QBO develops neutron optical components that improve precision in neutron scattering experiments—a method used at major research facilities such as ESS in Lund to understand materials at the molecular and atomic levels.
– The company operates in a narrow but globally relevant niche, where their technology can contribute to more efficient experiments and better utilization of research infrastructure, says Stefan Asplund, Investment Manager at LiU Invest.
Through advanced surface coating, QBO improves the reflection in neutron optical components, which allows more neutrons to be utilized in each experiment. This means higher quality in measurements and more knowledge per run – something that provides significant value in a research sector with an annual turnover of billions.
– We see a clear opportunity to contribute to better research worldwide. Our technology provides researchers with both higher resolution and more data per experiment, which not only increases the efficiency of advanced materials research but also opens up entirely new types of experiments that were previously not possible, says Anton Zubayer, CTO and co-founder of QBO.
The company currently has two ongoing patent applications, both of which have reached the international patent application phase (PCT). The team combines cutting-edge expertise in materials research with researchers Jens Birch, Fredrik Eriksson, Naureen Ghafoor, and Anton Zubayer, as well as business expertise with Gio Fornell as an entrepreneur.
– QBO is a good example of how the university’s research can lead to innovations with global reach, concludes Stefan Asplund.
