NEW DELHI: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme with Rajasthan-based start-up Zero mK India Private Limited to develop an indigenous 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. The project is the first high-value agreement under the Rs 500-crore TDF corpus approved for deep-tech and cutting-edge technology projects.
The proposed dilution refrigerator will be designed to create ultra-low temperatures of around 20 mK, an environment required for the operation and testing of several quantum computing platforms and related technologies.
The project is aligned with the National Quantum Mission and is aimed at developing domestic capabilities in quantum technology and advanced cryogenics. The indigenous system is also expected to reduce dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure and support the development of India’s domestic quantum technology ecosystem.
Dilution refrigerators are specialised cryogenic systems capable of reaching temperatures in the millikelvin range. Such conditions are required for certain quantum computing architectures and experiments involving quantum devices.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the industry partner and other stakeholders associated with the project. He said the collaboration could serve as a precedent for future partnerships between DRDO and industry in emerging technology areas.
Defence Secretary and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D, and Chairman, DRDO, Rajesh Kumar Singh also congratulated the teams and wished them success in meeting the project objectives.
Senior officials, including the Director General, Micro Electronic Devices & Computational System and Cyber Security (DG MCC), Director General, Technology Management (DG TM) and Director, Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), attended the signing ceremony.
The project will be monitored, mentored and supported by the Director, SSPL, and his team.
The agreement marks an expansion of the TDF’s focus towards deep-tech projects involving emerging technologies and greater participation by Indian start-ups in the development of strategic technological capabilities.
