Technology hub: Quantum gravimeters and inertial sensors
Atom-interferometer sensors that measure gravity, acceleration or rotation.
- Pillar
- Quantum sensing and metrology
- Related codes
- None: no CPC group, OpenAlex topic or EuroSciVoc concept names this technology precisely.
- Axis in the faceted taxonomy
- Function: Gravity, acceleration and rotation
- Validation
- Proposed — not yet validated by an expert
- Axis in the faceted taxonomy
- Physical platform: Cold atoms and atom interferometers
- Validation
- Proposed — not yet validated by an expert
- Sources of the definition
6 sources
- Quantum Flagship: Strategic Research and Industry Agenda (SRIA) for quantum technologies, draft for the second phase of the public consultation; chapter 3, Quantum Sensing & Metrology Roadmap Update 2026 (pp. 75 to 100), p. 76 (quantum gravimeters based on atom interferometry; optomechanical accelerometers) (read 2026-10-29)
- CEN/CENELEC JTC 22 Quantum Technologies: Standardization Roadmap on Quantum Technologies, Release 1.1 (June 2025), JTC22 Q06; chapter 9, Quantum metrology, quantum sensing and quantum imaging, p. 92 (c: atom interferometers for gravimeters) (read 2026-10-29)
- EURAMET, European Metrology Network for Quantum Technologies (EMN-Q): European Metrology Network on Quantum Technologies: Strategic Research Agenda (draft V1.0, 8 June 2023), PDF p. 37 (atom-based sensors for gravity and rotation) (read 2026-10-29)
- EPO and USPTO: G01V7/00 Measuring gravitational fields or waves; Gravimetric prospecting or detecting (broader match) (read 2026-10-29)
- EPO and USPTO: G01C19/58 Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses (broader match) (read 2026-10-29)
- OurResearch: T11405 Geophysics and Gravity Measurements (related match) (read 2026-10-29)
31 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed: 67. Suggestions are counted, not listed.
At a glance
Key items: EU and national projects
- CARIOQA-PMP: Cold Atom Rubidium Interferometer in Orbit for Quantum Accelerometry – Pathfinder Mission Preparation
- CARIOQA-PHB: Cold Atom Rubidium Interferometer in Orbit for Quantum Accelerometry – Phase B
- CARIOQA PHA: Cold Atom Rubidium Interferometer in Orbit for Quantum Accelerometry – Phase A
Key items: Organisations and companies
Expert review sheet of the faceted taxonomy (every value, definition and source)
Overview
The technology atlas of Quantum gravimeters and inertial sensors: its value chain, the documented actors by role, facilities, funding, patents and publications, standards and policy measures on one page, each from a source the portal already publishes. Each section says whether these sources document the technology, show an evidence gap or hold nothing about it.
| Section | State in these sources | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Value chain | Documented in these sources | 6 |
| Actors by role | Documented in these sources | 21 |
| Facilities and access | No evidence found in these sources | 0 |
| Funding | Documented in these sources | 6 |
| Patents and publications | Documented in these sources | 1 |
| Standards | No evidence found in these sources | 0 |
| Policy measures | Documented in these sources | 4 |
| Evidence gaps | Documented in these sources | 0 |
- Documented in these sources: at least one record of these sources is about this technology.
- Evidence gap in these sources: the parts tree names a stage, but no documented European actor is linked to it here. Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency.
- No evidence found in these sources: No evidence found in these sources. It means only that these sources hold nothing on it.
Public layer: structure and documented actors only. Actor roles come from typed, dated relationships and are never inferred from shared projects or patents. Supplier assessments of the restricted dependency map are not shown on this public page. No technology readiness level is given.
External context: EPO Observatory: quantum technologies · EPO Deep Tech Finder
Value chain
The stages of this technology in the parts tree, a reference structure from review articles and EU law, with the European companies whose own product page names a product line for the stage or a part under it (the curated supplier directory).
Documented in these sources: 6 stages; 0 stages with an evidence gap.
Quantum sensors and atomic clocks: Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors; Lasers for atomic sensors
| Stage | Level | Part of | Materials | Documented European actors | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors | Subsystem | Quantum sensors and atomic clocks | Aquark Technologies; Edwards Vacuum; Exail; Schäfter+Kirchhoff | Documented in these sources | |
| Atom-interferometer sensor heads | Component | Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors | Exail | Documented in these sources | |
| Magneto-optical trap optics | Component | Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors | Aquark Technologies; Schäfter+Kirchhoff | Documented in these sources | |
| Cold-atom vacuum packages | Component | Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors | Edwards Vacuum | Documented in these sources | |
| Lasers for atomic sensors | Subsystem | Quantum sensors and atomic clocks | Exail; Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics); HÜBNER Photonics; Menlo Systems; Novacene Photonics; Sacher Lasertechnik; TOPTICA Photonics; VEXLUM | Documented in these sources | |
| Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Component | Lasers for atomic sensors | Exail; Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics); HÜBNER Photonics; Menlo Systems; Novacene Photonics; Sacher Lasertechnik; TOPTICA Photonics; VEXLUM | Documented in these sources |
Parts tree of Quantum sensors and atomic clocks: Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors; Lasers for atomic sensors · Suppliers of Quantum sensors and atomic clocks: Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors; Lasers for atomic sensors in the supplier directory
Supply-chain parts and critical raw materials
From the parts tree: a reference structure of what each technology needs, down to materials, compiled from public review articles and EU law. It is not a supplier assessment.
Critical raw materials as listed in Annex II of the Critical Raw Materials Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1252).
Actors by role
Organisations with a documented relationship to this technology: a product line on the company’s own product page, the host or programme the infrastructure catalogue names for a facility, or the operator of an access route. Each row names its source and the date it was read. Roles are never inferred from taking part in the same project or patent.
| Role | Actors | State | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer or supplier of a part | 11 | Documented in these sources | 11 organisations in the table below. |
| Host, operator or access provider | 0 | No evidence found in these sources | 0 organisations in the table below. |
| Funder or programme | 0 | No evidence found in these sources | 0 organisations in the table below. |
| Researcher or developer | 7 | Documented in these sources | Organisations confirmed under this technology by the classification; listed in “Organisations and companies” below. Participants in EU-funded projects are counted per pillar in technology intelligence. |
| User | 0 | No evidence found in these sources | These sources record no user of this technology. |
| Organisation | Role | Country | Relationship | Stages | Source and date read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquark Technologies | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | AQuest (portable cold-atom source that traps atoms without a magnetic field) | Magneto-optical trap optics | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Edwards Vacuum | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | HyTan NEG-Ion pumps and Gamma Vacuum NEG pumps (combined getter and ion pumps for ultra-high vacuum) | Cold-atom vacuum packages | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| Exail | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FR | Absolute Quantum Gravimeter (AQG) (cold-atom interferometry gravimeters) | Cold-atom inertial and gravity sensors; Atom-interferometer sensor heads | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Exail | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FR | Intelligent Laser System (frequency-stabilised lasers for atom cooling and manipulation) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Hamamatsu Photonics A/S (formerly NKT Photonics) | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DK | Koheras (single-frequency fibre lasers and amplifiers for atom trapping, cooling and quantum information) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| HÜBNER Photonics | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | C-WAVE Series (widely tunable single-frequency CW lasers for colour-centre research and quantum technologies) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Menlo Systems | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | FC1500-Quantum (rack-mounted frequency comb with ultrastable and CW lasers for quantum applications) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Menlo Systems | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | ORS ultrastable lasers (cavity-stabilised narrow-linewidth lasers for quantum technologies and optical clocks) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| Novacene Photonics | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | GB | SolsTiS (narrow-linewidth tunable CW Ti:sapphire laser) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| Sacher Lasertechnik | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | Scientific Lasers (tunable diode lasers and tapered amplifiers) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| Schäfter+Kirchhoff | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | Beam Launchers for Quantum (fibre-coupled beam launchers that collimate, shape and combine laser beams onto the vacuum chamber for cooling and trapping atoms) | Magneto-optical trap optics | Source (read 2026-10-30) |
| TOPTICA Photonics | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | DE | DL pro (tunable external-cavity diode lasers for cooling and controlling atoms and ions) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
| VEXLUM | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FI | VALO (single-frequency VECSELs, direct and frequency-doubled) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) Partly verified: the page does not state the quantum use. |
| VEXLUM | Manufacturer or supplier of a part | FI | VXL (compact single-frequency VECSEL laser system for trapped-ion and neutral-atom quantum computers) | Narrow-linewidth and frequency-doubled lasers | Source (read 2026-10-26) |
Organisations and companies
7 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed and not listed here: 32.
- Politecnico di Milano
- Universitaet Bremen
- Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft - und Raumfahrt Ev
- Centre National D'etudes Spatiales - Cnes
- Idryma Technologias Kai Erevnas
See all 7: Organisations and companies · Companies of Quantum gravimeters and inertial sensors in the investor screener
Facilities and access
Facilities of this technology in the infrastructure catalogue, the furthest milestone the deployment tracker evidences for each, and the current access routes that open them.
No evidence found in these sources. The infrastructure catalogue lists no facility for this technology.
Funding
Upcoming work-programme topics in this technology (the EU programme pipeline) and the funding instruments whose stated quantum relevance names it. The awards of its EU-funded projects and the announced funding rounds follow below.
Upcoming topics in the programme pipeline
Documented in these sources: 1 upcoming topic (pipeline read 2026-11-01).
- Quantum Space Gravimetry topic
Pipeline topics of Quantum gravimeters and inertial sensors
Funding instruments
| Instrument | Programme | Stated quantum relevance | Why it is shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIC Accelerator | Horizon Europe: European Innovation Council | The EIC Work Programme 2026 states that the Accelerator Open call remains available to start-ups and SMEs, including for quantum technologies, with specific safeguards on investments in quantum. | Names its pillar, Quantum sensing and metrology |
| EIC STEP Scale Up | Horizon Europe: European Innovation Council, Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) | Quantum technologies are among the digital and deep-tech priority areas, and the EIC Work Programme 2026 says support for quantum start-ups will be pursued in particular through this call. | Names its pillar, Quantum sensing and metrology |
| EuroHPC JU quantum technology calls (Quantum Flagship) | Horizon Europe: Quantum Flagship, implemented by the EuroHPC JU | Since Council Regulation (EU) 2026/150 entered into force on 20 January 2026, the JU implements the Union's quantum technology agenda, including the Quantum Flagship funded through Horizon Europe, and its 2026 calls cover quantum computing platforms, QKD, testing infrastructure, pilot lines, sensing, machine learning and standards. | Names its pillar, Quantum sensing and metrology |
| Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space): quantum topics | Horizon Europe: Cluster 4, Digital, Industry and Space | The cluster's 2026 quantum topics were suspended after the EuroHPC JU mandate was extended to quantum technologies, and the 2026-2027 work programme keeps a 2027 research and innovation topic on quantum space gravimetry. | Names this technology |
| QuantERA joint transnational calls | QuantERA: network of national research funders with European Commission co-funding | QuantERA is a network of research funders for quantum technologies, and Call 2025 covered quantum phenomena and resources and applied quantum science across communication, computing, simulation, sensing and metrology. | Names its pillar, Quantum sensing and metrology |
6 more instruments are open to any field of research and are not listed here.
EU and national projects
24 confirmed items. Including suggestions by rules or AI, not yet reviewed and not listed here: 30.
| Measure | Total | Projects with an amount | Projects without one |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU contribution (maximum grant agreed) | EUR 32,694,751.68 | 3 | 0 |
| Total cost (includes the award) | EUR 31,408,205.14 | 2 | 0 |
| Measure | Total | Projects with an amount | Projects without one |
|---|---|---|---|
| award value (Gateway to Research) | GBP 10,945,149 | 12 | 0 |
| ANR aid allocated | EUR 562,495.04 | 2 | 0 |
| approved FWF funding | EUR 1,200,000 | 1 | 0 |
| award value (Gateway to Research) | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| funded amount | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Each project counts once. A total adds the amount each source states for its projects within one measure and one currency only: EU contributions, national awards and other measures are never added together. Total cost includes the award and is shown separately. A country filter keeps whole projects with a participant in the country, so its total is not the country's share. Programme envelopes, partner shares, co-funding and payments are separate layers and are never added to awards; payments are not published by the sources used. Outputs are linked only through an explicit project or grant identifier or reviewed documentary evidence, never by name alone; only a reviewed document can show a demonstrated contribution. CORDIS and Funding & Tenders amounts are one measure, the EU contribution (maximum grant agreed in the grant agreement, not payments). Country codes EL and UK are read as GR (Greece) and GB (United Kingdom). National and regional rows whose title names no quantum technology are left out unless asked for. EU and national totals are shown apart and never added.
Includes projects from the ANR open data: ANR, data.gouv.fr, ODbL 1.0; those rows are shared alike under the Open Database Licence.
2 confirmed project pages have no award record and are not in the totals.
- CARIOQA-PMP: Cold Atom Rubidium Interferometer in Orbit for Quantum Accelerometry – Pathfinder Mission Preparation
- CARIOQA-PHB: Cold Atom Rubidium Interferometer in Orbit for Quantum Accelerometry – Phase B
- CARIOQA PHA: Cold Atom Rubidium Interferometer in Orbit for Quantum Accelerometry – Phase A
- Lattice Atom Interferometry (LATIN)
- INAQED: High precision atom interferometry and test of quantum electrodynamics.
Patents and publications
Patent counts come from EPO Open Patent Services in technology intelligence, by CPC group, and per EPO quantum concept in the technology intelligence reports; publications by OpenAlex topic. The patent series of this node and its documents follow below.
Documented in these sources: 1 indicator page of this technology.
Patent landscape of Quantum sensing and metrology in technology intelligence · All technology intelligence reports
Patents
No patent series for this node. No CPC group names this technology, so no patent series is drawn for it.
Standards
Standards, specifications, committees and roadmaps of the standards tracker in the scope of this technology, each with its body and status.
No evidence found in these sources. The standards tracker holds no item in the scope of this technology.
9 tracked items are about quantum technologies in general.
Policy measures
Actions of the Quantum Europe Strategy (COM(2025) 363) that name this technology or its pillar, or that link one of its facilities, with their status in the strategy tracker.
Documented in these sources: 4 actions.
| Action | Status | Target | Why it is shown | Where in the strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deploy a distributed network of quantum gravimeters | In progress (evidence) | 2026 onwards | Names this technology | Section 2.2.3, Quantum gravimeters (p. 10) and action list (p. 11); Appendix, Area 2 (p. 23) |
| Publish a Quantum Sensing Roadmap | Announced | 2026 | Names its pillar, Quantum sensing and metrology | Section 2.2.3, text and action list (p. 11); Appendix, Area 2 (p. 23) |
| Establish a European Q-MRI Pilot Infrastructure | Announced | 2025 onwards | Names its pillar, Quantum sensing and metrology | Section 2.2.3, Quantum Magnetic Resonance Imaging (p. 10) and action list (p. 11); Appendix, Area 2 (p. 23) |
| Develop a quantum sensing space and defence technology roadmap | Announced | 2026 | Names its pillar, Quantum sensing and metrology | Section 2.4, Quantum technologies for security and defence and action list (p. 17); Appendix, Area 4 (p. 23) |
Evidence gaps
Stages of the value chain for which these sources link no documented European actor. Evidence gap in these sources, not a finding of dependency. A company may well supply the stage without a product page the directory has read; a missing record is never proof of a strategic dependency.
Documented in these sources: every stage has at least one documented European actor in these sources.
JRC and EU analysis
Reports and pages of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC). Identifiers are those of the JRC Publications Repository; the portal does not reproduce their data.
- JRC Quantum Communication and Sensing Laboratory (EuroQCI testing and evaluation laboratory)
The JRC has been selected to host the EuroQCI testing and evaluation laboratory, building on the Digital Europe project NOSTRADAMUS (launched January 2024). The JRC describes its role as generating reproducible technical evidence with a view to future certification, not as guaranteeing that a product is free of vulnerabilities.
- EU role in the global quantum race
Policy brief on the global quantum technology landscape: public and private funding, innovation potential and market perspective.
- Future Directions for Quantum Technology in Europe
Background analysis for the Quantum Europe Strategy: companies, patents, publications, supply chains, public funding and venture capital, by sector (communication including QKD, computing including simulation, sensing, and post-quantum cryptography).
- JRC Ispra links up with atomic clock and the Quantum Backbone (JRC news, 10 June 2025)
The JRC site in Ispra was connected to the Italian Quantum Backbone, part of EuroQCI, and to a time signal from INRiM's caesium-fountain clock.
- (Dis)Entangling the Future: horizon scanning for emerging technologies and breakthrough innovations in the field of quantum technologies
Horizon scanning of emerging quantum technologies and breakthrough innovations (FUTURINNOV project).
- Cold atom interferometry for inertial navigation sensors
Technology assessment of gyroscopes and accelerometers based on cold atom interferometry for space and defence (EUR 30492 EN).
- Cold atom interferometry sensors: physics and technologies
Physical principles of cold atom interferometry and how they are used in inertial and gravity sensors (EUR 30289 EN).
- Patent analysis of selected quantum technologies
Patent applications in the EPO Global Patent Index for quantum computing, quantum key distribution, quantum entanglement and cold atom interferometry, with a discussion of method (EUR 29614 EN).
Further reading
- Understanding Quantum Technologies 2025 (Olivier Ezratty, 8th edition, version 8.1 of 30 October 2025, arXiv:2111.15352 (v6), doi:10.48550/arXiv.2111.15352, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)See Part 4: Communications and sensing
- Understanding Quantum Technologies 2026 (Olivier Ezratty, 9th edition, version 9.0 of 17 October 2026 (latest edition))See Part 4: Communications and sensing
Olivier Ezratty, Understanding Quantum Technologies (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). Links only; no text of the book is reproduced on this portal.
All technologies · How items are classified · Published classification method · Draft SRIA 2026 chapter: Sensing and metrology