Danish startup Sparrow Quantum has secured €21.5 million in Series A funding to advance its mission of bringing high-performance photonic quantum chips from research labs to the commercial market. The investment, led by PensionDanmark and backed by major contributors such as EIFO (Export and Investment Fund of Denmark) and Novo Holdings, marks a major milestone in Europe’s efforts to establish itself as a global quantum technology leader.
The Copenhagen-based company, which spun out of academic research at the Niels Bohr Institute, is a frontrunner in the development of deterministic single-photon sources – critical components for scaling quantum computers. Its core product, the Sparrow Core chip, is designed to deliver photons on demand with exceptional reliability, stability, and efficiency. These features make it a foundational element for building scalable and commercially viable photonic quantum systems.
The funding would enable Sparrow Quantum to scale production, accelerate research and development of next-generation quantum hardware, and expand its team of quantum photonics specialists. This follows the company’s €4.1 million seed round in 2023 and sets the stage for a strategic growth phase as it gears up to meet rising global demand.
“With this investment, we can truly intensify our efforts to bring quantum technology from the lab to the market,” said Professor Peter Lodahl, Sparrow Quantum’s founder and chief quantum officer. “It allows us to scale up in three crucial areas: manufacturing capacity, R&D for entangled photon sources, and expanding our expert team.”
Professor Lodahl, a leading physicist in the field of quantum photonics, has been instrumental in translating scientific breakthroughs into deployable technologies. His work on deterministic photon generation directly informed the development of the Sparrow Core chip, which now serves as a benchmark for quality in the photonic quantum sector.
Quantum Chips: ‘A Sound Pension Investment’
The investment would be more than a win for the company; it would signal growing confidence in Europe’s ability to lead the global quantum race. “It is an obvious investment for PensionDanmark,” said the fund’s CEO, Peter Stensgaard Mørch. “We see this not only as a way to support Danish industry and contribute to the national economy, but also as a sound investment for our members’ pension savings.”
Sparrow Quantum has made significant headway by partnering with full-stack quantum computing integrators and system developers across Europe. Its deterministic single-photon sources promise to elevate the performance of quantum systems, offering greater scalability and efficiency than probabilistic solutions. These advances are likely to have broad implications for sectors such as AI, advanced computing, and cybersecurity.
According to Kurt Stokbro, CEO of Sparrow Quantum, the funding will also help establish a strong regional ecosystem for quantum technology manufacturing. “This investment is a testament to Denmark and Europe’s ability to lead in quantum technology. We are ready to unveil quantum breakthroughs that serve both society and the global economy.”
Backing from public and private investors aligns closely with EU policy goals, including the European Chips Act, which seeks to reinforce the continent’s technological sovereignty in key digital sectors. With a firm focus on keeping research, development, and production within European borders, Sparrow Quantum’s growth supports a resilient and autonomous quantum supply chain.
EIFO CEO Peder Lundquist emphasized the broader strategic value of the investment: “We are enhancing not only their dominant position but also Denmark’s and Europe’s role in the quantum future. This is the kind of high-impact technology Europe must support to remain competitive in global innovation.”
