New Delhi, 24 September: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed an agreement with Rajasthan-based start-up Zero mK India Private Limited to develop an Indian-made cooling system for quantum applications.
The project will develop a 20 millikelvin (mK) dilution refrigerator under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, the Ministry of Defence said. The agreement was signed in New Delhi between the TDF director and the Alwar-based company.
First agreement under deep-tech funding pool
The ministry described it as the first high-value agreement under a ₹500 crore corpus previously approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for deep-tech and cutting-edge projects.
The ₹500 crore figure refers to that wider funding pool. The release did not disclose the value of this individual agreement or a delivery deadline.
Why quantum technology needs extreme cooling
Dilution refrigerators create extremely low temperatures, measured in millikelvin. Such conditions are needed to operate and test several quantum computing platforms and related technologies, the ministry said.
The project is intended to reduce dependence on imported cryogenic equipment and strengthen domestic expertise in quantum technology and advanced cooling systems. The ministry said it aligns with the National Quantum Mission.
The director and team at DRDO’s Solid State Physics Laboratory will monitor, mentor and support the development work.
Rajnath Singh welcomed the partnership and said it could set a precedent for future collaboration between DRDO and industry in emerging technologies. The agreement begins a development project; it is not an announcement of a completed refrigerator.
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