Aquark Technologies Becomes First UK Firm at Niels Bohr Institute

Aquark Technologies has become the first UK company to register at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, establishing a European entity and deepening ties with the Danish quantum ecosystem. The expansion follows the company’s selection as one of 44 participants in the inaugural cohort of the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) program, which assigned Aquark to BII Quantum Lab in Copenhagen for a six-month Phase 1 of the program alongside five other quantum companies from across NATO. As part of this growth, Aquark has also joined Quantum Denmark, a commercialization hub for quantum firms, gaining access to resources for technology development and a location within the Niels Bohr Institute. “We are thrilled to welcome Aquark Technologies into Quantum Denmark, highlighting our commitment to an enduring UK-Danish collaboration in the commercialization of quantum science and technology,” said Laura Smoliar, CEO, Quantum Denmark.

Aquark Technologies Establishes First UK Presence at Niels Bohr Institute

Aquark Technologies’ decision to establish a European subsidiary in Denmark marks a significant expansion for the UK-based quantum sensing and timing specialist and is a first within the Danish quantum ecosystem. The launch of Aquark Technologies ApS also integrates the company into Quantum Denmark, a commercialization hub designed to foster a vibrant quantum ecosystem within Innovation District Copenhagen.

Joining 12 existing companies from Japan, the USA, Israel, and Denmark, Aquark gains access to national quantum test centers and office space within the Niels Bohr Institute, facilitating collaboration and accelerating the commercialization of its cold-atom technology. This expansion aligns with Denmark’s National Strategy for Quantum Technology, launched in, and a longstanding partnership with the UK, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding in. “Building partnerships across borders and creating resilient supply chains is how quantum technology will reach its full potential,” explained Dr Alexander Jantzen, Co-Founder and COO of Aquark Technologies, adding, “Our expansion to become a European entity, based in the Niels Bohr Institute, is a natural extension of our mission to deploy quantum technologies for the benefit of all and help secure European sovereignty.”

This initial involvement extended into a six-month Phase 1 of the program at BII Quantum Lab in Copenhagen, where Aquark collaborated with five other quantum companies from across NATO, fostering an environment of international knowledge exchange and accelerated development. Following completion of Phase 2 of the DIANA program, Aquark further solidified its presence within the Danish quantum landscape. This expansion is not merely geographic; it is a strategic alignment with a nation widely recognized for its quantum innovation and industrialization.

Aquark Technologies’ recent establishment of a Danish subsidiary, Aquark Technologies ApS, marks a significant step in bolstering European quantum capabilities and represents the first time a United Kingdom-based company has registered at the Niels Bohr Institute. This move isn’t simply about geographic expansion; it’s a strategic integration into a thriving quantum ecosystem, building upon existing collaborations between British and Nordic research groups.

Cold-Atom Technology for Deployable Sensing and Timing

Aquark Technologies’ recent expansion into Denmark signifies a trend: the move from lab-bound quantum experiments to practical, deployable technologies with real-world applications. The company’s focus on miniaturizing cold-atom sensing and timing hardware addresses a critical need for increased accuracy and stability in industries ranging from navigation to resource exploration. The company is now part of Quantum Denmark, a commercialization hub with 12 companies from Japan, the USA, Israel, and Denmark, providing access to national quantum test centers and bolstering a resilient quantum supply chain.