QSENSATO is the 12th venture based on ICFO IP
New company to develop and markets atomic-photonic chips for quantum sensing and metrology applications
ICFO is proud to announce the launch of QSENSATO, the 12th deep tech venture based on ICFO IP, generated through collaborative research conducted between the Atomic Quantum Optics group led by ICREA Professor at ICFO Dr. Morgan Mitchell and the section of the CNR-IFN led by Dr. Roberto Osellame in Milan. The company is focused on developing and commercializing integrated vapor cells and atomic sensors for quantum sensing and metrology applications. By leveraging patented femtosecond laser-written vapor cells (LWVCs) and integrating them with photonic structures, QSENSATO aims to deliver unparalleled precision and size reduction in its products for industries requiring enhanced robustness and durability, such as space, defense, remote sensing, and automotive as well as in biomedical and lab-on-chip applications.
QSENSATO, headquartered in Bari, Italy, was officially constituted in May 2024 by co-founders Dr. Vito Giovanni Lucivero, CEO & Founder, Dr Annalisa Volpe, Head of processing and microfluidics & Co-founder, and Dr. Domenico Tulli, Tech advisor & Co-founder. The company will exploit the technology of LWVCs thanks to an exclusive patent, licensed by ICFO, CNR and PoliMi.
“Thanks to the unique combination of exquisite sensitivity and miniaturization, quantum sensors are poised to replace conventional sensors in several strategic industries, from medical diagnostics and lab-on-chip applications to space communications and environmental monitoring,” explains QSENSATO CEO Vito Giovanni Lucivero. “Support from ICFO’s Knowledge and Technology Transfer team and an exclusive patent license to QSENSATO s.r.l., has made it possible for us to start transferring research from the lab to real world applications,” Lucivero underscores.
“During his time as a postdoc in our group and later a visiting scientist, Gianvito helped to greatly expand our expertise in laser-written vapor cells and their potential for atomic quantum sensing. We are excited to continue working together both academically to advance the technology and explore new applications and to support the success of this commercial venture,” comments Prof. Mitchell.
ICFO is deeply committed to empowering entrepreneurs and transforming cutting-edge research into impactful solutions for society. By supporting ventures like QSENSATO, ICFO ensures that advanced technologies developed within its research environment find their way into real-world applications that benefit people and industries.
“At ICFO, we work hand in hand with talented scientists and innovators, to help their breakthroughs reach society,” says Dr. Silvia Carrasco, Vice-Director of Innovation, Sponsored Research, and Public Engagement. “QSENSATO is an inspiring example of how entrepreneurial vision and scientific excellence can come together to develop transformative technologies that address critical challenges across a range of industries.”
QSENSATO is an academic spinoff accredited by the University of Bari Aldo Moro, and aims at the tech transfer of the research products of the newly established AQuTech group, led by Dr. Vito Giovanni Lucivero, and of those conducted in laser processing and microfluidics by Dr. Annalisa Volpe at the Physics Department UNIBA-POLIBA. These activities are framed both in the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute (NQSTI), the Italian hub for quantum technologies, and in the departmental excellence project QUASIMODO: “Quantum Sensing and Modeling for One Health”.
Only recently constituted, the startup is already showing signs of a strong start. It received second prize at the Start Cup Puglia 2024, a Jury mention from Studio Torta (IP) at the final of Talentis GI Startup Program in Capri, including an interview for Forbes Italia, and was among the finalists of the National Innovation Prize (PNI) at the University of Tor Vergata (Rome) in December 2024.
Congratulations to the QSENSATO team, poised and motivated to bridge the gap between atomic quantum sensing and integrated photonics, two worldwide emerging technologies.