New Delhi [India], September 24 (ANI): Under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement with startup Zero mK India Private Limited for the indigenous development of a 20 mK dilution refrigerator for quantum applications.
According to an official release from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the agreement was signed in New Delhi by the Director of TDF and representatives of Zero mK India Private Limited, Alwar, Rajasthan.
It is the first high-value agreement under the Rs. 500 crore corpus approved earlier by Defence Minister 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. Such ultra-low-temperature environments are essential for the operation and testing of several quantum computing platforms and associated quantum technologies.
The indigenous development of a 20 mK-class dilution refrigerator aligns with the National Quantum Mission and is expected to strengthen India’s capabilities in quantum technology, advanced cryogenics and strategic technologies, contributing to a self-reliant, quantum-ready ecosystem.
The project is also expected to reduce dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure and strengthen the domestic quantum technology ecosystem, the MoD said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, industry and all stakeholders associated with the project and expressed confidence that the partnership would set an important precedent for future DRDO-industry collaborations 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’s objectives.
Director General, Micro Electronic Devices & Computational System and Cyber Security; Director General, Technology Management; Director, Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), and other stakeholders were present at the signing ceremony.
The project is being monitored, mentored and supported by the Director of SSPL and his team. (ANI)
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