NEW DELHI, SEPT 24: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement with an Indian start-up under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme for the indigenous development of a 20 millikelvin (mK) Dilution Refrigerator for quantum applications.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi between the Director, TDF, and Zero mK India Private Limited, Alwar, Rajasthan, marking the first high-value agreement under the ₹500-crore corpus approved for deep-tech and cutting-edge technology projects.
Dilution refrigerators are specialised cryogenic systems designed to achieve extremely low temperatures in the millikelvin range. Such ultra-low temperatures are essential for the operation and testing of several quantum computing platforms and other advanced quantum technologies.
The proposed indigenous development of a 20 mK-class dilution refrigerator is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in quantum technology, advanced cryogenics and other strategic technology domains. The project is also aligned with the objectives of the National Quantum Mission and is expected to contribute to the development of a self-reliant domestic quantum technology ecosystem.
The initiative assumes significance as India seeks to reduce dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure required for advanced quantum research and applications. Development of the system domestically could strengthen indigenous expertise and capabilities in an area critical to next-generation quantum technologies.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the industry partner and all stakeholders associated with the project. He expressed confidence that the collaboration would establish an important precedent for future DRDO-industry partnerships in emerging technology domains.
Defence Secretary, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams involved and wished them success in achieving the project objectives.
Senior officials present on the occasion included the Director General, Micro Electronic Devices & Computational System and Cyber Security; Director General, Technology Management; Director, Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), and other stakeholders.
The project will be monitored, mentored and supported by the Director, SSPL, along with his team, as DRDO and the start-up work towards developing the indigenous cryogenic system for quantum applications.
