Sparrow Quantum, a Danish company originating from decades of research at the Niels Bohr Institute, has secured €27.5 million in Series A funding to advance the development of its quantum chip technology. This investment supports the company’s work on a chip capable of generating single photons—fundamental building blocks for future quantum computers and quantum-secure communication networks—with unprecedented precision and stability. This funding round, the largest of its kind in the Nordics within quantum technology, positions both Denmark and Europe as leaders in the global quantum race and aims to deliver reliable quantum chips for next-generation systems.
Sparrow Quantum’s Series A Funding & Expansion
Sparrow Quantum recently secured €27.5 million in Series A funding, marking the largest investment of its kind in Nordic quantum technology. This funding round included contributions from North Ventures, Scale Capital, Jacob Jakobsen Gruppen ApS, LIFTT EuroInvest, and the European Investment Bank. The company intends to use these funds to expand development capacity, scale up production, and further develop its next generation of quantum chips, solidifying Denmark and Europe’s position in the global quantum race.
Sparrow Quantum’s core product, the Sparrow Core chip, generates single photons with unprecedented precision and stability. These photons are crucial building blocks for both quantum computers and quantum-secure communication networks. Notably, the technology operates at room temperature and is resistant to noise, making it more robust and scalable than other quantum platforms. The company is a spin-out from Professor Peter Lodahl’s research group at the Niels Bohr Institute, leveraging over 25 years of research in light-matter interfaces.
The company aims to be for quantum computers what Intel became for classical computers. Sparrow Quantum’s on-chip deterministic single-photon source is at the core of its innovation, setting industry benchmarks and already trusted by quantum technology leaders. This technology utilizes photonic quantum systems—using photons instead of electrons or atoms—and is essential for creating stable and reliable quantum systems capable of computations or secure communication.
Advancing Photonic Quantum Technology
Sparrow Quantum is advancing photonic quantum technology with a chip capable of generating single photons with unprecedented precision and stability. These photons are fundamental to building future quantum computers and secure communication networks. The company’s core product, Sparrow Core, is already being used by technology companies in Europe, demonstrating the technology’s viability. This chip operates at room temperature and exhibits high resistance to noise, making it more robust and scalable compared to other quantum platforms.
The technology hinges on a deterministic single-photon source – a key component emitting precisely one photon at a time with high accuracy. This innovation stems from over 25 years of research led by Professor Peter Lodahl at the Niels Bohr Institute, receiving over €50 million in research funding. Sparrow Quantum aims to be for quantum computers what Intel is for classical computers, focusing on high-purity, high-efficiency photon delivery to enable advancements in quantum computing and secure communication.
A recent €27.5 million Series A funding round, the largest of its kind in the Nordics for quantum technology, will allow Sparrow Quantum to expand development, scale production, and work on next-generation chips. This investment solidifies Denmark and Europe’s position in the global quantum race. Photonic quantum technology, utilizing photons instead of electrons or atoms, offers advantages like room temperature operation and scalability, bringing quantum technology closer to commercial application.
We are in the midst of a global technological paradigm shift, where quantum physics moves from theory to reality.
Kurt Stokbro
Key Components: Single-Photon Sources & Qubits
Sparrow Quantum has developed a chip capable of generating single photons—tiny particles of light—with unprecedented precision and stability. These photons are fundamental building blocks for future quantum computers and quantum-secure communication networks. This technology centers around an on-chip, deterministic single-photon source, a breakthrough that sets industry benchmarks and is trusted by leaders in the quantum technology field. The company’s innovation focuses on high-quality photon generation for quantum technologies.
At the core of quantum computing are qubits, which replace classical bits. Unlike classical bits limited to 0 or 1, a qubit can exist in a superposition—holding both possibilities simultaneously until measured. Sparrow Quantum’s photonic quantum technology utilizes photons—light particles—instead of electrons or atoms, offering advantages like room-temperature operation and high resistance to noise. This approach makes the technology scalable and easier to deploy, bringing quantum applications closer to commercial viability.
Sparrow Quantum’s technology is a spin-out from Professor Peter Lodahl’s research group at the Niels Bohr Institute, building on 25+ years of groundbreaking research. The company specializes in light-matter interfaces—essential for scaling optical quantum technologies. Their deterministic single-photon source delivers high-purity, high-efficiency photons, empowering partners to advance quantum computing and secure communication, transforming the potential of quantum technology into real-world innovation.
European Investment & The Quantum Ecosystem
Sparrow Quantum, a Danish company, recently secured €27.5 million in Series A funding, the largest of its kind in the Nordic region for quantum technology. This investment includes contributions from North Ventures, Scale Capital, and Jacob Jakobsen Gruppen ApS, as well as LIFTT EuroInvest – a vehicle created by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and LIFTT. The funding will be used to expand development, scale production, and advance the next generation of quantum chips, solidifying Europe’s position in the global quantum race.
Sparrow Quantum’s core product, Sparrow Core, is a chip that generates single photons with unprecedented precision. This technology operates at room temperature and is resistant to noise, making it more robust and scalable than other quantum platforms. The company, a spin-out from the Niels Bohr Institute, aims to be for quantum computers what Intel is for classical computers. This technology is already in use by several European technology companies and leverages over €50 million in research funding received by Professor Peter Lodahl.
The investment highlights a broader European effort to advance quantum technology, with the EIB and LIFTT jointly creating a €100 million investment vehicle. LIFTT has already raised €111 million and completed 58 investments in innovative start-ups. This collaborative approach, along with contributions from venture funds like North Ventures and Scale Capital, positions Europe as a central hub for the development and commercialization of quantum technologies, specifically photonic quantum systems.
