Quebec Quantum Startup Secures Major European Space Agency Deal
Sherbrooke-based quantum technology startup SBQuantum, operating as SB Technologies Inc., has landed its second contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) worth US$1 million to develop advanced quantum sensors for space missions. The agreement, announced on November 14, 2025, represents a significant milestone for the Canadian deep tech sector and builds upon the company's initial feasibility study with ESA completed in August 2024.
Advanced Technology for Critical Earth Monitoring
The new contract focuses on developing an upgraded prototype of quantum sensors that will be deployed in space for Earth observation missions launching in 2028. These sophisticated devices leverage quantum mechanics to measure magnetic fields with unprecedented precision, enabling scientists to collect superior data about our planet's changing systems.
According to David Roy-Guay, founder and CEO of SBQuantum, "Securing this second contract with ESA is the latest in a series of strong signals from the market indicating the vast potential our quantum magnetometers offer as a sensor deployed in space." The technology will provide enhanced monitoring of shifting ocean currents, temperature changes, and variations in Earth's magnetic field - critical data for navigation systems, climate research, and understanding geomagnetic storms that can disrupt communications and GPS systems.
Global Recognition and Future Applications
Beyond the ESA partnership, SBQuantum has achieved remarkable recognition in international competitions. The company stands as the only Canadian finalist in the prestigious MagQuest Challenge, operated by the United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency under the Department of Defense. In the program's final phase scheduled for March 2026, SBQuantum will launch its sensors into space aboard a SpaceX ride-share mission to collect geomagnetic data.
The startup, founded in 2017, has already secured $15 million in research funding through various sources including government contracts, grants, and tax credits from programs such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Creative Destruction Lab. Roy-Guay confirmed the company has successfully passed all testing requirements at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and is now preparing to raise its first venture capital funding round.
As Roy-Guay emphasized, "The Earth and its ecosystem are evolving. Humankind needs to better monitor these changes... so we can fully understand them, prepare and adapt." This contract positions SBQuantum at the forefront of using quantum technology to address some of the planet's most pressing environmental and navigational challenges.
