Single Photon Applications Laboratory @ NCU in Torun

What Single Photon Applications Laboratory @ NCU in Torun does

The Single Photon Applications Laboratory (SPA Lab) is an academic research unit within the Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, founded in 2017 and led by Principal Investigator Piotr Kolenderski. Its research is centered on practical, realistic implementations of quantum communication — specifically, single-photon sources built on the spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) process, superconducting single-photon detectors based on niobium nitride (NbN) sensitive across 457–2300 nm, and theoretical and experimental techniques to extend secure quantum key distribution (QKD) over standard optical fibers. Demonstrated technical milestones include 64% photon detection efficiency at 1550 nm, signal-to-noise ratio up to 40,000, and an approximately 50% extension of maximal QKD security distance (up to ~260 km) achieved through spectral-correlation engineering and positive spectral correlation generation, as well as a published technique for remote temporal wavepacket narrowing and a novel dispersion measurement method using parametric down-conversion.

The lab does not sell products or services. Its core operating model is grant-funded academic research: it has been supported by a Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) First Team grant, and disseminates results through peer-reviewed publications in Nature Scientific Reports, Physical Review A, Optica, and Optics Letters, conference presentations at CLEO-PR and SPIE Europe, and the Torun Astrophysics / Physics Summer (TAPS) student program. End users of the lab's research output are the global academic quantum optics community; named research collaborators include groups at the University of Waterloo (Thomas Jennewein), Brandon University (Chris Pugh), Politecnico di Milano (Alberto Tosi), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, IoR Prague, the University of Auckland, and Jagiellonian University.

The team consists of 8 core members plus periodic international student visitors, and the lab has no disclosed revenue beyond FNP grant funding, no commercial pricing model, no parent corporate entity, and no venture capital or private equity investment. It operates as a non-commercial, publicly funded research laboratory within a Polish public university.

Name

Single Photon Applications Laboratory @ NCU in Torun

Legal name

Single Photon Applications Laboratory (SPA Lab) at Nicolaus Copernicus University

Website

https://spalab.fizyka.umk.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Single Photon Applications Laboratory (SPA Lab) is a non-commercial quantum optics research unit at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland. It develops SPDC-based single-photon sources, NbN superconducting detectors, and protocols to extend secure fiber-based quantum key distribution for the global academic community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Toruń

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Research grants and academic funding: Funded by Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) for developing single-photon sources and characterization techniques with applications in quantum communication, entangled two-photon absorption, and quantum interference with nanostructures.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

SPA Lab conducts fundamental and applied research in quantum optics and quantum communication, with emphasis on spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) single-photon sources, niobium nitride superconducting single-photon detectors, spectral entanglement engineering, and quantum key distribution protocol optimization. The lab develops theoretical and experimental techniques to extend secure quantum communication distances over fiber (up to ~260 km) and free-space links, and studies photon-matter interaction with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond.

Product overview

Single Photon Applications Laboratory (SPA Lab) is a research laboratory at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland. It is not a commercial product company; it conducts fundamental and applied research in quantum optics and quantum communication. The laboratory focuses on developing single-photon sources based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC), superconducting single-photon detection systems, quantum communication protocol optimization, and related theoretical and experimental work. No commercial products, services, or software offerings are available for sale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Extends maximum security distance of quantum key distribution by approximately 50% compared to previous approaches
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Thomas JenneweincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator from University of Waterloo, Canada. Joint work on quantum communication protocols and atmospheric beam wander correction in free space quantum links.
• Chris PughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator from Brandon University, Canada. Co-authored work on atmospheric beam wander correction via pump beam control in down conversion process.
• Urbasi SinhaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator based in India working on quantum optics and single photon applications.
• Alberto TosicoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborator from Italy specializing in single photon detection technology. Joint research on superconducting single-photon detectors for visible and infrared spectrum.
• Leonardo Teixeira NevesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• Vladyslav UsenkominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator from Czech Republic working on quantum communication and entanglement.
• Wojciech GawlikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator from Jagiellonian University, Poland. Joint work on NV centers in diamond absorption of heralded single photons.
• Sylwia KolenderskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaborator from University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spa-lab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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