Southampton-based quantum technology startup Aquark Technologies has secured €5 million in seed funding. The round was led by the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) with significant investments from EIFO that backed Kvantify and EvodiaBio, UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), and MBDA. Aquark is the first DIANA (Defence Accelerator for the North Atlantic) cohort company to receive direct investment from the NIF.
The investment in Aquark’s unique, proprietary technology is an important step towards securing the critical infrastructure that underpins key sectors like defence, telecommunications and finance, which rely on precise signals for accurate positioning, navigation and timing.
What challenge does it tackle?
As per a recent research, GPS vulnerability could potentially cause £1 billion in losses per day, with GPS interference incidents increasing by 2,000 percent between 2018 and 2021. Quantum sensors that are currently in use to provide accurate signals are very large, power-hungry, unstable and vulnerable to jamming, causing them to become less accurate over time.
To help protect critical infrastructure which underpins the security of businesses and nations, Aquark Technologies has developed a high-performing, magnetic field-free cold atom trap.
What does the company do?
Founded by Andrei Dragomir and Alexander Jantzen, Aquark Technologies is dedicated to advancing the forefront of cold matter quantum technology, making quantum advancements more accessible and scalable. With expertise in vacuum technology, microfabrication, and laser-cooling, Aquark is improving the size, weight, power, and cost of quantum devices. This means the technology is mobile and robust and can therefore be used in remote and difficult terrains such as underwater and in the air.
Aquark’s technology can help secure the defensive infrastructure and equipment of countries around the world by being resilient against GPS jamming and underpinning signal accuracy at a low cost. The company explored the dual-use impact of quantum technologies
Andrei Dragomir, CEO of Aquark Technologies, said: “This funding marks an incredible opportunity for Aquark to take quantum technologies closer to broader use. We are proud to have such a strong syndicate supporting us as we achieve this goal. We are aligned in our vision to deliver quantum technologies that will have a beneficial impact on civilian life, infrastructure, and defence. In this way, we are excited to see Aquark continue to contribute to the UK, Europe, and NATO’s quantum strategies.”
Alexander Jantzen, COO of Aquark Technologies, also commented: “This investment arrives at a pivotal moment as we and the wider ecosystem look to accelerate deployment at a global level. The days of working in laboratory environments are behind us and this acceleration has us incredibly excited. It will see us rapidly expand our brilliant team, grow collaborations, increase capabilities and tackle the hardest miniaturisation problems in order to achieve production at scale.”
Investors’ views
“Safeguarding our infrastructure – from communication, to navigation and financial transactions – is key to building resilient businesses and boosting national security,” said Kelly Chen, Partner, NATO Innovation Fund. “We are excited to support the Aquark team and look forward to helping them deploy the technology across the world.”
Alex Leigh, Investment Director for Defence & Security at UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital) commented, “We are proud to back Aquark as they address critical challenges in the Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) market. Their dual-use technology represents a significant leap forward in both commercial and defence applications. We are excited to support the team through this crucial commercialisation phase, ensuring they not only thrive but contribute to securing this vital sovereign capability. It’s been a pleasure to join forces with the NIF to bolster the UK’s strategic technological edge in this sector.”
“We look forward to participating in developing new defensive technologies and to continue to co-build the Quantum and Deep Tech ecosystem within the Alliance. As part of the first cohort from the Deep Tech Lab at the Danish Bioinnovation Institute, we know that the team behind Aquark is dedicated to the mission and that they will bring a lot to the ecosystem. Therefore, Aquark Technologies is an obvious investment for EIFO,” said Jacob Bratting Pedersen, Partner & Head of Tech & Defence investments at EIFO.
