Aquark launches Danish subsidiary in Europe quantum push

Aquark Technologies has launched a Danish subsidiary, Aquark Technologies ApS, becoming the first UK company registered at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen.

The Southampton-based quantum technology company said the new entity marks its expansion into Europe and places it within Denmark's quantum business network. It has also joined Quantum Denmark as the programme's first UK company.

Aquark develops compact cold-atom systems for sensing and timing. It has been growing its team and has won several government-backed contracts this year spanning defence and civilian applications.

The Danish expansion builds on an existing relationship with the country's research and innovation system. In 2023, Aquark was selected for the first cohort of the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, known as DIANA, and was assigned to BII Quantum Lab in Copenhagen during the programme's first phase.

After completing the second phase in 2025, the company continued to deepen its links with Denmark's quantum sector. The new subsidiary formalises that presence as European governments place greater emphasis on domestic control over key technologies and supply chains.

Danish foothold

Quantum Denmark is part of the country's national quantum strategy and serves as a commercial hub for companies in the field. It brings together businesses from Denmark and abroad at facilities in Copenhagen, offering office space and access to test and measurement laboratories at the Niels Bohr Institute.

Before Aquark joined, the programme included 12 companies from Japan, the United States, Israel and Denmark. Its admission adds a British participant to a network designed to support commercial development alongside investors, ecosystem groups and supply-chain partners.

Denmark has sought to position itself as a centre for quantum research and industrial activity. Its national quantum technology strategy, launched in 2023, set out plans for research, industrialisation and international cooperation.

That has added weight to partnerships between Denmark and the UK in quantum science. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in 2024 on cooperation in quantum science and technology, reflecting broader efforts to strengthen ties in an area seen as strategically important.

Laura Smoliar, chief executive of Quantum Denmark, commented on Aquark's arrival in the programme.

"We are thrilled to welcome Aquark Technologies into Quantum Denmark, highlighting our commitment to an enduring UK-Danish collaboration in the commercialisation of quantum science and technology. Aquark's expertise will be a vital addition to the economies of Denmark, the Nordics, and Europe," Smoliar said.

European push

Aquark said its Danish base will help it work more closely with partners across the Nordics and the wider European Union. It described the move as part of a broader effort to establish itself within the region's quantum supply chain while serving international investors and customers.

Cold-atom technology, Aquark's speciality, is being explored for use in precision timing, sensing and navigation. The systems are attracting interest from defence agencies and civilian industries because they could offer alternatives or improvements to existing tools where accuracy and stability are critical.

The company traces its technical background to more than 16 years of research and says it was established in Southampton in 2021. Its focus has been on making quantum hardware smaller and better suited to use outside laboratory settings.

Dr Alexander Jantzen, co-founder and chief operating officer of Aquark Technologies, outlined the company's rationale for the move.

"Building partnerships across borders and creating resilient supply chains is how quantum technology will reach its full potential," Jantzen said. "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. With its world-class research and dedicated national quantum strategy, Denmark is a centre of quantum innovation. By joining the ecosystem, we are positioned to further our goal and better serve our international partners and investors."

The company's expansion into Denmark was supported by Invest in Denmark, part of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Copenhagen Capacity, which works to attract international businesses to the Danish capital region. Their involvement points to an official effort to bring more overseas quantum companies into the country's research and industrial base.

Asbjørn Overgaard, chief executive of Copenhagen Capacity, said Aquark's arrival reflected the appeal of the Danish market for companies in the sector.

"Aquark Technologies' establishment in Copenhagen underscores the strong international appeal that the Danish quantum ecosystem has built. The combination of world-class research, strong industrial partnerships, and an ambitious national strategy makes Denmark a natural hub for international quantum companies. We have been pleased to assist this first stage of Aquark's European expansion and look forward to further supporting their journey," Overgaard said.