Company · Southampton
Covesion makes periodically poled lithium niobate crystals that shift laser light from one wavelength to another, plus locked laser systems built around them, parts that end up inside cold-atom sensors and sources of quantum light. The Southampton company led BLINQ, an Innovate UK project from 2021 to 2023 on integrating blue lasers with networked quantum memories, and was a partner in the Fraunhofer-led QT Assemble programme. Its ruggedised LL2-Rb laser cooled the atoms in CPI TMD Technologies' HARLEQUIN navigation sensor during sea trials on THV Galatea, reported in November 2025. In September 2026 owner Hawthorn Photonics made Covesion its group-wide components brand.
Covesion is a Southampton company working on quantum photonics, components and sensing, founded in 2007. It is a partner in 2 UK projects: QuSIT and QT Assemble.
Sources: Hawthorn Photonics (US) develops with quantum AdvR, Inc. name change (Quantum Zeitgeist, September 2026) · Quantum sensors successfully tested at sea (Quantum Zeitgeist, November 2025) · BLINQ (UKRI Gateway to Research) · QT Assemble (Fraunhofer CAP)
QuSIT
A national research hub for quantum sensing, imaging and timing, led by the University of Birmingham.
Role: Partner
Funding: £22m
Themes: Sensing, Imaging, Timing and navigation
QT Assemble
A three-year Fraunhofer CAP-led consortium to make quantum technology components smaller, more robust and easier to build.
Role: Partner
Themes: Materials and components, Sensing
Recent articles from Quantum Zeitgeist that mention Covesion.
Hawthorn Photonics streamlines its portfolio, rebranding AdvR products as Covesion, and on September 23, 2026, AdvR, Inc. becomes Hawthorn Photonics (US), Inc., focusing on areas like quantum photonics.
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
Covesion contributed to successful sea trials of CPI TMD Technologies’ HARLEQUIN, a quantum-hybrid inertial navigation system, proving quantum sensors can function in challenging maritime environments. This deployment marks a significant step toward real-world application of cold-atom technology for
Image © Quantum Zeitgeist
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Company data from Entangled Future. News from Quantum Zeitgeist. Last checked 2 October 2026.
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