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German drone startup Quantum nears €150 million funding round, set to triple valuation

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German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems is nearing completion of a €150 million ($175 million) funding round that could triple its valuation to €3 billion, according to a report from Manager Magazin. The surge in investor interest follows heightened demand for drone defense technologies amid rising security incidents at airports and critical infrastructure sites.

Quantum’s latest model, the “Jaeger”, is specifically designed to intercept and neutralize hostile drones, addressing growing threats linked to unauthorized aerial activity — some of which European authorities suspect may be part of hybrid warfare efforts by Russia.

The Munich-based startup plans to use the fresh capital to expand through acquisitions of smaller technology firms and startups, strengthening its technological edge in autonomous flight, sensor integration, and drone countermeasures.

According to Manager Magazin, Quantum expects revenues of €300 million in 2025, rising to over €500 million in 2026, and is already planning a second, larger funding round in 2026 that could push its valuation up to €5 billion.

Founded in 2015, Quantum Systems has quickly become one of Europe’s leading drone technology firms, supplying military, defense, and security agencies. The company did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

The report coincides with Germany’s decision to grant police new authority to shoot down rogue drones, a move reflecting growing concerns over drone-related disruptions at European airports.

Germany Turns to AI and Deregulation to Revive Its Struggling Economy

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Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz unveiled an ambitious plan on Wednesday to streamline bureaucracy, embrace artificial intelligence, and accelerate digitalization in an effort to restore the country’s economic strength after two years of contraction.

Speaking at the Borsig Palace in Berlin, Merz said the new measures mark a decisive shift toward modernization.
“We are, of course, aware of the problems facing the German economy at the moment,” he said, “but we aspire to return to the top.”

FROM FISCAL RESTRAINT TO INVESTMENT

Merz’s government has already broken with Germany’s long-standing tradition of fiscal restraint, approving a €500 billion infrastructure and defense package to stimulate growth in the only G7 economy that has shrunk over the past two years.

The new “Modernisation Agenda,” approved by the cabinet on Wednesday, outlines 23 priority projects aimed at cutting red tape, fostering innovation, and improving public services.

23 PROJECTS TO BOOST EFFICIENCY

Among the key reforms are:

  • A centralized digital vehicle registration system for faster processing.

  • A 24-hour business registration platform to simplify company formation.

  • AI tools for legal and visa verification procedures to speed up administration.

  • A faster process for recognizing foreign medical qualifications, to help fill gaps in healthcare staffing.

  • A new digital immigration agency to attract and integrate skilled foreign workers into the labor market.

Merz said the package will now be presented to the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament. “We are going to the German Bundestag with very concrete legislative proposals,” he added.

SAVINGS AND GROWTH TARGETS

Germany’s Ifo Institute estimated last year that excessive bureaucracy costs the country €150 billion annually in lost productivity. The government’s goal is to cut bureaucratic requirements by 25%, generating €16 billion in annual savings.

The government aims to fast-track the legislation through the upper house (Bundesrat) before its final session in December.

ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVES

The cabinet also approved funding of €1.7 billion for the construction of a nuclear fusion reactor, marking Germany’s renewed push into cutting-edge clean energy research.
Additionally, a draft law to accelerate hydrogen infrastructure development by removing regulatory bottlenecks was given the green light.

Together, the measures reflect a major pivot toward technology, energy innovation, and pro-business reforms, signaling Merz’s determination to pull Europe’s largest economy out of stagnation through AI, science, and structural modernization.

Uber and Momenta to Launch Level 4 Self-Driving Tests in Munich in 2026

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Uber and Chinese autonomous driving firm Momenta announced Monday that they will begin testing Level 4 self-driving vehicles in Munich, Germany, starting next year. The move marks Uber’s latest push to expand its robotaxi business beyond the U.S. and China.

Level 4 autonomy refers to vehicles capable of fully automated driving within defined conditions, though regulators still require safety oversight. Germany has emerged as a key testbed for autonomous mobility, with favorable legal frameworks and major automakers advancing the technology.

Uber has sought to secure its place in the robotaxi race through partnerships with Waymo (Alphabet), Lucid, and WeRide, while rivals like Tesla are also scaling their autonomous taxi services.

For its part, Momenta brings significant real-world experience. Its driver-assistance technology is already deployed in 400,000 vehicles globally through automaker partnerships. The collaboration with Uber, first announced in May, aims to accelerate deployment in international markets outside the U.S. and China.

The launch in Munich underscores the intensifying global competition in autonomous mobility, even as regulators maintain tight scrutiny following high-profile accidents in the sector.