Naidu Clears ₹730.70-Cr Quantum, AI University Campus in Amaravati

Vijayawada:Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday approved a dedicated Quantum and AI University campus in Amaravati, with the ₹730.70-crore project aimed at creating a national hub for advanced technology, research and deep-tech innovation.

The decision was taken at the CRDA Authority meeting chaired by Naidu at the State Secretariat. The NIELIT Deemed-to-be University, under the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), will establish the campus on 8.5 acres over five years. The project will be fully funded through a Government of India grant-in-aid from MeitY.

The campus will focus on Quantum Technologies, Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors and other emerging deep-tech areas, combining education, research, skilling, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Academic programmes are scheduled to begin in September 2026 at a temporary facility at Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur, allowing students and professionals to access NIELIT courses while the permanent campus is developed.

The university will offer undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, diploma and executive programmes in areas including quantum computing, quantum communication and security, AI and machine learning, data science, semiconductor fabrication, chip design, VLSI, ATMP, embedded systems and high-performance computing.

A key facility will be the Quantum Research, Innovation & Incubation Block (QRIIB), with about 1.25 lakh sq. ft. of built-up area. It will house facilities for quantum computing and communication, quantum photonics and security, cryogenic systems, high-performance computing, cleanroom and nano-fabrication, semiconductor technologies, chip design and VLSI, data centres, incubation and start-up co-working.

The project aims to train around 8,250 learners over five years, including 1,650 through degree programmes and 6,600 through skilling and certification courses. Annual intake is expected to reach about 3,913 by the fifth year.

NIELIT proposes collaborations with IIT Tirupati, IIIT Sri City, Andhra University and JNTU institutions for academic programmes, research and technology development. The initiative is aligned with the National Quantum Mission, IndiaAI Mission and India Semiconductor Mission, besides supporting Digital India, Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The green campus will include solar power generation, solar water heating, energy-efficient utilities, EV charging and scientific waste-management systems, with the project targeting net-zero operations. It will also have smart classrooms, laboratories, hostels, an auditorium, sports facilities and residential capacity for 500 people.

NIELIT, a university under MeitY, has 56 centres and more than 700 accredited institutes nationwide. The Amaravati campus is expected to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s talent pipeline and support deep-tech start-ups, research, intellectual property and technology commercialisation.