What Quantum Base does

Quantum Base is a UK-based quantum technology company that has developed and patented Q-ID®, a portfolio of physically unclonable anti-counterfeit authentication tags that exploit inherent randomness at the atomic level in quantum materials. When excited by a standard smartphone camera flash, each Q-ID® emits a unique quantum signature that is measured and cross-checked against a product database, enabling authentication in under three seconds without specialist hardware. The company is a spinout from Lancaster University, founded in 2014/2015, headquartered in Lancaster with a registered office in Stockport, and floated on the London Stock Exchange AIM market (ticker QUBE) in 2025. Q-ID® production exceeds 1.5 billion units and the technology is protected by 40+ proprietary patents.

The product portfolio centres on Q-ID® Optical tags, the Q-ID® Scanner 2.0 mobile application (iOS with App Clip and Android, plus an SDK for partner integration), and a dedicated Q-ID® Tax Stamp Solution for excise goods. Q-ID® Scanner 2.0 embeds machine-learning models for computer vision, adaptive image guidance, and anomaly detection of quantum signatures. The technology is targeted at five primary verticals: pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, retail/FMCG, manufacturing (including aerospace and automotive), and tax stamps/excise goods. End customers include global security printing companies, luxury and pharmaceutical brands, and government/regulatory bodies.

Quantum Base monetises through enterprise licensing and royalty arrangements for Q-ID® tag integration, supplemented by one-time setup and integration fees. Distribution is primarily direct to enterprise, with channel deployment through leading global security organisations and security printing companies that embed Q-ID® into existing printing processes and supply chains. The consumer-facing scanner app is distributed free via app stores, monetising through enterprise tag volume rather than consumer fees. Reported revenue for FY2026 is guided at £455,000–£595,000 with a £3.4 million cash position; the company is not yet profitable, with EBITDA losses reflecting deferred contract signings (approximately £42,000 in setup fees pushed to FY2027) and continued investment in product and pipeline development.

Name

Quantum Base

Legal name

Quantum Base Limited

Website

https://quantumbase.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Ipo

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quantum Base is a UK-based AIM-listed quantum technology company that produces Q-ID® physically unclonable authentication tags and a smartphone scanner app, serving enterprise customers in security printing, pharmaceuticals, luxury goods, FMCG, manufacturing, and government tax-stamp verticals to combat a $2.8 trillion counterfeiting problem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-Counterfeiting Authentication Technology

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)

SIC

Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Magnetic & Optical Recording Media (3695)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum-Safe Identity, Authentication & Digital Signatures (HDAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Quantum authentication tags
• Anti-counterfeiting solutions
• Brand protection technology
• Product authentication labels
• Supply chain security

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Q-ID® Authentication Tags: Revenue is generated from the integration and licensing of Q-ID® quantum authentication tags to enterprise customers including global security printing companies, pharmaceutical firms, luxury brands, and art authentication registries. The company sells tags and related authentication infrastructure to customers who embed the technology into their products and packaging.
2. Setup and Integration Fees: One-time setup fees charged for onboarding new customers and integrating Q-ID® technology into existing manufacturing and printing processes. Approximately £42,000 in setup fees have been deferred to the 2027 financial year.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Quantum Base develops and licenses the Q-ID® family of physically unclonable quantum authentication tags and supporting software. The company embeds quantum active molecules in printed tags that emit unique atomic-level signatures when excited by a smartphone camera flash; these signatures are cross-checked against a product database to authenticate items. Customers include global security printing companies, pharmaceutical firms, luxury brands, FMCG companies, art registries, and government tax stamp programs.

Product overview

Quantum Base is a quantum science company specializing in product and brand authentication technology. The core product offering is the Q-ID® family consisting of Q-ID® Optical tags (quantum-unique fingerprint authentication labels), Q-ID® Scanner 2.0 mobile app for iOS/Android, and the Q-ID® Scanner 2.0 SDK for customer integration. The system provides atomic-level product security through physically unclonable quantum signatures that cannot be copied, cloned, or faked. Authentication is performed using standard smartphone cameras in under 3 seconds, enabling consumer-led authentication and global supply chain track-and-trace capabilities. Over 1.5 billion Q-ID®s have been produced, secured by 40+ proprietary technology patents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Q-ID® Optical: Quantum-unique fingerprint anti-counterfeit product security technology that uses atomic-level imperfections for authentication via smartphone.
• Q-ID® Scanner 2.0

Products and services

• Q-ID Optical Optical quantum authentication technology platform producing physically unclonable Q-ID tags. Quantum active molecules embedded in printed tags emit a unique quantum signature when excited by a smartphone camera flash, which is measured and verified against a product database. Used by security printers, luxury brands, pharmaceutical manufacturers, FMCG companies, and art registries.
• Q-ID Scanner 2.0

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.5 billion Q-ID®s now produced and deployed globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Lancaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuantum Base is a spinout from Lancaster University, originating from research in the Department of Chemistry/Physics. The company maintains its headquarters on the Lancaster University campus, reflecting a deep academic-commercial relationship for technology development and talent.
• Leading Global Security OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQuantum Base deploys Q-ID® through partnerships with leading global security organizations that integrate quantum authentication tags into their existing printing processes for end-brand customers. These partnerships enable large-scale deployment of Q-ID® tags through established security printing distribution channels.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AlpVision: Swiss-based provider of smartphone-readable authentication solutions for pharmaceutical and luxury packaging, using cryptographic fingerprints embedded in print. Closely comparable to Quantum Base in deploying smartphone-led authentication on existing packaging substrates.
• TruTag Technologies: Hawaii-based company producing covert silica-based 'truTags' for product authentication across pharma, food, and industrial parts. Directly comparable as a nanoporous tag authentication technology targeting the same anti-counterfeiting use cases.
• Authentix: Texas-headquartered authentication and supply chain integrity provider serving governments, security printing, and brand owners with covert markers and track-and-trace solutions. Highly comparable in customer base (tax stamps, security printing) and authentication technology approach.
• Prooftag: French developer of Bubble Tag® — a physical unclonable function (PUF) authentication label using random bubble patterns. Direct competitor in the PUF-based authentication space, serving luxury, wine, and document security markets.
• Digimarc: Oregon-based provider of digital watermarking technology embedded in product packaging for authentication and supply chain traceability. Comparable in offering covert authentication marks readable by standard imaging devices (smartphones/scanners).
• Entrupy: New York-based AI-powered authentication platform for luxury goods (handbags, sneakers, watches), using smartphone cameras and machine learning. Comparable in smartphone-led consumer authentication approach, focused on the luxury vertical Quantum Base also serves.
• ScanTrust: Swiss-Chinese provider of secure QR code authentication and supply chain traceability for luxury, pharmaceutical, and FMCG brands. Comparable as a smartphone-readable authentication platform for product protection across overlapping verticals.
• Certilogo: Italy-based digital authentication and consumer engagement platform for fashion and luxury brands, offering product authentication via smartphone. Comparable in targeting the luxury vertical with consumer-led smartphone authentication workflows.

Broad incumbents

• SICPA: Swiss global leader in security inks, authentication solutions, and tax stamp traceability for governments and security printers. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in tax stamps and security printing — Quantum Base's target verticals.
• De La Rue: UK-based global security printer producing banknotes, tax stamps, and authentication solutions for governments and central banks. Comparable as a security printing partner/customer channel for Quantum Base and as a provider of authentication for excise goods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/quantumbase
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quantum-base

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quantum Base