New Delhi, 25 September 2026: Development of Dilution Refrigerator Under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has signed the first high-value deep tech project agreement with start-up 'Zero mK India Private Limited' for collaborative effort for indigenous development of 20 mK dilution refrigerator for quantum applications.
This agreement was signed between the Director (TDF) in New Delhi and Zero mK India Private Limited of Alwar (Rajasthan). This is the first high-value agreement under the Rs 500 crore corpus approved earlier by Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh for deep-tech and cutting-edge projects.
Dilution refrigerators are specialized cryogenic systems capable of achieving extremely low temperatures in the millikelvin range. This type of ultra-low temperature environment is essential for the operation and testing of various quantum computing platforms and related quantum technologies.
The indigenous development of the 20 mK-class dilution refrigerator is in line with the 'National Quantum Mission' and further strengthens India's capabilities in quantum technology, advanced cryogenics and strategic technologies. This will help in reducing dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure and make the local quantum technology ecosystem self-reliant.
Defense Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, industry and all the stakeholders associated with this important project. He expressed confidence that this partnership will pave a new path for future DRDO-Industry collaboration in emerging technology areas.
Congratulating the teams associated with this initiative, Defense Secretary, Defense R&D Secretary and DRDO Chairman Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh wished success in achieving the objectives of the project.
On this occasion, Director General – Micro Electronic Devices and Computational Systems and Cyber Security (DG MCC); Director General – Technology Management (DG TM); Director – Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) and other officials were present. This project is being guided and supported by the Director of SSPL and his team.