EpoQ wins PhotonDelta 2026 Engineering Contest for chip-based atomic clock

21 October 2026. EpoQ has won PhotonDelta's 2026 Engineering Contest, according to the company. The competition is organised by PhotonDelta in collaboration with Wevolver.

EpoQ is a pre-incorporation quantum technology venture led by researchers based at the University of Amsterdam. The company is developing compact trapped-ion atomic clocks by combining microfabricated ion-trap technology, ultraviolet integrated photonics, and automated electronic control.

The technology uses trapped ytterbium ions (Yb⁺) as a stable atomic frequency reference. EpoQ says that by integrating the optical systems needed to manipulate and detect these ions onto photonic chips, it aims to reduce the size, weight, power consumption and complexity of conventional laboratory-based systems.

The company lists three application areas: high-precision atomic timing for research laboratories, metrology institutes and advanced scientific instruments; positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) for maritime operations, including GNSS-denied environments; and improved PNT services and autonomous navigation for deep-space missions.

EpoQ describes its mission as bringing laboratory-grade precision into deployable systems, enabling high-performance timing in environments where conventional technologies are impractical. The company says it welcomes enquiries from prospective partners, customers and investors.

Source: EpoQ news