies and her contributions to advancing quantum computing for addressing global challenges. She is among eight distinguished winners of the Gates-Cambridge Impact Prize, presented in honor of the foundation’s 25th anniversary.

Reflecting on the recognition, Prof. Sinha remarked, “It is humbling to be acknowledged for my work, which spans a similar timeline as the Gates-Cambridge Scholarship. This recognition reinforces my belief in the potential impact of quantum science in the years to come.” Her nomination highlighted her visionary approach: “Professor Sinha’s vision and dedication are paving the way for a future where quantum computing serves as a catalyst for solving humanity’s most pressing issues, embodying the true spirit of science in service of global progress.”

At RRI, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology, Prof. Sinha heads the Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab, which pioneered the development and application of heralded and entangled photon sources in India. Her research spans quantum communication, computing, optics, and information processing. She also plays a leadership role in India’s National Quantum Mission, which aims to position the country as a global leader in quantum innovation.

Prof. Sinha’s accolades include the Rashtriya Vigyan Yuva Puraskar from the Government of India and the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Photonic Quantum Science and Technologies from the University of Calgary. Additionally, she was instrumental in establishing the Open Quantum Institute (OQI), a groundbreaking multi-stakeholder initiative launched at CERN in 2024 to foster collaboration in quantum science.

An affiliate member of the Institute for Quantum Computing at Waterloo, Canada, and the Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Computing at the University of Toronto, Prof. Sinha continues to make significant strides in quantum research, inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators.