IIT Gandhinagar secures Rs 20 lakh grant for cooling tech

The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) has reached a significant milestone by securing a Rs 20 lakh seed grant at the IIM MATRIx 2026 expo. This grant will support the development of 'Advanced Chill Tech', which represents India's first indigenous liquid cold plate manufacturing technology. The innovation aims to tackle two major challenges: the cooling requirements of rapidly expanding AI-driven data centres in India and the safety concerns related to thermal management in electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The technology promises a sustainable and scalable solution for thermal management across various industries.

This research initiative comes at a crucial time, as the demand for effective cooling systems has surged alongside the growing number of AI data centres and the increasing reliance on electric vehicles. Conventional cooling methods often involve high energy consumption and substantial capital investment. The IITGN team, led by Dr. Amit Arora, has developed a manufacturing process called Friction Stir Channeling (FSC), which creates integrated cooling channels within a single metal plate. This method reduces the risk of leaks and enhances the efficiency of cooling systems used in high-performance electronics.

The project was showcased at the IIM MATRIx 2026 expo, organized by the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM). Dr. Amit Arora, Associate Professor in IITGN’s Department of Materials Engineering, along with doctoral students Ms. Prachi Sharma and Mr. Rizwan Qureshi, highlighted that the funding will enable larger-scale testing and the development of intellectual property. Their work has already achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7, indicating that prototypes have been successfully validated in operational settings. The largest prototype can withstand pressures exceeding 35 bar and has undergone rigorous fatigue and tensile testing.

In addition to addressing immediate technical challenges, the 'Advanced Chill Tech' initiative aims to strengthen India's manufacturing ecosystem. The country currently relies heavily on imported technologies for liquid cold plates, which are crucial in various applications, including battery thermal management, data centres, and aerospace. By creating an indigenous manufacturing approach, the IITGN team not only improves the safety and reliability of these systems but also supports the local economy by reducing dependency on foreign imports.

Looking ahead, the IITGN research team plans to use the seed grant to bridge the gap between laboratory research and market deployment. This funding will aid in further product refinement, commercialisation efforts, and the establishment of a robust manufacturing infrastructure for cooling technologies in India. As the demand for efficient thermal management solutions continues to rise, this innovation holds promise for both domestic and global markets, positioning India as a key player in advanced manufacturing technologies.