Delta Gold Signs Quantum Research Licensing Deal With Penn State

The three-year agreement will fund up to $2.99 million in research on gold-based quantum technologies.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Delta Gold Technologies PLC, a quantum computing company, has signed a research sponsorship and exclusive technology licensing agreement with Penn State University. Under the deal, Delta Gold will provide up to $2,991,426 over three years to fund Penn State research on gold-based quantum technologies, with the aim of generating valuable intellectual property. In exchange, Delta Gold will receive an exclusive, sublicensable, royalty-bearing license to any resulting IP, excluding the field of human health.

Why it matters

This agreement is part of Delta Gold's strategy to build a global center of excellence and a portfolio of quantum materials research across leading universities. The collaboration with Penn State, a top research institution, aligns with Delta Gold's ongoing work at the University of Toronto and strengthens its position in the competitive quantum computing sector.

The details

The initial year of the research program is estimated to cost up to $997,142, which Delta Gold will pay to Penn State on a cost reimbursement basis. The total three-year contract is worth up to $2,991,426. Once cumulative net sales of licensed products exceed $20 million, Delta Gold will pay Penn State a 1% running royalty.

  • The research agreement was signed on February 16, 2026.
  • The initial year of the research program is estimated to cost up to $997,142.

The players

Delta Gold Technologies PLC

A technology company developing intellectual property in the quantum computing sector.

Penn State University

A top American university with expertise in materials science and engineering, including research on gold-based quantum technologies.

Kenneth L. Knappenberger Jr.

Head of Chemistry at Penn State and a specialist in optical, electronic, and spin properties of nanomaterials, who will lead the research.

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What they’re saying

“We are very excited to work with Penn State, a top American University with extraordinary abilities in materials science and engineering. Amazingly, independently they were investigating the properties of nano scale gold and other materials for quantum computing at the same time as our work that is on-going at University of Toronto with similar materials. Signing an agreement with Penn State adds to our portfolio of potential IP and is a direct execution step of our mission to establish a 'Centre of Excellence' in Quantum Computing Research. The opportunity for top universities to collaborate is extremely exciting in the developing field.”

— R. Michael Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Delta Gold (thequantuminsider.com)

What’s next

The research agreement between Delta Gold and Penn State will run for three years, with the initial year of the program estimated to cost up to $997,142.

The takeaway

This licensing deal between Delta Gold and Penn State demonstrates the growing collaboration between technology companies and leading research universities in the competitive quantum computing sector. By funding cutting-edge research on gold-based quantum technologies, Delta Gold is positioning itself to develop a strong portfolio of intellectual property and establish a global center of excellence in this emerging field.