SHORT INFO
- Project ID: H2020-SU-ICT-2018-3
- Web: https://www.openqkd.eu/
- Type: International Research Project
- Project Leader: Miralem Mehić
DETAILS
OPEN EUROPEAN QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION TESTBED [:OPEN:]QKD
OPENQKD will aim to bring about a change in the way we see, understand and use quantum communication. Its main focus is to create and test a communication network infrastructure with a built-in quantum element, using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a ultra-secure form of encryption that allows data to be transmitted with a very high level of security. It will lay the groundwork for a pan-European quantum communication infrastructure that uses satellite as well as ground-based solutions: recently, the European Commission and several EU countries announced plans to work together to explore the development of such a quantum communication infrastructure linking European regions and cities.
Hannes Hübel, scientist at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, and project leader of OPENQKD: “After successfully demonstrating the basic concept of QKD, quantum based cryptography has achieved a mature state and we are proud to lift quantum technology now onto a market-ready level – ready to be deployed in everyday-life applications.”
Helmut Leopold, Head of Center for Digital Safety & Security at the Austrian Institute of Technology, which is coordinating the project, added: “With the European OPENQKD initiative, Europe builds on its leadership in science and technology in the sector of quantum technologies by fostering a strong cooperation among research, industry as well as the public sector to enable an innovative eco-system for creating a new perspective for our secure digital Europe and building the foundation for next generation communication technologies.”
Building closer European links
The Europe Commission chose to fund OPENQKD following a Horizon 2020 call for proposals in 2018. Its mission is to develop an experimental testbed based on QKD and to test the interoperability of equipment supplied by different manufacturers of quantum. OPENQKD’s activities will take place all over Europe (in Austria, Spain, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy, UK, Greece and the Czech Republic). It will focus on several key fields of operations, especially the telecommunications sector, where data traffic in transit and at rest needs to be secured. Other applications, such as securing medical and governmental data or the transmission of secure control signals in the electricity grid will also be demonstrated and evaluated.
In addition, OPENQKD will address the development of a European ecosystem for quantum technology providers, application developers. It will also work to identify new use-cases by supporting start-ups and SMEs, as well as offering modern test facilities to new quantum stakeholders. A further objective for the project is to devise standards and security certifications for this infrastructure.
University of Sarajevo
The University of Sarajevo will be involved in the project consortium in the domain of network traffic management generated by quantum devices and modeling of control and quality of services network mechanisms.
Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Prof. Jasmin Velagic explains that this project will enable participation in the development consortium of advanced telecommunication techniques, which is of great importance for the University through the acquisition of advanced knowledge and scientific experience. The project provides an opportunity for young researchers to participate in cutting-edge international research activities.
Head of the research team in front of the University of Sarajevo Assis.prof. Miralem Mehic emphasized that this is the first research project in the field of quantum cryptography in Bosnia and Herzegovina and that the University of Sarajevo has the honor and opportunity to cooperate with eminent scientific institutions. This project will open the door to use the acquired knowledge and experience to modernize curricula, organize lectures and workshops with the aim of transferring knowledge about quantum technology in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The total budget of the OPENQKD project is EUR 15 million with a duration of three years. The project consortium consists of 38 partners from 13 Member States and Horizon 2020 associate countries. The consortium partners cover a wide range of competencies, including quantum equipment manufacturers, telecom operators, system integrators, SMEs, research and technology organizations, universities and institutes, authorities for certification and standardization and end users.
Project members
- ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING SE, GERMANY
- AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH, AUSTRIA
- BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY, UNITED KINGDOM
- CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS, FRANCE
- CITYCOM TELEKOMMUNIKATION GMBH, AUSTRIA
- DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET, DENMARK
- DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG, GERMANY
- DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUER LUFT – UND RAUMFAHRT EV, GERMANY
- DIN DEUTSCHES INSTITUT FUER NORMUNG E.V., GERMANY
- FRAGMENTIX STORAGE SOLUTIONS GMBH, AUSTRIA
- FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES, SPAIN
- FUNDACION IMDEA SOFTWARE, SPAIN
- ID QUANTIQUE SA, SWITZERLAND
- INSTITUT MINES-TELECOM, FRANCE
- INSTYTUT CHEMII BIOORGANICZNEJ POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUK, POLAND
- IXBLUE, FRANCE
- LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUNCHEN, GERMANY
- MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV, GERMANY
- MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAT GRAZ, AUSTRIA
- MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD – MLNX, ISRAEL
- MT PELERIN GROUP SA, SWITZERLAND
- NOKIA BELL LABS FRANCE, FRANCE
- NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM
- OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTEN, AUSTRIA
- ORANGE SA, FRANCE
- ROHDE & SCHWARZ CYBERSECURITY GMBH, GERMANY
- SERVICES INDUSTRIELS DE GENEVE, SWITZERLAND
- TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT, NETHERLANDS
- TELEFONICA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO SA, SPAIN
- THALES ALENIA SPACE FRANCE, FRANCE
- THALES SIX GTS FRANCE SAS, FRANCE
- THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM
- TOSHIBA RESEARCH EUROPE LIMITED, UNITED KINGDOM
- UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID, SPAIN
- UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVA, ITALY
- UNIVERSITE DE GENEVE, SWITZERLAND
- UNIVERSITY OF SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
- VYSOKA SKOLA BANSKA – TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC
More details are available at https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/224682/factsheet/fr
