NATO backs UK quantum sensor startup Aquark with €5m
The NATO Innovation Fund has made its first investment in a quantum startup as part of a €5m round for Aquark Technologies in Southampton, UK.
The seed funding in Aquark led by the NATO Innovation Fund aims to scale production of a high-performing, magnetic field-free cold atom trap for position sensing.
Research has shown that GPS vulnerability could potentially cause £1bn in losses per day, with GPS interference incidents increasing by 2,000 percent between 2018 and 2021. Quantum sensors – which are currently in use to provide accurate signals – are typically very large, power-hungry, unstable and vulnerable to jamming, causing them to become less accurate over time.
Aquark’s patented method of constructing cold atom quantum sensors without magnetic fields enables them to reduce the size, weight, power consumption and cost of their sensors. 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 as covered in eeNews Europe.
The deal follows the first investments by the NATO fund in UK AI chip startup Fractile and three other firms and aims to secure technology for critical infrastructure that underpins key sectors like defence, telecommunications and finance, which rely on precise signals for accurate positioning, navigation and timing.
NATO’s first equity deal backs UK startups Fractile, Space Forge
The funding round also includes EIFO, UKI2S (managed by Future Planet Capital), and missile maker MBDA.
“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,” said Alexander Jantzen, COO of Aquark Technologies.
“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,” said Andrei Dragomir, CEO of Aquark.
Aquark is the first DIANA (Defence Accelerator for the North Atlantic) cohort company to receive direct investment from the NIF – a standalone venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO Allies and deploying over €1bn in deep tech to advance defence, security, and resilience. As a member of NATO’s DIANA programme, Aquark explored the dual-use impact of quantum technologies. This is also the NIF’s first investment in a quantum technology company.
“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) said “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,” says Jacob Bratting Pedersen, Partner & Head of Tech & Defence investments at EIFO.
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