DRDO Partners With Zero mK India to Build Indigenous 20 mK Quantum Cooling System
India has taken another step toward building its own quantum technology infrastructure.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has signed a high-value deep-tech agreement with Rajasthan-based startup Zero mK India Private Limited.
The project aims to develop an indigenous 20 millikelvin dilution refrigerator for quantum applications.
DRDO signed the agreement under its Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme. It is the first high-value deep-tech agreement under a ₹500 crore corpus approved for cutting-edge technology projects.
The technology may sound like a highly specialised refrigerator, but it serves a much bigger purpose.
Dilution refrigerators can cool quantum hardware to temperatures extremely close to absolute zero. Several quantum computing systems need these conditions to operate and undergo testing.
If the project succeeds, India could gain access to more locally developed cryogenic infrastructure for quantum research.
What Has DRDO Announced?
DRDO signed the agreement with Zero mK India Pvt Ltd, a deep-tech startup based in Alwar, Rajasthan.
The Director of TDF and representatives from the company signed the agreement in New Delhi.
The project focuses on developing a 20 mK-class dilution refrigerator in India.
Here, “mK” means millikelvin.
One millikelvin equals one-thousandth of a kelvin. A temperature of 20 mK is therefore just 0.020 kelvin above absolute zero.
Absolute zero is about −273.15°C.
That means a 20 mK environment sits extremely close to the lowest possible temperature in physics.
What Is a Dilution Refrigerator?
A dilution refrigerator is a specialised cooling system used in advanced scientific research.
Unlike a household refrigerator, it does not cool food or everyday materials.
Its purpose is to create an ultra-cold environment for sensitive experiments and hardware.
DRDO says these systems can reach temperatures in the millikelvin range. Such temperatures are important for operating and testing several quantum computing platforms and related technologies.
Dilution refrigerators typically use helium isotopes to achieve these extreme temperatures.
The cooling process allows scientists to maintain conditions where certain quantum devices can work with less thermal interference.
Why Do Quantum Computers Need Such Low Temperatures?
Quantum computers work differently from ordinary computers.
Traditional computers process information using bits represented as 0 or 1.
Quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits.
Some leading quantum computing architectures rely on superconducting circuits. These systems need extremely low temperatures to preserve the delicate quantum states required for computation.
Heat creates unwanted energy and noise.
Cooling the hardware to temperatures close to absolute zero can reduce thermal disturbances and create a more suitable environment for quantum experiments.
This makes cryogenic technology an important part of the quantum computing supply chain.
A country may develop advanced quantum processors, but researchers also need specialised equipment to operate and test them.
Why Is the DRDO-Zero mK India Project Important?
India is investing in quantum computing, communication, sensing and other emerging technologies.
However, building a quantum ecosystem requires more than quantum processors and software.
Researchers also need supporting infrastructure.
That includes control electronics, precision measurement equipment and advanced cooling systems.
DRDO says the indigenous 20 mK dilution refrigerator project aims to reduce India’s dependence on imported cryogenic infrastructure.
Domestic development could also make it easier for Indian laboratories and companies to access specialised equipment.
Still, the agreement represents a development project, not a finished commercial product.
The system will need to demonstrate its target performance before its broader impact becomes clear.
Project Supports India’s National Quantum Mission
DRDO has linked the project with India’s National Quantum Mission.
The government launched the mission to build capabilities in quantum technologies and strengthen research in the country.
Quantum computing is only one part of that effort.
The broader field also includes quantum communication, quantum sensing, quantum materials and related technologies.
DRDO says the new cooling project will support India’s capabilities in quantum technology, advanced cryogenics and strategic technologies.
Building equipment domestically could also support researchers who currently depend on specialised systems from overseas suppliers.
Who Is Zero mK India?
Zero mK India Private Limited is a deep-tech startup based in Alwar, Rajasthan.
The company focuses on advanced cryogenic systems for quantum computing and scientific research.
According to the company’s website, it is working on indigenous dilution refrigerator technology capable of reaching temperatures below 20 mK.
Zero mK India describes itself as a DPIIT-recognised deep-tech startup.
Its stated goal is to develop high-performance cooling systems that can support quantum research in India.
The company lists Kapil Bansal as its founder and CEO. Its website says Bansal has a mechanical engineering background and experience involving cryogenic systems.
What Exactly Will Zero mK India Develop?
The DRDO agreement targets an indigenous 20 mK-class dilution refrigerator.
That number is important.
At 20 millikelvin, the system would operate only a tiny fraction of a degree above absolute zero.
The company’s website lists a target base temperature of 20 mK or lower for its dilution refrigerator platform. It also lists planned cooling power and configurable wiring for experiments.
However, those specifications should currently be treated as development targets rather than independently verified performance of a finished DRDO system.
Building the machine is only part of the challenge.
A useful quantum cooling platform must also maintain low temperatures reliably while researchers connect wiring, electronics and experimental equipment.
Is DRDO Giving ₹500 Crore to Zero mK India?
No.
This distinction is important because the ₹500 crore figure can easily produce a misleading headline.
The government has approved a ₹500 crore corpus for deep-tech and cutting-edge projects under the TDF framework.
The Zero mK India agreement is the first high-value agreement under that corpus.
The publicly available announcement does not say that Zero mK India received ₹500 crore.
The specific financial value of this individual agreement has not been publicly disclosed in the sources reviewed for this report.
Therefore, headlines claiming that DRDO awarded the startup ₹500 crore would misrepresent the announcement.
What Is DRDO’s Technology Development Fund?
The Technology Development Fund helps support indigenous development of technologies relevant to defence and strategic requirements.
The programme allows DRDO to work with Indian companies, including startups, on technologies that the country wants to develop domestically.
The Zero mK India agreement expands that approach into a highly specialised area of quantum infrastructure.
It also provides an example of a government research organisation working with a relatively young company rather than relying only on large established defence manufacturers.
Why Domestic Quantum Hardware Matters for India
Quantum computing receives a lot of attention because of processors and qubits.
However, the surrounding hardware is equally important.
A functioning quantum laboratory may require cryogenic systems, microwave electronics, control systems, specialised cables, sensors and precision manufacturing.
Import dependence can create several challenges.
Equipment may be expensive. Maintenance can take longer when specialised support comes from overseas. Supply disruptions can also slow research.
Domestic production does not automatically solve every problem.
The locally developed system must still match the performance, reliability and service standards required by researchers.
But successful indigenous development could give Indian institutions another option.
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Could This Help Indian Quantum Startups?
Potentially, yes.
India’s quantum ecosystem includes academic institutions, government laboratories and private companies.
Access to domestic cryogenic systems could support experiments and hardware development if the equipment reaches the required performance level.
It could also create opportunities beyond the company building the refrigerator.
Cryogenic equipment depends on specialised components, electronics, precision engineering and technical support.
A larger domestic market could therefore encourage other Indian companies to enter parts of the quantum hardware supply chain.
The real impact will depend on whether the project moves successfully from development to reliable working hardware.
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The System Has Not Been Completed Yet
The announcement should not be interpreted as India already having a finished DRDO-backed 20 mK dilution refrigerator.
DRDO has announced an agreement for indigenous development.
That means the engineering work remains important.
Zero mK India’s own website says its dilution refrigerator programme remains in the design and development phase.
The company will need to demonstrate that the final system can reach and maintain the required temperature under practical operating conditions.
Reliability will also matter.
Quantum researchers may need systems to operate for long periods while supporting sensitive experiments.
What Should We Watch Next?
The next major milestone will be a working prototype.
Reaching 20 mK will be important, but temperature alone will not tell the whole story.
Researchers will also want to know how stable the system remains during experiments. Cooling power, vibration, wiring capacity, cooldown time and maintenance requirements can all affect real-world usefulness.
DRDO says the Director of its Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL) and his team will monitor, mentor and support the project.
That involvement could help connect the startup’s engineering work with practical research requirements.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also said he expects the partnership to set a precedent for future DRDO-industry collaborations in emerging technologies.
For India’s quantum programme, the bigger test now comes after the announcement: whether the partnership can turn the 20 mK target into reliable indigenous hardware that Indian researchers can actually use.