Deep Tech Briefing #17: 🔍 Million-Dollar Seed Round for AI Search Engine; 💎 Quantum Magnetometers for Mineral Surveying; 🚜 Water Tech Boosts Agriculture and more...
An insider’s update on Deep Tech Ventures: Your dose of tech innovations, startups, exponential industries, policies, and market moves to stay ahead and capitalize on it.
Hey there! Welcome to this edition of Deep Tech Briefing, our Sunday column where we break down the week’s top developments in Deep Tech Startups and Venture Capital.
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In today’s edition
Significant AI search engine Investment
Quantum Magnetometers Enhance Mineral Surveys
Agriculture Benefits from Water Innovations
Berkeley's Microcapacitors Revolutionize Electronics
Progress in Plant-Based Food Industry
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🔸Diamond-based quantum magnetometers to enhance surveying for mineral deposits
In our ongoing quest to meet the rising demand for critical minerals, traditional exploration methods often fall short. They are slow, costly, and environmentally invasive. Enter a promising new approach developed by SBQuantum and Silicon Microgravity, which leverages advanced quantum and gravity sensing technologies mounted on drones. This innovation promises to significantly accelerate the discovery of mineral deposits while reducing environmental impact.
At the heart of SBQuantum's technology are diamond-based quantum magnetometers. These devices utilize synthetic lab-grown diamonds with nitrogen impurities, which create unique quantum properties. The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in the diamond lattice function as highly sensitive magnetic field sensors. By exciting these NV centers with a green laser, the technology measures their quantum state as they interact with the Earth's magnetic field, producing red light. The intensity of this red light is used to map the magnetic field with exceptional precision.
Integrating these quantum magnetometers with Silicon Microgravity's gravimetric sensors allows for the simultaneous measurement of magnetic and gravitational fields. This combined data provides a comprehensive 3D map of subsurface mineral deposits. The advantage of this integration is the ability to discern not only the presence of minerals but also their density and distribution, offering a detailed geological picture that traditional methods cannot match.
Traditional exploration methods often require large, cumbersome equipment and extensive on-ground surveys. In contrast, drone-deployed sensors offer a rapid, non-invasive solution that can cover vast areas efficiently. This method not only accelerates the exploration process but also significantly lowers the carbon footprint, aligning with global sustainability goals.
David Roy-Guay, CEO and co-founder of SBQuantum, notes, "Our technology provides a nine-times more precise mapping of magnetic fields, offering a clearer and more detailed understanding of mineral deposits."
This precision is crucial for mining companies to make informed decisions about where to drill, potentially saving millions in exploration costs.
One notable case study is the deployment of this technology at Glencore’s Raglan nickel mine in Quebec. This pilot project, funded by nearly $900,000 from the Canadian and UK governments, aims to validate the commercial viability and efficiency of drone-based quantum magnetometry in an operational mining environment.
But the impact of this technology extends far beyond mineral exploration. In the defense sector, quantum magnetometers can enhance submarine navigation and object detection capabilities. For example, they can detect underwater mines or other objects, providing a strategic advantage. In autonomous vehicle navigation, these sensors offer high-quality mapping in GPS-denied environments, such as urban canyons or underground tunnels, ensuring accurate navigation and operational efficiency.
Moreover, in the field of security, SBQuantum's sensors can provide non-intrusive metal detection with greater accuracy, reducing the need for conventional, often intrusive methods. This application can be particularly valuable in airports and other high-security environments, enhancing safety while minimizing inconvenience.
🔸Fiber-Spinning Tech Set to Boost Plant-Based ‘Meat’ Industry Profits
The food industry is undergoing a significant transformation driven by technological innovation and growing sustainability concerns. A prime example is Tender Food, which recently secured $11 million in Series A funding and partnered with fast-food chain Clover Food Lab. These developments indicate broader changes with significant implications for the industrial and technological markets.
The global plant-based protein market is experiencing rapid growth, valued at $7.9 billion in 2022 and projected to reach $15.7 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 13.5%. This expansion is driven by consumer awareness of the environmental and health benefits of plant-based alternatives, improvements in product quality, and regulatory pressures to reduce the environmental footprint of traditional agriculture.
Tender Food's fiber-spinning technology is at the forefront of this