The Defence Research and Development Organisation has signed its first high-value deep-tech project agreement under the Technology Development Fund scheme, selecting Rajasthan-based Zero mK India Private Limited to develop an indigenous dilution refrigerator capable of operating at 20 millikelvin. The agreement was signed in New Delhi between the director of the TDF and the Alwar-based startup. It is the first project approved under the ₹500 crore corpus created for deep-tech and cutting-edge technology development involving Indian industry and startups. The agreement is intended to build domestic capability in a category of specialised cryogenic equipment that remains central to several quantum-computing, sensing and materials-research platforms.
Dilution refrigerators use a mixture of helium-3 and helium-4 isotopes to maintain temperatures a fraction of a degree above absolute zero. Such conditions are required to operate and test superconducting quantum processors and other devices whose quantum states are disrupted by thermal noise. India’s research institutions currently operate imported systems from specialised international suppliers, making refrigeration hardware, control systems, wiring and associated cryogenic components an important part of the quantum-technology supply chain.
Zero mK India describes its planned Shunya 0X platform as an indigenous system targeting a base temperature at or below 20 mK, with planned cooling power of approximately 300 microwatts at 100 mK. The proposed configuration includes single-axis and vector superconducting magnet options, a large-diameter experimental flange, configurable radio-frequency and direct-current wiring, and helium-3/helium-4 dilution refrigeration. The startup says it is in the detailed design and development phase, with its first prototype expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The project sits alongside the National Quantum Mission, which has an approved outlay of ₹6,003.65 crore for the period from 2023-24 to 2030-31. The mission targets quantum-computing systems with 50 to 1,000 physical qubits across platforms including superconducting and photonic technologies. It also covers secure quantum communications, quantum sensing and metrology, and the development of quantum materials and devices. Four thematic hubs are operating under the programme at the Indian Institute of Science, IIT Madras with C-DOT, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi. Central fabrication and research facilities are also being established at IISc, IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi.
An indigenous dilution refrigerator would supply a foundational laboratory system to programmes developing superconducting circuits, quantum sensors and ultra-low-temperature materials. The DRDO agreement also provides an early implementation test for the high-value TDF mechanism, which is designed to place larger and technically demanding development contracts with domestic companies rather than limiting startup participation to small research grants.
