Sparrow Quantum has raised €21.5 million in Series A funding to support the development and commercialization of its photonic quantum chip technology. The round was led by PensionDanmark with participation from EIFO, Novo Holdings, and returning investors 2xN, LIFTT, and the European Innovation Council.
The investment will enable Sparrow Quantum to scale production, advance research and development, and expand its technical team. The company’s Sparrow Core chip—an on-chip deterministic single-photon source—serves as the foundation for scaling photonic quantum computing by generating single photons on demand with high efficiency and stability.
“With this investment, we can truly intensify our efforts to bring quantum technology from the lab to the market,” said Professor Peter Lodahl, Founder and Chief Quantum Officer of Sparrow Quantum. “It enables us to scale up in three critical areas which are essential for industrializing our photonic quantum chips and ensuring we can deliver stable, advanced solutions to the market.”
The new funding builds on a €4.1 million seed round raised in 2023 and will support:
- Scaling photonic quantum chip production
- Advancing development of entangled photon sources
- Expanding technical expertise to bring new products to market
“Quantum technology can open an entirely new world of solutions to complex problems,” said Peter Stensgaard Mørch, CEO of PensionDanmark. “The Danish research environment has the potential to position Denmark as an international frontrunner in the field.”
In the past few years, Sparrow Quantum has made significant strides toward delivering market-ready solutions by partnering with quantum computer integrators and full-stack system providers across Europe. Powered by the Sparrow Core chip, photonic quantum computers can achieve notably faster processing speeds than earlier iterations using probabilistic sources, fuelling further advancements in generative AI and quantum-optimized machine learning. These developments promise unprecedented scalability and real-world applications across multiple sectors — within Europe and beyond. This investment exemplifies how to foster broader collaboration among chip manufacturers, foundries, and system integrators on European soil, marking a crucial leap for Europe’s emerging quantum supply chain.
“This investment is a testament to Denmark and Europe’s ability to lead in quantum technology,” said Kurt Stokbro, CEO of Sparrow Quantum. “With strong backing from visionary Danish investors, we are ready to unlock quantum breakthroughs that benefit society and the global economy.”
The new 50-qubit quantum computer, located at VTT’s Micronova facility in Espoo, Finland, is now accessible to researchers and companies through the VTT QX quantum computing service.
Beyond commercial scaling, this investment strengthens Europe’s quantum supply chain, ensuring that chip manufacturing, quality control, and R&D remain within European borders. This aligns with key EU initiatives like the Chips Act, reinforcing technological sovereignty and global competitiveness in quantum innovation.
About Sparrow Quantum
Sparrow Quantum is a spin-out from Professor Peter Lodahl’s research group at the Niels Bohr Institute. With over 25 years of research and nearly a decade of engineering expertise, the company specializes in deterministic single-photon sources and light-matter interfaces that are critical for scaling optical quantum technologies. Sparrow Quantum’s technology enables high-purity, high-efficiency photon generation for use in quantum computing and secure communication.
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