Aegiq
Aegiq builds full-stack photonic quantum computers using deterministic quantum-dot single-photon sources, deployed at the UK NQCC and serving aerospace, defence, telecom, and government customers. Revenue is generated via hardware sales, software subscriptions, and government research grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSheffield, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Aegiq does
Aegiq Ltd. is a UK-based photonic quantum computing company founded in 2019 as a spin-out from the University of Sheffield, headquartered in Sheffield. The company builds a full-stack platform combining deterministic epitaxial quantum-dot single-photon sources, silicon-photonics processing, and modular fibre-connected rack-deployable systems that operate with mild cooling rather than milliKelvin cryogenics. Its core product line includes the Artemis first-generation photonic quantum computer (deployed at the UK's National Quantum Computing Centre), SPS1550 and EPS1550 deterministic quantum light sources in the telecom C-band, the QLAS physical-layer fibre network security system, and the LightWorks Python SDK for hybrid quantum-classical workflows.
Aegiq generates revenue through a mix of hardware sales of photonic quantum systems and quantum light sources, QLAS security system deployments, LightWorks SDK and emulator subscriptions, and government-funded research collaborations including Innovate UK grants and SBRI contracts. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting government quantum infrastructure (NQCC), telecommunications (BT Group), defence (MBDA), and aerospace (BAE Systems), supplemented by academic partnerships with institutions including the Universities of Sheffield, Strathclyde, UCD, Aarhus, and the Max Planck Institute. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.
The company's strategic positioning rests on technical differentiation in deterministic photon generation (claimed 10,000x fewer components, 1,000x faster runtimes versus alternatives) and its proprietary QGATE architecture (up to 26% error correction thresholds, linear compilation scaling). It is integrated into NVIDIA's AI ecosystem through the Inception program and CUDA-Q platform, and recently deployed NVIDIA Ising vision-language models for AI-driven calibration achieving a 3x reduction in engineering time. Customer concentration is high, with a small set of strategic enterprise and government contracts anchoring near-term revenue.
Aegiq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aegiq
- Legal name
- Aegiq Ltd.
- Website
- https://aegiq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Aegiq builds full-stack photonic quantum computers using deterministic quantum-dot single-photon sources, deployed at the UK NQCC and serving aerospace, defence, telecom, and government customers. Revenue is generated via hardware sales, software subscriptions, and government research grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aegiq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quantum Computing Hardware
- NAICS
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Managed Quantum Services & Enterprise Support (HDAGAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Quantum Application Engineering & Solution Delivery Services (HDAGALAD), Quantum Cloud APIs, Billing & Metering (HDAGAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Aegiq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sheffield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Aegiq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Quantum Computing Hardware Sales: Sale of photonic quantum computers and quantum light sources as rack-mountable systems with mild cryogenic cooling requirements
- Software Licenses and SDK Access: LightWorks SDK providing APIs and tools for quantum workflows; access to quantum systems and emulators
- QLAS Security Systems: Quantum Link Assurance System for network security monitoring and tamper detection on optical fibre
- Research Collaborations and Grants: Government funding and collaborative research projects including Innovate UK Quantum Missions Pilot, SBRI schemes, and partnership projects
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Aegiq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aegiq designs, manufactures and sells full-stack photonic quantum computing systems built on deterministic quantum-dot single-photon sources. Its commercial products include the Artemis rack-deployable photonic quantum computer, deterministic single-photon and entangled-photon light sources (SPS1550/EPS1550), the QLAS quantum-inspired fibre-link security system, and the LightWorks SDK for hybrid quantum-classical workflow orchestration. The company sells directly to government research centres, defence, aerospace, telecommunications, and enterprise customers, supplemented by collaborative R&D funded through grants such as Innovate UK.
Product overview
Aegiq is a UK-based full-stack photonic quantum computing company offering a modular platform architecture. The product portfolio consists of five interconnected offerings: (1) Artemis, the first-generation photonic quantum computer combining compound-semiconductor single-photon sources with silicon-photonics processing, deployed at the UK's NQCC; (2) SPS1550 and EPS1550 deterministic quantum light sources operating in the telecom C-band with single-mode fibre output, available as turn-key rack systems or fibre-packaged chips; (3) QLAS (Quantum Link Assurance System) for physical-layer tamper detection on optical fibre; and (4) LightWorks SDK providing Python APIs and tools to build, orchestrate, and run hybrid quantum-classical workflows on Aegiq systems. The platform uses a modular, all-optical architecture with fibre-connected photonic modules, mild cryogenic cooling (no milliKelvin), and foundry-aligned semiconductor manufacturing for scalability. The architecture supports applications in aerospace, cybersecurity, defence, energy, pharma, and AI.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Artemis Photonic Quantum Computer First-generation rack-deployable photonic quantum computer combining compound-semiconductor deterministic single-photon sources with silicon-photonics processing; standard fibre connectivity for modular expansion, mild cooling (no milliKelvin cryogenics), data-centre compatible, and fully reconfigurable via the LightWorks SDK. Designed for enterprise and government quantum computing deployments.
- SPS1550 Single-Photon Source Deterministic single-photon source based on epitaxial quantum-dot technology with high indistinguishability and high single-photon purities in the telecom C-band; available as turn-key 19" rack systems with integrated mild-cryo module or as fibre-packaged chips. Enables photonic qubits, quantum communication, and multi-photon imaging for research, quantum computing, and quantum networking customers.
- EPS1550 Entangled Photon Source Deterministic entangled photon pair source using bi-exciton cascade in quantum dots, producing entangled photon pairs in the telecom C-band with single-mode fibre output. Enables quantum networking distribution of information using entanglement and quantum metrology for research and quantum infrastructure customers.
- QLAS (Quantum Link Assurance System) Physical-layer monitoring system for high-value optical fibre links using quantum-inspired signal analysis to deliver highly accurate real-time detection of sophisticated tamper attacks with low false-alarm rates. Deploys alongside existing data channels with standard encryption, post-quantum cryptography or QKD; integrates with SDN and Network Operating Centre workflows via containerised API. Targeted at telecommunications operators and defence/security organisations.
- LightWorks SDK Software development kit providing Python APIs, examples and libraries for building quantum workflows, with a hybrid orchestration layer coordinating classical and photonic steps against an optimised backend. Enables submission, queuing and monitoring of jobs on Aegiq hardware and emulators, with standards-friendly deployment (APIs, containers, dashboards) for data-centre environments. Targeted at developers and research teams building hybrid quantum-classical applications.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3x reduction in weekly engineering time through AI-driven calibration using NVIDIA Ising
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Aegiq
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Aegiq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability7 records
Feature9 records
Aegiq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- National Epitaxy FacilitycoreExtended collaboration for semiconductor epitaxial materials, structures and devices. NEF has supported Aegiq's research and early-stage development with high-quality epitaxial growth capabilities.
- Fraunhofer Centre for Applied PhotonicscoreExtended partnership for high precision automated micro assembly and photonic chip testbeds. Long-standing partnership has delivered high-performance single-photon sources deployed at NQCC.
- Single QuantumstrategicSuperSoC project partner in UK-Netherlands Quantum Innovation Pilot developing compact, highly efficient photonic chip for generating and detecting quantum signals.
- MBDAstrategicCollaboration bringing together MBDA's domain expertise with Aegiq's quantum and quantum-inspired algorithms for complex simulation in defence applications.
- KvantifystrategicResearch collaboration on quantum control methods published in PRX Quantum, contributing to tutorial on shortcuts-to-adiabaticity and quantum optimal control.
- University of StrathclydestrategicResearch collaboration on quantum control methods published in PRX Quantum as part of international academic partnership.
- University College DublinstrategicResearch collaboration on quantum control methods published in PRX Quantum as part of international academic partnership.
- Aarhus UniversitystrategicResearch collaboration on quantum control methods published in PRX Quantum as part of international academic partnership.
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex SystemsstrategicResearch collaboration on quantum control methods published in PRX Quantum as part of international academic partnership.
- UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC)coreDeployed first-generation photonic quantum computer (Artemis) at NQCC facility, completing all technical and integration milestones. Enables exploration and validation of photonic quantum computing use cases.
- QuiX QuantumstrategicCustom QPU supplier for quantum computer delivered to NQCC, collaborating on system integration.
- LioniX InternationalstrategicLow-loss near-infrared silicon-nitride photonics supplier for quantum computer delivered to NQCC.
- Pixel PhotonicsstrategicPartnership combining Aegiq's single-photon sources with Pixel Photonics' WI-SNSPDs for scalable photonic quantum computing.
- BAE SystemsstrategicQuantum CFD collaboration testing quantum algorithms for aerospace design simulation including flow around aerofoils. Part of STFC SparQ Quantum Computing Call.
- NVIDIAcoreCollaboration using NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform for quantum-classical computing. Aegiq uses NVIDIA DGX Spark and data centre AI infrastructure for quantum applications development.
- IQEcoreHybrid Testbed for Quantum Computing project partners including IQE, PsiQuantum, and University of Sheffield. Aims to create networked quantum information processing testbed combining deterministic single photon sources with silicon photonic circuits.
- PsiQuantumcoreHybrid Testbed for Quantum Computing project partner. Testbed will be trialled at PsiQuantum's UK R&D facility at STFC Daresbury Laboratories.
- BT GroupcoreCollaboration to demonstrate QLAS (Quantum Link Assurance System) for real-time tamper-proof security on BT's deployed fibre at Adastral Park. Supported by Innovate UK SBRI scheme.
- OpenLightCommstrategicQLAS project partner contracted by Innovate UK SBRI scheme for developing prototype solution for fibre link security and quality of service assurance.
- Fraunhofer CAP Sheffieldcore£500,000 collaboration funded by UK Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund for developing the world's first deployable quantum light source. Project aims to improve single-photon sources for quantum computing, communications, and sensing applications.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aegiq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Google Quantum AI: Major superconducting quantum computing effort with demonstrated quantum advantage experiments. A broad incumbent with overlapping enterprise/government engagement but a different architecture.
- IonQ: Public trapped-ion quantum computing company serving enterprise and government customers via cloud and on-premises deployments. Comparable GTM (aerospace, defence, pharma) but different modality.
- IBM Quantum: Largest commercial quantum computing provider with superconducting systems and a global enterprise/customer base. Competes for the same quantum-computing budgets but with a different modality and well-established software stack (Qiskit).
Direct peers
- Xanadu Quantum Technologies: Canadian photonic quantum computing company offering Borealis and Aurora systems with a Python SDK (PennyLane). Directly comparable to Aegiq in using squeezed-light/boson-sampling photonic architectures and serving enterprise/research customers.
- Quandela: French photonic quantum company building deterministic single-photon source-based quantum computers and offering cloud access via Perceval. Directly comparable technology stack and European enterprise/government focus.
- QuiX Quantum: Netherlands-based photonic quantum processor supplier using silicon-nitride waveguides. Already a partner of Aegiq (supplied QPU for NQCC Artemis), it is also a near-direct competitor in integrated photonic QPU hardware.
- PsiQuantum: Silicon-photonics quantum computing company pursuing fault-tolerant systems via PsiQuantum's networked photonic approach. The most direct competitor to Aegiq in photonic architecture, though materially better capitalised.
- ORCA Computing: UK-based photonic quantum computing company developing boson-sampling systems with memory-based architecture. Same geography, similar stage, and directly comparable customer set in defence and government.
Emerging players
- ID Quantique: Swiss quantum-safe network security and quantum cryptography company with QKD and network monitoring products. Closest direct competitor to Aegiq's QLAS product line in physical-layer fibre security.
Regional players
- QuantumCTek: Chinese quantum communications company providing QKD systems and fibre-network security infrastructure. Comparable to Aegiq's QLAS in functionality, but operating primarily in the Chinese market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aegiq social profiles
Digital presenceAegiq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aegiq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Aegiq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aegiq M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aegiq
What does Aegiq do?
Aegiq designs, manufactures and sells full-stack photonic quantum computing systems built on deterministic quantum-dot single-photon sources. Its commercial products include the Artemis rack-deployable photonic quantum computer, deterministic single-photon and entangled-photon light sources (SPS1550/EPS1550), the QLAS quantum-inspired fibre-link security system, and the LightWorks SDK for hybrid quantum-classical workflow orchestration. The company sells directly to government research centres, defence, aerospace, telecommunications, and enterprise customers, supplemented by collaborative R&D funded through grants such as Innovate UK.
Is Aegiq a public or private company?
Aegiq is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Aegiq founded?
Aegiq was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Aegiq based?
Aegiq is headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Aegiq make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Quantum Computing Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licenses and SDK Access, QLAS Security Systems and research Collaborations and Grants.
Who are Aegiq's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Google Quantum AI, IonQ and IBM Quantum. Direct peers are Xanadu Quantum Technologies, Quandela, QuiX Quantum, PsiQuantum and ORCA Computing. ID Quantique is listed as an emerging player. QuantumCTek is listed as a regional player.
Does Aegiq have an API?
Yes. LightWorks SDK provides Python APIs, examples, and libraries for building application workflows. The API allows customers to benefit from the Services, access computation, manage accounts (token creation, monitoring credits), and run jobs on Aegiq systems and emulators. Supports hybrid layer to coordinate classical and photonic steps with an optimised backend. Containerised API for SDN integration compatible with standard Network Operating Centre workflows. Standards-friendly deployment including APIs, containers, and dashboards for data-centre environments. Developer documentation is at aegiq.github.io/lightworks.
What industry is Aegiq in?
Aegiq's product category is Quantum Computing Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGAIAI, Managed Quantum Services & Enterprise Support, with a secondary code of HDAGALAD, Quantum Application Engineering & Solution Delivery Services. Its NAICS code is 3341 and its SIC code is 7373.