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With the completion of its Series A round totaling €27.5 million, Danish company Sparrow Quantum takes a decisive step toward making quantum technology accessible for industrial applications. Latest investors include Denmark-based North Ventures, Scale Capital, and Jacob Jakobsen Gruppen ApS, as well as LIFTT EuroInvest, the investment vehicle created by the European Investment Bank and LIFTT, the Italian Venture Capital which is already on the cap-table. This investment is the largest of its kind the Nordics within quantum technology and not only strengthens the company’s development and expansion but also cements Denmark’s—and Europe’s—position as a frontrunner in the global quantum race.
Sparrow Quantum stems from decades of research at the Niels Bohr Institute and has developed a chip that, with unprecedented precision and stability, can generate single photons—tiny particles of light—one at a time. These photons form the fundamental building blocks of future quantum computers and quantum-secure communication networks, and Sparrow Quantum’s technology has already attracted attention from leading players in the field.
“We are in the midst of a global technological paradigm shift, where quantum physics moves from theory to reality,” says Kurt Stokbro, CEO of Sparrow Quantum. “With this investment, we can realize our vision of delivering the world’s most reliable quantum chips to the companies and research environments building next-generation quantum systems. This is a milestone for us as a company and for the entire European quantum ecosystem.”
The company’s core product, Sparrow Core, is already in use by several technology companies in Europe. The technology is a key element in photonic quantum systems, which operate at normal room temperature and are lesssensitive to noise than other quantum platforms. This makes the technology morerobust and scalable, bringing quantum technology closer to commercial application.
Sparrow Quantum now plans to expand its development capacity, scale up production, and continue work on the next generation of quantum chips. With a team of internationally recognized researchers and experienced tech entrepreneurs, the company is well positioned to capitalize on the momentum in the rapidly growing quantum hardware market.
Behind Sparrow Quantum is Professor Peter Lodahl, one of the world’s leading quantum researchers, who has received over €50 million in research funding for work on deterministic single-photon sources. With the Sparrow Core chip, his research has found its way into industrial products, and the ambition is clear: Sparrow Quantum aims to be for quantum computers what Intel became for classical computers.
“We have proven that our technology works—now it’s about scaling and making it widely available,” says Peter Lodahl, Founder & Chief Quantum Officer at Sparrow Quantum. “This is no longer science fiction. It’s the technology of the future, and we are proud to help bring it from Denmark to the world.”
With the total investment of €27.5 million, Sparrow Quantum is stronger than ever and contributes to making Denmark and Europe the center of the next major technological revolution.
North Ventures is a venture fund that supports visionary entrepreneurs building innovative, technology-driven companies focused on solving global challenges. Through long-term, close partnerships, North Ventures helps develop and support companies via active ownership. With an investment strategy anchored in global trends shaping industries and societies, North Ventures backs businesses that don’t just adapt to change but drive it.
LIFTT is an Italian Venture Capital operating with a multi-vertical approach in key technological industries: Energy Security, Critical Resources, Human Health & Aging, Infrastructure for data revolution, Industrial Automation & Space. To date it has raised €111 M from +200 institutional and private investors, and completed 58 investments in innovative start-ups, positioning as a key player in the Italian and European VC ecosystem. To learn more, please visit www.liftt.com.
In 2024, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Italian venture capital firm LIFTT have joined forces in a €100 million investment vehicle to spur equity investments in highly innovative European companies, active in key sectors such as life sciences, cyber security, deeptech and cleantech.
Scale Capital a Danish venture fund investing in digitization and disruptive technologies within B2B. €1–3M in Nordic and German B2B tech startups at Seed and Series A, and helping them win in the US. Scale is headquartered in Copenhagen with a presence in the Nordic countries and Silicon Valley.
Sparrow Quantum is a spin-out from a powerhouse of innovation—Professor Peter Lodahl’s research group at the Niels Bohr Institute. With 25+ years of ground-breaking research and nearly a decade of engineering expertise, they are dedicated to advancing the frontier of high-quality photon generation for quantum technologies. They specialize in light-matter interfaces—the essential building blocks for scaling optical quantum technologies. Sparrow Quantum\s on-chip deterministic single-photon source is at the core of their innovation, a breakthrough technology that sets industry benchmarks and is trusted by quantum technology leaders worldwide.
By delivering high-purity, high-efficiency photons, Sparrow Quantum empowers its partners and customers to push the boundaries of quantum computing and secure communication, transforming the immense potential of quantum technology into real-world innovation and impact.
Learn more at sparrowquantum.com.
