Six-figure funding for Edinburgh laser firm at cutting edge of quantum technology

An Edinburgh-based manufacturer of high precision laser instruments has secured further six-figure funding and joined a UK industry and academic consortium.

Fedor Karpushko is the founder and chief technical officer at Edinburgh-based UnikLasers.

UnikLasers has received a £750,000 grant from Innovate UK, the national research and innovation agency, to help spearhead the commercial development of applications based around quantum technology.

The firm joins a consortium of 13 other industry and academic partners to accelerate commercialisation and collaboration efforts within the quantum tech community.

The award of a £750,000 grant follows a recent investment round by the Par Equity syndicate supported by the Scottish Investment Bank which also provided £750,000 financing, taking UniKLasers’ total funding since 2017 to £2.3 million.

Fedor Karpushko, the firm’s founder and chief technical officer, said: “Quantum technology is rife with exhilarating opportunities.

“This collaboration will enable us to conduct further research on integrating and embedding our miniaturised laser technology chiefly in areas of research and development around quantum sensors.”

The programme will combine deeper expertise in the design, testing and manufacturing for quantum technology applications to further the understanding on how it could be applied to underpin industries such as financial services, defence and medical diagnostics.

Other fields, such as magnetic and gravity sensors, will also be an important area of development.

Karpushko said: “This is our fifth project funded by Innovate UK and the most exciting so far, because the realities and impact of quantum technologies is of such magnitude that even some of the scientists involved cannot yet fully explain how it will transform the world around us.”

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