Venture Lab
Quantum Call
Deadline
2
April
Guidelines Apply here
Funding
Convertible loan of EUR 500,000 (Approx. DKK 4M)
Purpose
Venture Lab is designed to help newly established start-ups in the early phases.
Eligibility
Research-based idea with high-growth commercial potential. Venture Lab can only support companies with no commercial investments/ownership.
Key outcome
Scientific development, business development and team development.
Duration
12 months
Location
Deep Tech Lab – Quantum @ BioInnovation Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark
This call
Please note that this particular call is exclusively for quantum projects with potential life science applications.
Follow-on funding
Opportunity for EUR 1.3M in follow-on funding through the Venture House program.

Deep Tech Lab — Quantum is a new initiative from BioInnovation Institute (BII) in Copenhagen to leverage Denmark’s world-leading research in quantum physics with BII’s recognized excellence in creating, fostering, and maturing start-up and spin-out companies within another Deep Tech field: Life Science.

We will support early-stage companies based on quantum and quantum-enabling technologies with programs tailored for this field and with the same goal of ensuring that they too can realize their full commercial potential.

Meet the Quantum start-ups

Vision and Mission

Located at the confluence of science and engineering, deep technologies leverage scientific insights to realize improved solutions and radically new capabilities.

Quantum technologies, and in particular quantum computing, have the potential to revolutionize both entire industries and society in general: it is anticipated that quantum computing will make it possible to develop insights into and viable solutions for some of the most intractable sustainability and climate-related challenges facing the planet.

Deep Tech Lab — Quantum's vision is to support world-class innovation based on quantum information science that drives the development of new solutions by early-stage start-ups for the benefit of people and society.

Our mission is to incubate world-class quantum information science and catalyze the commercialization of new solutions through start-ups by using our knowledge, network, funding, and infrastructure.

1. Driving Innovation
Supporting start-ups as we will do through our programs helps drive innovation and advancements in the field, leading to new solutions and applications.
2. Cultivating the Quantum Ecosystem
Investing in startups not only creates high-skill job opportunities; it also supports the growth of the ecosystem by fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration. This in turn drives economic growth and contributes to a thriving and diverse startup community.
3. Strengthening Denmark’s Quantum Leadership
By supporting start-ups based on quantum technologies, Denmark can further strengthen its position as a leader in the field and attract top talent, investments, and partnerships.
What we do

At Deep Tech Lab — Quantum, we will drive innovation within quantum technologies by supporting early-stage startups.

Our tailored programs will focus on developing interdisciplinary teams, identifying and developing the most promising business case(s), and determining the most suitable technology development pathways for commercial viability and company growth. The first acceleration program will be run as an affiliated member of DIANA's Challenge Program, starting in the Fall of 2023.

Sign up for news
Start-ups
Meet our quantum start-ups! The companies listed here are currently participating in the BII Venture Lab, or the DIANA Challenge Program at Deep Tech Lab – Quantum in Copenhagen.
Alea Quantum Technologies
Developing a quantum random number generator that will enable safe data sharing in the post-quantum era.
Developing a quantum random number generator that will enable safe data sharing in the post-quantum era.
Sqale
Sqale is revolutionizing biomanufacturing by using quantum technologies.
Sqale is revolutionizing biomanufacturing by using quantum technologies.
DiaSense
Developing a quantum diamond-magnetic microscope to be used by neuroscientists to diagnose diseases.
Developing a quantum diamond-magnetic microscope to be used by neuroscientists to diagnose diseases.
Aquark Technologies
Aquark Technologies is a start-up focusing on improving the size, weight, power and cost of quantum systems based on cold matter
Aquark Technologies is a start-up focusing on improving the size, weight, power and cost of quantum systems based on cold matter in order to accelerate the development and the adoption of sensors built on this platform. Pioneering breakthroughs in cold atom technology, the company has made remarkable strides in creating robust systems that surpass traditional limitations. The company is now progressing toward the development of quantum sensors for measuring time and gravity and deploying this technology in real world applications.
Astrolight
Astrolight is developing highly secure telecommunication systems for aerospace, defense and governmental applications.
Astrolight is developing highly secure telecommunication systems for aerospace, defense and governmental applications. The founding team has more than 20 years of combined experience in fields of radio telecommunications, photonics and satellite technology. By leveraging the know-how and multi-disciplinary experience we provide the cutting edge solutions in microwave and free-space optical communications.
G2-Zero
g2-Zero is a deep-tech start-up dedicated to developing plug 'n play single photon sources and other semiconductor-based
g2-Zero is a deep-tech start-up dedicated to developing plug 'n play single photon sources and other semiconductor-based quantum photonic components for the emerging quantum technologies market. Its objective is the commercialization of quantum devices for applications in R&D, quantum communications, quantum metrology, sensing, etc. The single photon emitters manufactured by g2-Zero have a novel design, protected by a family of international patents, which allows purely electrical operation and makes them ultra-compact and integrable.
Phantom Photonics
Phantom Photonics designs and builds photonic sensors. The technology leans on quantum coherence to establish superior noise resilience in the sensor
Phantom Photonics designs and builds photonic sensors. The technology leans on quantum coherence to establish superior noise resilience in the sensor, increasing the operational distance, and adding features of covert functionality and imperviousness to adversarial disabling, AKA blinding attacks. The unique features of our LiDARs make them ideal for defense applications, but also civilian uses such as undersea asset monitoring, anti-collision systems for satellites, and more.
Qubitrium
Qubitrium offers solutions to problems in quantum cryptography, communication and quantum sensing.
Qubitrium offers solutions to problems in quantum cryptography, communication and quantum sensing. In addition to developing and producing advanced quantum products, services are provided to deliver quantum technologies to industrial organizations.
SECQAI
SECQAI is a deeply technical security and defence company with the goal of protecting nation states, their populations and economies.
SECQAI is a deeply technical security and defence company with the goal of protecting nation states, their populations and economies. We secure communication and devices from the data centre to the edge using our System on Chip with inbuilt Post Quantum Cryptography accelerators, proprietary Quantum Random Number Generation and zero trust architecture.
Who we are
Deep Tech Lab — Quantum is an independent legal entity under the auspices of the BioInnovation Institute (BII) and built upon BII’s unique position, experience, and expertise within Life Science.
Jens Nielsen
Chief Executive Officer
LinkedIn Icon Email Icon
As the CEO of BII, Jens Nielsen builds strong international relations andensures a clear working direction for the BII and Deep Tech Lab teams
As the CEO of BII, Jens Nielsen builds strong international relations and ensures a clear working direction for the BII and Deep Tech Lab teams. Jens is a professor at the Chalmers University of Technology and an adjunct professor at DTU, with a vast amount of life-science research experience
Cathal J. Mahon
Chief Business Officer
LinkedIn Icon Email Icon
As CBO at Deep Tech Lab — Quantum, Cathal Mahon will be responsible for leading the Business Development team. Cathal is a technology expert with extensive experience as an investment manager for
As CBO at Deep Tech Lab — Quantum, Cathal Mahon will be responsible for leading the Business Development team. Cathal is a technology expert with extensive experience as an investment manager for venture capital funds specializing in high-tech start-ups – including quantum – and, prior to this, from a variety of managerial and R&D positions in the telecommunications industry. Since 2016, he has been exclusively focused on developing the commercial potential of quantum technologies.
Jakob Svagin
Principal Business Developer for Quantum
LinkedIn Icon Email Icon
Jakob is supporting deep tech startups within quantum technology.
Sofie Lorentzen
Chief People Officer
LinkedIn Icon Email Icon
Sofie is our Chief People Officer and is passionate about ensuring that BII has the best talent, organizational design, and working environment to ensure success. In addition to having a bachelor´s degree
Sofie is our Chief People Officer and is passionate about ensuring that BII has the best talent, organizational design, and working environment to ensure success. In addition to having a bachelor´s degree in Business Administration and a Masters´s in Psychology and Pedagogy, Sofie has over 20 years of experience working in HR. Previously, she was a senior HR Partner at the Novo Nordisk Foundations and the Technical University of Denmark.
News and Media Mentions
Press release
Copenhagen, Denmark, Nov. 30, 2023
The first six companies enter the Deep Tech Lab - Quantum start-up accelerator at BII to unlock the potential in quantum science
Learn more
Deep Tech Lab-Quantum officially inaugurated
Copenhagen, September 29, 2023
BioInnovation Institute (BII) hosted an event to officially inaugurate Deep Tech Lab - Quantum, an initiative with the vision of supporting world-class innovation based on quantum science that drives the development of new solutions by early-stage start-ups to benefit people and society.
Learn more
The Challenge Call is open for applications
Copenhagen, Denmark, June 21, 2023
Deep Tech Lab - Quantum encourages all startups working with quantum communication and quantum sensing for life science applications to apply to the challenge call just launched by DIANA. The call closes on August 25th, 2023.
APPLY HERE
FAQ

DIANA is short for The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA). Read more on the DIANA accelerator network: DIANA | Home (nato.int) You can find an overview of the European DIANA test centers here, including the I-Hub innovation Center at Imperial College in the UK.

Yes, both Danish and international start-ups will be taken into consideration. In DIANA regi though, only from the NATO member states.

Increased computing power will positively impact life sciences in various ways. It will, for example, make it easier to mathematically calculate conformations and quantum interactions in molecular systems, which paves the way for a significant acceleration in developing new drugs. Moreover, as Quantum computing can process a variety of data from several sources and make granular risk predictions, it can have a huge impact on the application of human healthcare data, diagnostics, and precision medicine, which could subsequently impact drug & treatment pricing. From a sustainability perspective, increased computing power is essential for optimizing energy systems. Optimized energy systems should be capable of channelizing green energy production to those places with the most significant energy demand. Optimizing processes and making them more energy-efficient can also decrease the overall energy usage of computing power. At the same time, computing power will help in the overall understanding of bio-based energy production.

There is already significant interest from long-term investors in this area, and BII aims to build a strong network of investors that can further strengthen the development of a robust innovation environment in quantum technologies. NATO recently announced a €1B NATO Innovation Fund, which could provide deep tech start-ups with investment opportunities. Read more here: NATO - News: NATO launches Innovation Fund, 30-Jun.-2022 Other investors in quantum technology have included big tech companies, major tech VC's, dedicated Deep Tech VCs, and several government funds across the world.

A Deep Tech accelerator program is different from other types of accelerator programs in a few key ways. It focuses on start-ups that are developing advanced technologies that require significant expertise and investment to develop. These programs often have a longer and more complex development process, require specialized mentors and experts, and are focused on creating disruptive innovations that have the potential to transform entire industries. In contrast, other types of accelerator programs may focus on a broader range of start-ups and have shorter-term goals.

BioInnovation Institute (BII) accelerates world-class life science start-up innovation to bring forward products and services that benefit people and society. As a non-profit institute, BII operates the company creation programs Bio Studio and the company acceleration programs Venture Lab and Venture House. In all programs, BII supports planetary and human health start-ups with knowledge, network, infrastructure and funding. We empower early-stage start-ups to succeed and believe in the transformative power of life science innovation. Read more on www.bii.dk