Commercialising the "second quantum revolution"
Andrei Dragomir, CEO and Co-Founder of Aquark Technologies, reveals the challenges and opportunities in quantum.
Humanity is on the verge of a major technological and societal shift powered by quantum computers. Yet quantum is not just about building devices that can perform calculations at speeds that make classical computers look like Stone Age abacuses.
A UK-based startup called Aquark Technologies is committed to pursuing a very different quantum use case, which has proven compelling enough to secure €5m in seed financing following an investment round led by the Nato Innovation Fund. It also secured £3.4m from Innovate UK to develop a cold atom clock.
Andrei Dragomir, Co-Founder and CEO, spoke to Machine to discuss his work at the forefront of the "second quantum revolution" - a view which may be surprising to anyone who believes we're entering totally uncharted territory. Dragomir grew up in a highly technical family in Romania, where his father was an engineer and his mother was a physics teacher.
After high school, Dragomir moved to the UK to complete an undergrad at Southampton, where he first “found the passion for experimental physics”. He then completed a master’s degree followed by a PhD and postdoctoral degree focusing on the miniaturisation of quantum systems.
Roughly four years ago, Dragomir began developing a compact cold atom core that will “enable the next generation of quantum sensing and computing”. This device enables the precise manipulation and isolation of quantum states in energy-efficient devices, making quantum sensors, clocks, and computing systems more practical, portable, and scalable. One use for this tech is protecting critical infrastructure.
In our interview with Dragomir, we discussed the commercialisation of this tech and the obstacles ahead as we move further into the quantum era.
Machine: Many people assume we’re in the foothills of the first quantum revolution. But you argue that we’re actually in the second quantum revolution already. Why?
Andrei Dragomir: "The concept of quantum has been around since the discovery of the sodium lamp in 1920. We started using quantum even before we understood it, which is fascinating, and it became so useful to society and everything around us.
"Semiconductors - the production of ones and zeros - are all based on a microscopic, material surface quantum effect: does current pass a junction or not? A laser also creates an external, microscopic quantum effect, which we use in our supermarkets to scan products.
"Now we’re just looking inside the atom, inside the properties of quantum, which marks the dawn of Quantum 2.0. Quantum gave us the computer. It gave us communications and, I would argue personally, the optical fibre. It already gave us so much, and I think the next point will give us even more.
“I think we're just scratching the surface of what's possible. There is a clear parallel between quantum 2.0 and the development of semiconductors and the transistor. Technology first used in radios and audio amplification devices ultimately led to laptops and smartphones millions of times more powerful than the computer that first got us to the moon. I think that’s where we are with quantum today."
Machine: What's different about the second quantum revolution?
Andrei Dragomir: "In Quantum 2.0, the technology field has three big pillars: sensing, communication, and computing. On the computing side, the hype and the attention mean progress is accelerating quite drastically. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get a quantum device that moves the needle on an application within 20 years - although I think we still have a long journey toward a universal quantum computer which is available at a consumer level.
"On the communication side, companies like Toshiba have been deploying quantum-based security communication for a few years. Sensing has also been here for such a long time that we’re not necessarily aware of it. A very good example I often cite is that GPS and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) work today because of atomic clocks, which are based on quantum technology.
"There are multiple platforms to support the development of quantum: silicon-based quantum technology, cold matter-based (which is what we’re focused on), photonics-based and superconducting-based. These are different ways of working with the atom or a simulation of the atom to take advantage of the quantum properties of materials.
"There’s a big push towards making this technology more scalable and accessible. We’re part of that movement and are focused on bringing this technology to everyday use more directly, rather than through satellite or remote distribution."
Machine: What are the commercialisation opportunities in quantum?
Andrei Dragomir: "The three pillars of sensing, communication, and computing are game changers for the entire world’s infrastructure. But I also think it’s just the surface of what the technology will ultimately bring. As we see it deployed more in the field and people start using it, the creative juices will really flow, and people will begin using it in ways we’re not even considering yet.
"In computing, it’s straightforward to imagine: if you have thousands or millions of times more computing power to simulate nature itself - chemistry at the molecular level and so on - that clearly becomes a game changer. In communication, security is the biggest factor, along with efficiency and speed. In sensing, there’s more play for commercialisation.
"You have positioning, navigation, and timing, plus the entire broader range of how we understand the universe around us. Right now, we’re in a paradigm where we use our existing computational power to handle data that’s often less than perfect. We filter it, and still get so much out of it. Now imagine if all that data was excellent and fed into existing algorithms. Our understanding of the world would really explode. The question is what we do with that power when the time comes, and we don’t know yet."
Machine: What quantum use cases are you excited about?
Andrei Dragomir: "There’s a lot of potential in navigation and self-driving automated vehicles, especially in areas where GPS isn’t reliable and we need something on the spot. Quantum sensing will really move the needle there.
"We can also scan underground without being destructive, searching for resources or old pipes in cities built thousands of years ago, where records are lost. All those applications will make a difference, but we’re still exploring. While there are concrete applications where quantum tech is needed today, we’re just at the tip of the iceberg, and the biggest value will come as the technology becomes more available.
"In communications, the main play is security as well as efficiency and distribution. For example, one of the concepts we’ll be looking at in the near future is radio frequency sensing using cold matter platforms. The idea is to revolutionise the idea of an antenna, improving the efficiency of the communication systems we already have and allowing much longer battery life for IoT devices. You could have base communication without needing the big dish that generally comes with large-scale systems.
"Quantum technology can also have a significant impact on infrastructure. I think the biggest area is security. I envision a future where these components collapse into a single entity, with quantum computers doing the computation, secure efficient quantum communication networks linking them together, and sensors collecting data about the world. Everything will come in one go."
Machine: What stage are we at in the commercialisation of quantum?
Andrei Dragomir: "That depends on whether you’re talking about computing, communication or sensing. On the sensing side, as a company, we're focusing on the seismic power of cold matter quantum sensors. There are multiple ways of deploying this technology. You have computing chips that are very, very small, but because they work on superconducting qubits, then you need an entire system like the famous 'chandelier' [see the image above], which is an image that is characteristic to see in the context of quantum computing. That structure brings liquid helium to a tiny chip, basically, to make it function in a quantum way and to maintain the quantum properties of the system.
"In our case, we work directly with atoms and use lasers to control those atoms. And in that, we have other challenges. We need ultra-high vacuum systems to deploy our technology and isolate it from the environment and high-precision lasers. The technology is very sensitive, which makes it a good sensor, but means it needs to be protected from the environment.
"I think quantum computing is further away because it has a lot of other complexities and scientific questions to answer. But on the sensing side, we've already taken technology outside of the lab successfully."
Machine: What are you doing differently from other quantum startups?
Andrei Dragomir: "Quantum platforms once occupied an entire room. Now we’re looking at racks the size of a fridge or washing machine size. Quantum devices are already transportable, but we're already working on making them fully portable so we can create a cold matter system that’s about as big as a toaster and can be picked up and moved around.
"When it comes to commercializing the tech and really putting it out there, we're targeting the mass market. So we really want to make this technology scalable and accessible for everyone."
Machine: What challenges do you see on the horizon?
"To me, there are two separate fronts. One is engaging end users and figuring out how to bring the technology into real-world scenarios. The other is the supply chain side - ensuring we can build this technology at scale. Although we can manufacture in small volumes effectively, we still have a way to go before achieving mass production. We are, however, seeing a shift in the world where it’s becoming clearer that this technology isn’t just “nice to have” - it’s of paramount importance and absolutely necessary for the next step in our societal evolution.
"The world already depends heavily on technology and we’re watching how our planet’s energy and resources continue to evolve. We’ve celebrated big milestones, like landing on the moon, but we need to do even better in the future. Yes, it’s a generational journey, but we all have a duty to take every small step we can toward human progress and betterment.”
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