BioInnovation Institute (BII), an international non-profit foundation incubating and accelerating life science research, announces the first cohort of companies to enter the new accelerator start-up program at Deep Tech Lab – Quantum, to boost quantum science solutions.
The Deep Tech Lab – Quantum is an independent accelerator operated by BII. Six companies have been selected, as the first, to enter NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), which will be the inaugural program to run as part of Denmark’s contribution to the initiative. The initiative has close ties to NATO’s newly launched innovation fund through which it is expected to fund early-stage start-ups with up to €1 billion over a 15-year timeframe.
The six start-up companies will gain access to a network of investors, business mentorship, and education, along with testing opportunities in BII’s office space and laboratories. The six companies selected as the initial cohort to enter the Deep Tech Lab – Quantum accelerator are:
- Astrolight, which uses high speed lasers to connect earth and space by uncovering unprecedented capabilities for satellite connectivity and deep space exploration;
- Aquark Technologies, a spin-out from the University of Southampton that provides portability and miniaturization solutions for quantum technology applications;
- g2-Zero, a company developing single photon sources that are purely electrical, vibration-resistant, and alignment-free;
- QUBITRIUM, which offers solutions to problems in quantum cryptography, communication, and quantum sensing;
- Phantom Photonics, a company that is developing a quantum-enhanced 3D imaging sensor which improves the range, resolution, power consumption, and acquisition time; and,
- SECQAI, which is creating quantum and classical hardware and algorithms to defend and protect against threats.
Earlier this year, the Danish government appointed BII to operate the accelerator by leveraging BII’s current program model in commercializing new dual-use technologies that can address both societal problems and national security issues, e.g., new radar technologies or communication technologies based on quantum science.
Jens Nielsen, CEO of BioInnovation Institute and Deep Tech Lab – Quantum, said: “We are honored to be driving the Deep Tech Lab – Quantum accelerator alongside such prominent forces in the science ecosystem. This initial cohort of start-ups have been selected to join the newly launched DIANA program, as they demonstrate huge potential to drive much needed innovative solutions to some of the major challenges of today.”
Cathal J. Mahon, chief business officer at Deep Tech Lab-Quantum added: “We are looking forward to working with the first cohort of quantum technology-based start-ups selected by DIANA. We have already identified several opportunities for direct collaborations between the start-ups and the Danish quantum research community. The solutions presented by these companies hold the potential to benefit our society in multiple ways; for example, in our need for better and more secure communications systems, which is of prime importance for both civilian and for security applications.”
BII will operate the new accelerator in close collaboration with academia and industry organizations to seek out novel, cutting-edge technological solutions. It will take advantage of Denmark’s strong innovation ecosystem within quantum science, such as the newly-launched NATO Center for Quantum Technology at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, to develop commercially-viable start-up companies within deeptech and quantum science.
Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
