IIT Gandhinagar Team Wins Grant to Develop India's First Indigenous Cooling Tech for EVs and AI

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) have secured a Rs 20 lakh seed grant to develop the country's first indigenous cooling technology for electric vehicles (EVs), trains, high-performance electronics, and artificial intelligence infrastructure. The grant was announced on Tuesday at the 'MATRIx (Materials Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Expo) 2026', organised by the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), a professional body for metallurgists.

The proposed technology, named 'Advanced Chill Tech', aims to address thermal management challenges in two key areas: cooling of rapidly expanding AI-driven data centres, and safety concerns related to battery thermal management in electric vehicles. According to IITGN, the innovation focuses on a new generation of liquid cold plates, which are critical components for dissipating heat in high-density electronic systems.

The research team claims that this indigenous manufacturing method could make liquid cold plates more affordable, scalable, and sustainable. By rethinking how these plates are manufactured, the technology seeks to reduce dependency on imported cooling solutions and lower costs for domestic industries.

The seed grant will support the initial development and prototyping phases. Further details on commercialisation and large-scale production were not disclosed. The project aligns with India's push for self-reliance in critical technologies, particularly in sectors like electric mobility and digital infrastructure.

The IITGN team's work is still in early stages, and no timeline for commercial deployment has been announced. However, the grant provides a foundation for advancing indigenous thermal management solutions that could benefit multiple high-growth sectors.