SQP · Project

Ultra-Sensitive Light Detectors That Make Medical Imaging Faster and Sharper

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Imagine a camera so sensitive it can catch a single particle of light — that's basically what Single Quantum built. Their detectors use superconducting nanowires cooled to extreme temperatures to spot individual photons with unmatched speed and accuracy. They've already sold 70 of these systems to research labs, and now they're scaling up to tackle medical imaging — think sharper, faster scans for diagnosing diseases. The goal is to replace older, noisier light detectors that miss too much detail.

By the numbers

Systems already sold to universities and research institutes

€500m/year

Scientific bioimaging market size

35%

Anticipated market share in bioimaging

€4,070m/year

Clinical diagnostics imaging market size for Single Quantum

10%

Expected market share in clinical diagnostics

Team size (grew from 3)

PhD-holding employees

€1,981,875

EU contribution

The business problem

What needed solving

Medical and scientific imaging is limited by the quality of light detectors — existing sensors suffer from noise, low sensitivity, and poor time resolution, meaning images are less sharp and scans take longer. For clinical diagnostics, this directly impacts the speed and accuracy of disease detection. Companies building imaging equipment need better detectors but the physics of conventional sensors has hit a wall.

The solution

What was built

Single Quantum built superconducting nanowire single photon detectors with the world's highest detection efficiency. Key deliverables include a completed new production facility for industrial-scale manufacturing and installed prototypes at early adopter labs with on-site engineering training and validation.

Audience

Who needs this

Medical imaging OEMs (Siemens Healthineers, Philips, GE Healthcare tier)Microscopy and bioimaging instrument manufacturersQuantum communication and quantum computing hardware companiesLIDAR and remote sensing system developersSemiconductor inspection equipment makers

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical Imaging Equipment

enterprise

Target: OEM manufacturers of diagnostic imaging systems (CT, PET, optical scanners)

If you are a medical imaging OEM dealing with detector noise and limited sensitivity in your scanning systems — this project developed superconducting nanowire single photon detectors that deliver the highest detection efficiency on the market. Single Quantum already sold 70 systems and is building a new production facility to supply industrial volumes. The clinical diagnostics imaging market they target is worth €4,070m/year.

Bioimaging & Life Sciences

mid-size

Target: Microscopy and scientific imaging instrument companies

If you are a bioimaging instrument maker struggling with low signal-to-noise ratios in fluorescence or quantum microscopy — this project adapted single photon detectors specifically for bioimaging applications. Prototypes were installed and validated at early adopter labs. The scientific bioimaging market is worth €500m/year and Single Quantum targets a 35% market share.

Quantum Technology & Photonics

any

Target: Companies developing quantum communication, LIDAR, or optical sensing systems

If you are a photonics company needing detectors that combine highest efficiency with precise time resolution and ultra-low noise — this project scaled a superconducting nanowire detector technology from lab to production. A new production facility was completed and the team grew from 3 to 24 people in six years, signaling industrial capacity to supply OEM partners.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does a single photon detector system cost?

Based on available project data, exact pricing is not disclosed. However, Single Quantum already sold 70 systems to universities and research institutes, indicating an established commercial price point. As a specialized high-tech detection unit, these are premium instruments — the EU contributed €1,981,875 to help scale production and reduce unit costs for larger industrial markets.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

Yes. A key deliverable of this project was completing a new production facility specifically designed for higher volumes. The company grew from 3 to 24 employees in six years, with 7 PhD physicists on staff. Their strategy targets OEM imaging manufacturers who would integrate detection units into their own systems.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

Single Quantum BV owns the technology as the sole partner in this project (100% industry consortium). They are positioning as an OEM supplier, offering detection units for integration into third-party imaging systems. Based on available project data, licensing terms would be negotiated directly with Single Quantum.

How proven is this technology in real-world settings?

Prototypes were installed at early adopter labs, with Single Quantum engineers spending extended time on-site to validate performance in specific applications. The company has already sold 70 systems commercially. The project focused on adapting the existing product for bioimaging and clinical diagnostics markets.

What markets does this target and how big are they?

Two markets are targeted: scientific bioimaging worth €500m/year (with anticipated 35% market share) and clinical diagnostics imaging worth €4,070m/year (with expected 10% market share). The entry strategy is to validate with bioimaging scientists first, then expand into clinical applications.

What is the timeline to market entry?

The project ran from 2019 to 2021 and is now closed. With 70 systems already sold, a new production facility completed, and prototypes installed at early adopter sites, the technology is commercially available for the research market. Clinical diagnostics market entry depends on OEM partnership agreements.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: Single Quantum BV, a Dutch SME that is 100% industry. With no university or research partners in the consortium, this signals a company that has already moved past the basic research phase and is focused entirely on commercialization. The team of 24 (including 7 PhDs) and 70 systems already sold confirm this is a mature technology company scaling up, not a research lab exploring possibilities. The €1,981,875 EU investment through the EIC SME Instrument Phase 2 was specifically designed to help high-potential SMEs bring close-to-market innovations to scale.

SINGLE QUANTUM BVCoordinator · NL

How to reach the team

Contact Single Quantum BV (Netherlands) — the sole partner and technology owner. They actively seek OEM partnerships with imaging system manufacturers.

Order a report on this consortium See SINGLE QUANTUM BV profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore integrating single photon detection into your imaging products? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the Single Quantum team and help you evaluate fit for your application.

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