Aquark Technologies Wins €1.6 Million Innovate UK Contract To Advance Deployable Quantum Timing Technology

The funding will support the deployment of Aquark’s cold atom-based atomic clock, AQlock, at a major UK telecommunications site. NPL and Purbrook will act as subcontractors on the project, which is scheduled to run until March 2026.

“It is vital that we protect our telecoms – not just for the benefit of daily civilian life, but also for our national security and economy. It’s therefore an honour to work alongside Innovate UK to bring this project to life,” said Alexander Jantzen, COO and co-founder of Aquark Technologies.

According to EU-Startups, similar funding activity has been seen across Europe’s quantum technology sector.

In the Netherlands, QT Sense raised €6 million to advance its quantum-sensing platform for biomedical applications. In the UK, Zero Point Motion secured €4.7 million in pre-Series A funding to develop ultra-sensitive inertial sensors for navigation, while QFX raised €2.2 million to expand its modular quantum hardware platform.

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In the related quantum computing field, Phasecraft completed a €29 million Series B to accelerate algorithm development.

Against this backdrop, Aquark’s government-backed contract represents a complementary development — reinforcing the growing momentum of public and private investment driving the UK and Europe’s leadership in practical, deployable quantum technologies.

“With AQlock 2, we will reduce the UK’s reliance on satellite signals that are vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, solar storms and more. This will help protect millions from the power outages, emergency services and supply chain disruption our networks are at risk of today, as well as address the huge economic losses that can occur as a result,” added Jantzen.

Founded in 2021 Aquark Technologies develops what it describes as the world’s smallest and most deployable cold atom quantum hardware, designed to enhance accuracy, precision, and stability across critical industry operations.

Drawing on deep expertise in quantum science, vacuum engineering, micro-fabrication and photonics Aquark is focused on delivering robust, compact and energy-efficient quantum hardware. The company’s mission is to make quantum devices accessible and affordable enabling their use beyond laboratory environments in real-world applications.

Its flagship product, AQlock, supports distributed, GNSS-independent positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). Through a €1.6 million (£1.4 million) contract awarded by Innovate UK, Aquark will demonstrate AQlock’s commercial readiness and its potential to enhance the UK’s national critical infrastructure, including telecommunications and network performance.

Innovate UK selected Aquark through the competitive Contract for Innovation: Quantum Sensors and PNT Missions Primer, following successful collaborations with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Royal Navy, as well as previous contracts with Innovate UK and a €2.1 million (£1.9 million) Future Leaders Fellowship.

Modern critical infrastructure—spanning navigation, data networks, communications, and power distribution—relies on highly precise, compact, and transportable timing and sensor systems. However, current solutions remain expensive, complex, and dependent on fragile supply chains. Aquark’s latest government-backed project represents an important step toward mitigating the estimated £1 billion in daily economic losses linked to GNSS outages aligning with the UK’s National Quantum Strategy to develop quantum-enabled satellite-independent infrastructure.

Ultimately, the project aims to deliver more resilient telecommunications networks for millions across the UK, strengthening national infrastructure and reinforcing the country’s leadership in scalable quantum sensing technologies.

About Aquark Technologies

Founded in 2021 in Southampton Aquark Technologies is pioneering the mass adoption of quantum technology. With over 16 years of innovation, it develops the world’s smallest, most deployable cold atom hardware advancing navigation, communications, and security through affordable, accessible, and practical quantum sensing and timing solutions.