March 5, 2026
NuCrypt, a quantum communications company co-founded by Professor Prem Kumar, has been acquired by Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) in a transaction valued at $5 million.
Founded in 2003, NuCrypt was an early pioneer in commercial quantum communications technologies, developing hardware and systems for quantum optics, entanglement generation, and secure quantum communications. The company has worked with organizations including NASA, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, and leading research institutions around the world.
The acquisition establishes quantum communications as a key commercialization vertical within QCi’s broader quantum technology strategy. By integrating NuCrypt’s technologies and intellectual property portfolio with QCi’s photonics and quantum computing capabilities, the combined company aims to accelerate the development and deployment of scalable quantum communications solutions.
Professor Kumar, who serves as Director of Northwestern’s Center for Photonic Communication and Computing and was a founding member of NuCrypt, noted that the acquisition represents an important step in translating decades of academic research into commercial impact.
The milestone highlights the growing influence of Northwestern-led innovation in the rapidly expanding quantum technology sector and underscores the region’s leadership within the Chicago quantum ecosystem.