Pioneering Bristol start-up KETS has raised investment of more than £2m to develop a range of future-proof digital security technologies capable of protecting huge amounts of essential data.
The University of Bristol spin-out aims to become the digital security operating system, protecting digital information and critical infrastructure. 
While quantum computers, such as those being developed by IBM, Microsoft and Google, promise to create a new generation of supercomputers, they also pose a critical threat to current cyber security encryption.
To counter this, KETS has developed one of the world’s first integrated quantum secured encryption technologies capable of protecting against this vulnerability at scale.
As a result, quantum-secured communications will have the power to improve the secure transmission of information such as banking details and medical records.
The £2m funding round included investments from early stage venture fund Quantonation together with Kx and others and also included £1m provided from Innovate UK and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.
This new suite of secure communications systems has proven robust against both conventional and quantum threats, and the KETS team aims to use these systems to boost security in defence, telecoms and critical infrastructure, with end-users in finance, governments and data centres.
KETS CEO and co-founder Chris Erven said: “Our aim is to become the digital security OS of the future, protecting our digital information and critical infrastructure in the 21st century and beyond.”
KETS has seen uptake by major defence and telecommunications primes eager to protect themselves against the threat of quantum computers. These new funds will enable it to accelerate its growth and undertake trials in the aerospace and telecommunications sectors.
Quantonation CEO Christophe Jurczak said: “After years of ground-breaking research, now is the time for the unique properties of quantum physics to be harnessed and exploited.
“Quantonation is delighted to be working with the KETS team and supporting them in bringing this technology to market and addressing some of the most challenging problems that will face us in the coming years.”
KETS was formed in the University of Bristol’s Quantum Engineering Technology Labs by Drs Philip Sibson, Jake Kennard and Chris Erven in 2016 after winning 2015’s New Enterprise Award staged by the SETsquared incubator in Bristol.
The funding announcement comes at a key time in the UK’s National Quantum Technology programme with Chancellor Philip Hammond announcing a government investment of £235m in his recent Budget to support the continued development and commercialisation of quantum technologies to keep the UK at the forefront of this emerging industry.
Chris added: “KETS is proud to be one of the first start-ups emerging from the National QT programme. This funding will allow us to build on the UK’s investment and deliver first products to our early partners and customers.”
