We’re delighted to share that QSENSATO, a spin-off from the University of Bari, has been supported by Quantum Italia, an initiative we proudly back at Quantonation. QSENSATO is pioneering advanced quantum sensing, building on intellectual property from ICFO, born from collaborative research between ICFO’s Atomic Quantum Optics group (ICREA Prof. Dr. Morgan Mitchell) and CNR-IFN Milan (Dr. Roberto Osellame).

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The University of Bari spin-off develops innovative solutions based on advanced atomic sensors that harness the principles of quantum mechanics to enable ultra-precise measurements across a range of strategic sectors.

In the prestigious setting of the University of Bari’s Golden Hall (Salone Dorato), QSENSATO, a startup specializing in integrated vapor cells and quantum atomic sensors, announced today that it has raised €500,000 in a pre-seed funding round. The investment comes from LIFTT, an Italian venture capital firm focused on deep-tech, and Quantum Italia.

The funding will support the research and development of new prototypes, the commercialization of existing solutions, and the expansion of business operations in Europe and the United States.

QSENSATO’s technology is based on atomic-photonic chips, the core of advanced atomic sensors that detect minute variations in electric and magnetic fields by exploiting quantum mechanical effects. This enables unprecedented precision in measurements, with potential applications in 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 departmental colleague Annalisa Volpe and technical advisor Domenico Tulli.

Dr. Lucivero, originally from Molfetta, earned a master’s degree in physics from Sapienza University of Rome, followed by a PhD in photonics from ICFO (Institute of Photonic Sciences) in Barcelona in 2011. He then moved to the United States for a three-year postdoctoral position at Princeton University in New Jersey. Returning to Europe, he completed a second postdoc at ICFO under a Marie Curie fellowship for four more years. He later returned to Italy thanks to the PNRR-NQSTI partnership and the Rita Levi Montalcini Award, joining the Interuniversity Department of Physics (DIF) at the University of Bari, led by Prof. Roberto Bellotti.

There, he founded QSENSATO, an innovative startup focused on quantum sensing and metrology, through the development of miniaturized devices for ultra-precise measurements. The current team includes Vincenzo Tamborra(Prototyping & Project Manager) and Ruan Viljoen (R&D Scientist). The company also benefits from the support of Vincenzo Mazzilli (Mazzilli & Partners) for accounting and Sabino Sernia (Onlex Law Firm) for legal counsel.

QSENSATO has recently gained recognition in multiple innovation events and competitions, winning several prestigious awards. Notably, it secured second place in Start Cup Puglia 2024, leading to its participation in the 2024 National Innovation Award (PNI), and received honors at the Talentis-GIStartup Award in Capri, which celebrates standout emerging ventures in youth entrepreneurship. These successes highlight the growing interest in quantum sensing and the market potential of QSENSATO’s solutions.

“Our goal is to make quantum sensing accessible across a wide range of industries, offering measurement tools with unprecedented precision,” said Gianvito Lucivero, CEO of QSENSATO.
“Our technology combines unmatched accuracy and portability, with potential applications from advanced magnetic resonance imaging to the detection of geomagnetic anomalies.”

“We were captivated by the technology this company has developed,” added Edoardo Bianchi, Project Manager at LIFTT.
“We’re proud to support a venture that not only brings radical innovation but also showcases an exceptional team. Aligned with LIFTT’s mission, we’ve decided to back QSENSATO not just for their visionary ideas, but for making them a tangible reality.”

Christophe Jurczak, founding partner of Quantum Italia and managing partner at Quantonation, commented:
“Our investment in QSENSATO reflects Quantum Italia’s commitment to advancing scientific research from the lab to the market — especially in the emerging field of quantum technologies. The fact that QSENSATO is a University of Bari spin-off highlights the strategic value of keeping the connection between academia and entrepreneurship alive.”

Riccardo D’Alessandri, founding partner of Quantum Italia and managing partner of Scientifica Venture Capital, added “Quantum sensors are transforming how information is gathered, processed, and interpreted. That’s why we’re excited to support the evolution of quantum sensing through our investment in QSENSATO and their new generation of integrated atomic quantum sensors. This technology will play a vital role in delivering accurate, real-time data across a wide range of industrial applications.”

About Quantonation
Quantonation is the first early-stage VC fund dedicated to deep physics and quantum technologies. Fields such as high-performance computation, secure communications, drug design, or ultra-precise sensing are now driven by innovation based on these disruptive technologies. Quantonation aims at supporting their transition into commercially available products. Quantonation is headquartered in Paris, France, and in Boston, USA, with investments in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. More on www.quantonation.com or LinkedIn (https://fr.linkedin.com/company/quantonation).