14 November 2024

At the end of October, more than 20 experts and interested parties came together at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences to gain new impetus for IT security as part of a practice-oriented user workshop on quantum key distribution (QKD). The event, organised in the HIKE Lab at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, enabled participants to gain in-depth insights into use cases and specific applications for quantum encryption technology.

Photos: HSN

The event was organised as part of the EU-funded Q-net-Q project, which is headed by Prof. Dr Thomas Hühn. The aim of the project is to develop secure communication infrastructures based on QKD technology, which is characterised by security against eavesdropping and sustainability against quantum computer attacks.

After the opening keynote speech by Prof Dr Hühn, the specific requirements and use cases for QKD technology in various industries were examined in detail. The main focus was on use cases in critical infrastructures, particularly in the energy supply, telecommunications and healthcare sectors. These sectors require particularly secure communication solutions, as sensitive data is transmitted here on a daily basis. In the future, QKD could be used for the secure transmission of patient data in the healthcare sector or to secure network control in the energy supply sector, for example.

The session offered participants the opportunity to establish contacts through practical workshop sessions and gain detailed insights into the technical requirements and regulatory framework conditions for the use of QKD in existing IT infrastructures. The close collaboration between users and developers was an essential part of the workshop and helped to make the challenges and opportunities of the technology tangible.

In addition to the professional exchange, the event was also a platform for networking, where the experts were able to discuss future cooperation opportunities. Prof Hühn emphasised the importance of this exchange: "The inspiring discussions and newly established contacts have the potential to make QKD technology and the opportunities it offers tangible. We look forward to further expanding our collaboration in this pioneering field and working together towards a secure digital future."

With the "Q-net-Q" research project, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, together with a consortium of leading research institutions and companies, is providing an important impetus for technological sovereignty in Europe.

The partners include:

• Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences (HSN): consortium leader and lead manager of the project
• Technical University of Berlin (TUB): Participation in setting up the testbeds and developing innovative QKD approaches
• Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI): Development and integration of QKD components into existing networks
• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF): Research on entanglement-based QKD technologies and hollow-core fibres
• Technical University of Munich (TUM): Collaboration in the areas of security analysis and hybrid technologies
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU): Support in public relations work and participation in ETWG groups at EU level
• DE-CIX Management GmbH: Integration of QKD in Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and Internet infrastructures
• Utimaco GmbH: Contribution to ensuring the integrity and security of QKD applications

As part of the project, the consortium is developing innovative solutions to sustainably strengthen the quantum security of communication networks in Germany and Europe.

The project is funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research and supports the long-term development of a quantum-safe Internet.

Further information on the project and upcoming events can be found on the project website: q-net-q.eu.