The Novo Nordisk Foundation has awarded a grant of DKK 150 million to establish the Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing.

The centre aims to develop novel quantum sensing principles and techniques for early detection of diseases. It will be located with the Niels Bohr Institute, the physics department at Copenhagen Science City-partner University of Copenhagen, reports Copenhagen Science City.

Quantum sensing

“Quantum sensing is among the most mature of the quantum technologies and holds the potential to greatly improve medical diagnostics. Denmark has a stronghold in quantum sensing, and with this grant we want to enable further development and translation of this powerful technology from the laboratories to clinical applications,” says Lene Oddershede, Senior Vice President, Natural & Technical Sciences, Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Under this new research project, researchers at the University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Texas at Austin aim to advance quantum sensing and imaging technologies in medical diagnostics and healthcare.”

Under this new research project, researchers at the University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark and the University of Texas at Austin aim to advance quantum sensing and imaging technologies in medical diagnostics and healthcare. The primary goal of the new research collaboration is to develop and use novel quantum sensing principles and techniques for biomedical diagnostics that can operate near and beyond standard quantum limits of sensitivity. At the University of Copenhagen, researchers will focus on developing highly sensitive sensors that have potential to be more precise than current state-of-the-art methods for detecting diseases.

Such quantum sensors will help the early detection and prevention of diseases.”

“Sensors of electromagnetic fields are the core components of modern medical diagnostics. Our aim is to exploit fundamental concepts of quantum physics, such as quantum superpositions and entanglement, to develop sensors whose sensitivity exceeds standard quantum limits. Such quantum sensors will help the early detection and prevention of diseases,” says Eugene Polzik, Professor at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, and leader of the Copenhagen Center for Biomedical Quantum Sensing.

Read more: Quantum computing – Solving the most complex life science issues

Danish strengths

University of Copenhagen has been a global centre for quantum research since 1921 when physicist Niels Bohr leveraged a Nobel Prize into funding for an institute bearing his name. More recently, several other initiatives have co-located in Copenhagen Science City in order to build on the innovation districts’ thriving quantum community, including NATO DIANA Quantum Centre, Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme at University of Copenhagen, The Quantum Foundry, Center for Educational Quantum Advantage, Deep Tech Lab Quantum, and University of Copenhagen MSc programme in Quantum Science.

“The new center for medical quantum sensing adds another important dimension to the quantum ecosystem in Copenhagen Science City which is one of the worlds’ most vibrant,” says Kristoffer Klebak, Head of Secretariat, Copenhagen Science City.

Read more: Special report – Copenhagen Science City

Photo of the Niels Bohr Building (right): Mikal Schlosser