Innovate UK Awards £1.4M Contract to Aquark Technologies for Quantum Telecom Security

Aquark Technologies, a UK-based leader in miniaturized cold atom quantum hardware, has secured a £1,409,702 contract from Innovate UK to advance the deployment of its quantum atomic clock, AQlock 2, at a major UK telecommunications site. This cutting-edge system provides a GNSS-independent positioning, navigation, and timing solution designed to strengthen the resilience of critical telecom infrastructure against vulnerabilities such as jamming, spoofing, and solar storms. The project, running until March 2026, aims to reduce the UK's reliance on fragile satellite signals, preventing costly network outages and bolstering national security and economic stability. Collaborators include the National Physical Laboratory and Purbrook, emphasizing the UK's commitment to developing robust quantum-powered infrastructure as outlined in its National Quantum Strategy. Aquark’s innovative technology leverages vacuum engineering, microfabrication, and atom cooling techniques to produce compact and scalable quantum systems that promise enhanced network robustness for millions across the UK.

Source: Aquark Technologies via Innovate UK