The company has completed eight years of research at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge and is developing free space communication technology – communication without fibre optics. It is building high-performance single-photon sources and detectors that work at room temperature, and says these devices that will enable a range of quantum technologies, the most near-term being Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): communication links which are completely secure as end users are able to detect any imprint on the exchanged photons left by a potential eavesdropper. Nu Quantum says it will soon start testing its quantum technology with an unnamed UK telecoms company.
“To make quantum communication a reality there are, among others, two major challenges: to generate and detect single photons with high purity and efficiency. Nu Quantum is developing high performance quantum photonics hardware that works at the single photon-level, at room temperature. These quantum components are the necessary building blocks for any quantum architecture,” commented Carmen Palacios-Berraquero, CEO, Nu Quantum.
Alex van Someren, Managing Partner Early Stage Funds, Amadeus Capital Partners, who will join Nu Quantum’s board, added: “Nu Quantum is poised to unlock the potential of quantum communication. Using this investment by Amadeus, Nu Quantum will address the challenge of cryptography first. Based on its single photon sources and detectors, Nu Quantum aims to deliver high-rate, quantum-secure key generation and exchange, taking us one step closer towards absolute cyber security.”
Nu Quantum’s award-winning technology is unique and has been patented with the support of Cambridge Enterprise. Since inception in late 2018, Nu Quantum has received several Innovate UK grants and European research grants, taking its available capital to near £1m.