University of Bari spin-off creates innovative solutions based on advanced atomic sensors that exploit the properties of quantum mechanics for ultra-precise measurements in various strategic areas
In the beautiful setting of the University of Bari’s Salone Dorato, QSENSATO, a startup specializing in the development of integrated vapor cells and quantum atomic sensors, an academic-accredited spinoff of the University of Bari and the Interuniversity Department of Physics (DIF), announced today that it has secured a EUR 500,000 investment in a pre-seed round from LIFTT, an Italian venture capital focused on deep-tech investments, and Quantum Italia, an Italian venture capital focused entirely on quantum technologies.
The capital raised will go toward research and development of new prototypes, commercialization of existing solutions, and growth and expansion of the company’s operations in Europe and the United States.
The company bases its technology on atomic-photonic chips, the core of advanced atomic sensors that exploit the properties of quantum mechanics to detect minute variations in electric and magnetic fields, making possible unprecedented accuracy in measurements. This innovation results in instruments that can be applied in a variety of strategic areas, including medical diagnostics, geophysical exploration, GPS-free navigation, and critical infrastructure monitoring.
QSENSATO was founded by Gianvito Lucivero, a professor and researcher specializing in quantum sensing, together with his department colleague Annalisa Volpe and technical expert Domenico Tulli. Dr. Lucivero, a native of Molfetta, after graduating with a master’s degree in physics from La Sapienza in Rome, Italy, obtained a doctorate in Photonics at ICFO (Institute of Photonic Sciences) in Barcelona, Spain, in 2011. After his PhD, he moved to the United States, where he completed an initial three-year postdoc at Princeton University, New Jersey. Then the return to Europe, first to ICFO for a second postdoc with Marie Curie fellowship, which keeps him busy for another four years, then to Italy thanks to the PNRR-NQSTI partnership and the Rita Levi Montalcini prize, at the Interuniversity Department of Physics (DIF) of the University of Bari, led by Prof. Roberto Bellotti. There he founded QSENSATO, an innovative startup active in the field of quantum sensing and metrology through the design and realization of miniaturized devices for ultra-precise measurements. The current team includes Vincenzo Tamborra and Ruan Viljoen, Prototyping & Project Manager and R&D Scientist, respectively. In addition, the company counts on the support of accountant Vincenzo Mazzilli (Mazzilli&Partners) and Sabino Sernia (Onlex Studio Legale).
Recently, QSENSATO has excelled in several events and competitions dedicated to innovation, receiving prestigious awards. Notable among these are the second place at the Start Cup Puglia 2024, where the startup demonstrated the value of its technology, the subsequent participation in the PNI 2024 National Innovation Award and the award received at the Talentis-GIStartup Award in Capri, which celebrates the best emerging realities in the youth entrepreneurship scene. These successes confirm the growing interest in quantum sensing and the market potential of the solutions proposed by QSENSATO.
“Our goal is to make quantum sensing an accessible reality for numerous industries, offering unprecedented measurement tools.” said Gianvito Lucivero, CEO of QSENSATO. “Thanks to our technology, we can combine unprecedented precision and portability, with potential applications ranging from advanced magnetic resonance imaging to geomagnetic anomaly detection.”
“We have been fascinated by the technology that this company has been able to develop so far.” added Edoardo Bianchi, LIFTT project manager. “We are happy to support this reality, both because of the radical innovation it proposes and because of the highly specialized expertise of the work team. In line with LIFTT’s mission, we decided to support this company in their growth path not only because they are able to anticipate the future, but because they make it concretely possible.”
Christophe Jurczak, founding partner of Quantum Italia and managing partner of Quantonation, commented: “The investment in QSENSATO underscores the commitment of Quantum Italia, Italy’s first Quantum Studio, to supporting the transition of scientific research from the laboratory to the marketplace, especially in an emerging field such as quantum technologies. The fact that QSENSATO was born as a spin-off of the University of Bari is a demonstration of the strategic value of keeping alive a connection between the worlds of academic research and entrepreneurship.”
Riccardo D’Alessandri, founding partner of Quantum Italia and managing partner of Scientifica Venture Capital, said: ” “The adoption of quantum sensors is transforming the way information is collected, processed and interpreted. This is why we are excited to contribute to the evolution of Quantum Sensing through our investment in QSENSATO and the new generation of integrated quantum atomic sensors developed by the start-up, this technology will help play a crucial role in acquiring empirical data in a timely and accurate manner for a wide range of industrial applications.”
