India's DRDO partners with Zero mK India to develop indigenous quantum-grade dilution refrigerator
The Defence Research and Development Organisation signed a pact with start-up Zero mK India to build a 20 mK dilution refrigerator, the first project funded under a Rs 500-crore deep-tech corpus.
In a ceremony attended by senior DRDO officials, the Technology Development Fund director formalised a partnership with Zero mK India, a start-up located in Alwar, Rajasthan. This venture is the first to draw from a Rs 500-crore pool earmarked by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for deep-tech and advanced technology projects. Under the deal, the two parties will co-develop a 20 mK-class dilution refrigerator, a specialised cryogenic device essential for testing and operating quantum-computing platforms.
The initiative aligns with the goals of the National Quantum Mission, seeking to bolster India's quantum-technology capabilities and cut dependence on foreign cryogenic infrastructure. Presence of the Director General of Micro Electronic Devices & Computational Systems and Cyber Security, as well as the Director General of Technology Management, underscored the strategic importance of the project.
