Defence Research and Development Organisation signed a contract with Zero mK India Private Limited in New Delhi on 24 September 2026 to design and fabricate an indigenous dilution refrigerator capable of reaching 20 mK. The agreement was executed under the Technology Development Fund scheme and was presented as the first high-value deep-tech contract drawing from a ₹500-crore pool approved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The decision matters because a domestically produced 20 mK system closes a strategic gap in the cryogenic supply chain that Indian labs have historically filled with imported equipment. The indigenous unit aims to support superconducting quantum processors and quantum sensors, enabling experiments aligned with the National Quantum Mission’s target to field systems with 50 to 1,000 physical qubits across superconducting and photonic platforms.
Scope, funding and institutional roles
The project was announced as part of the Technology Development Fund’s expanded resources, a ₹500-crore allocation intended to underwrite high-risk, high-value defence–industry collaborations. The signing ceremony involved the director of the TDF, Zero mK’s founders and senior DRDO officials; the effort will be monitored and mentored by the director and technical team of the Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL). DRDO leadership, including Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh praised the initiative and positioned it as a template for future deep-tech engagements.
The partnership commits Zero mK to deliver a working prototype of the Shunya 0X platform by the fourth quarter of 2027. The target specification includes an anticipated cooling power of around 300 µW at 100 mK configurable superconducting magnets, a large-diameter experimental flange, and extensive RF and DC wiring options to support varied qubit and sensor payloads.
Technical aims and engineering challenges
The system will implement a closed-cycle dilution refrigeration architecture using helium-3 and helium-4 isotopes to reach temperatures near 20 millikelvin. The project brief identified key engineering hurdles such as precise ³He/⁴He circulation multi-stage thermal shielding and stringent vibration isolation to preserve quantum coherence. Zero mK will work with DRDO facilities to integrate advanced thermal management, radiation shielding and low-noise wiring suitable for quantum experiments and defence-grade sensors.
Design goals emphasise scalability so multiple quantum processing units can be mounted simultaneously, allowing accelerated prototyping. The Shunya 0X platform is expected to be a laboratory-grade tool enabling experiments that previously required imported cryogenic hardware, with potential future adaptations for field-deployable quantum sensing modules.
Strategic impact and ecosystem implications
Officials framed the contract as part of a broader strategy to create a sovereign cryogenic supply chain, reduce dependence on foreign vendors and mature domestic expertise in advanced cryogenics. DRDO expected the project to catalyse ancillary industries — from precision machining to helium-isotope handling — and to shorten procurement lead times for Indian research institutions engaged in quantum technology.
The agreement also linked the hardware deliverable directly to national security applications, naming secure communications, quantum-enhanced navigation and advanced sensing as potential beneficiaries. Completion of the 20 mK refrigerator could open export opportunities and position India among a limited set of countries capable of producing ultra-low-temperature equipment.
Zero mK India Private Limited is based in Alwar and will coordinate design and fabrication activities with DRDO test facilities. The collaboration was presented as an example of the TDF’s new model for sizable, technically demanding assignments that pair startup agility with institutional resources. Last update: 26 September 2026.
