30 September 2024
New hub for quantum communication in Germany to be established in Erfurt / Starting signal for new Q-net-Q research project
The Free State of Thuringia wants to become an important hub for the German quantum network become. With various projects, the state, federal government and the European Union are driving forward the expansion of a network for quantum communication in Germany. Existing test tracks for research into quantum-secured fibre connections between Erfurt and Jena are now to be will be extended with new sections in the direction of Nordhausen and, in future, Berlin and Frankfurt am Main. A visit by Thuringian Science Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee to the Fraunhofer Centre in Erfurt on Thursday marked the start of the further expansion of the line, which is being carried out as part of the new Q-net-Q research project.
The Free State of Thuringia lies at the heart of Germany. And at its heart is the state capital of Erfurt. This geographical location alone means that Erfurt is predestined to become a central hub for a future quantum network in Germany. The Free State of Thuringia has recognised this potential and is funding a wide range of projects that are advancing research into quantum communication and quantum computing.
On Thursday, Thuringia's Science Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee visited the Fraunhofer Centre in Erfurt to inspect the progress of existing research projects and to give the go-ahead for the expansion of the quantum network in Germany. "Thuringia is one of the leading locations in the field of quantum communication. As a state, we have been investing specifically in the expansion of the necessary expertise and infrastructure for years. The expansion of the existing test track is another major step in this direction. We are thus laying the foundations for a secure quantum communication infrastructure throughout Germany. With its research institutions and companies, Thuringia will form a central hub for this in the future," he explained during his visit.
A fibre optic test track between the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena and the Fraunhofer Centre in Erfurt has already been established with funding from the state. Here, over a distance of 75 kilometres - as part of the project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) QuNET initiative - quantum keys have already been successfully exchanged between the Thuringian metropolises.
The special highlight here was that it was possible to use an existing infrastructure of conventional telecommunications fibre optics for the test track. This means that no new, complex infrastructure had to be realised. Research is currently focusing on how the latest systems for so-called quantum key distribution can be integrated into these existing networks and utilised for various fields of application.
To address this issue, an extension of the test route is planned, which is now progressing: The Thuringian municipalities of Nordhausen and Sundhausen will be connected to the existing link between Jena and Erfurt by 2024. Furthermore, the university hospital within Jena will also be connected to the test track. This will extend the fibre-based test route to a total length of more than 150 kilometres. Further sections of the route to Berlin and Frankfurt am Main are planned by the end of 2024.
The hub of this planned network will be the Fraunhofer Centre in Erfurt. "There is no way around Thuringia on the future quantum highway," commented Prof Dr Andreas Tünnermann, Director of the Fraunhofer IOF, on Thursday in Erfurt. The expansion of the network and the associated development of strategic cooperation in the field of communication and information technology is taking place as part of a new research project called Q-net-Q.
The Q-net-Q project, led by Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and involving the Fraunhofer IOF, will initially test the application potential of highly secure quantum communication for telemedical software.
The main idea behind it: Rural regions in particular often suffer from a severe shortage of (specialised) doctors. A faster and more confidential exchange of patient data between urban and rural areas could therefore not only make medical care more convenient and efficient in future, but could even save lives in cases of doubt. With this in mind, the Thuringian municipality of Sundhausen will also be connected to the new fibre optic test route as an example of a rural region. The first concrete applications for the new section between Sundhausen and Jena University Hospital will be in the area of aftercare (e.g. post-inpatient hospitalisation) for post-COVID patients, as well as in early neurological diagnosis using digital tests (e.g. dementia detection).
On the other planned route sections to Berlin and Frankfurt am Main, however, research will focus on data exchange between data centres and in high-speed connections. "As part of the Q-net-Q project, we want to conduct fundamental research into how the physically securely generated quantum closures from QKD systems can be efficiently integrated into today's Internet to secure communication paths," says Prof Dr Thomas Hühn from Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, explaining the overarching project goal.
The Q-net-Q project is being implemented as part of the European EuroQCI programme. The EU and the BMBF are funding the project with a total of 11.8 million euros.
In addition to the Fraunhofer IOF and Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, which is acting as consortium leader, the Q-net-Q research network also includes five other academic partners: the Technical University of Munich, the Technical University of Berlin, the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg and the Fraunhofer HHI. Two industrial partners, Utimaco GmbH and DE-CIX Management GmbH, are also involved in the project.
What are quanta anyway?
The world is a quantum world. In other words, everything consists of quanta, provided we only look at sufficiently small systems. This is because quanta are the smallest and indivisible units that cause physical interactions. Photons, i.e. particles of light, are therefore also tiny quantum objects.
These quantum objects have fascinating properties that researchers are utilising in the development of cutting-edge quantum technologies. One particular property is the entanglement of quantum objects. Entanglement here means that pairs of entangled particles (e.g. photons) are created. Each particle always knows the exact state of its "twin" - even if it is far away.
How can we use quantum technology to protect our data and communications?
Our modern world is highly networked and therefore particularly susceptible to cyberattacks. Attacks on critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, for example, can jeopardise not only sensitive data but also potentially lives. Currently, our communication systems are encrypted using cryptographic algorithms based on the solution of certain numerical problems. However, the expected emergence of the quantum computer - i.e. next-generation high-performance computers that can solve computational tasks in seconds that would take conventional computers several years - and potential breakthroughs in mathematics jeopardise the security of this method in the long term. For this reason, new approaches are needed to ensure the long-term security of our data today.
And what are quantum keys or a quantum key exchange (QKD) in this context?
Quantum communication promises a completely new level of security. In contrast to conventional cryptography methods, quantum cryptography is based on physical principles. One possible method is the measurement of entangled light particles that have previously been exchanged between the sender and receiver. The technological basis for this is known as quantum key distribution, or QKD for short.
QKD enables the sharing of random keys between legitimate users by guaranteeing special security based on the laws of quantum mechanics and not on the computing power of an adversary.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena conducts application-oriented research in the field of photonics and develops innovative optical systems for controlling light - from its generation and manipulation through to its application. The institute's range of services covers the entire photonic process chain from opto-mechanical and opto-electronic system design to the production of customised solutions and prototypes. More than 400 employees at the Fraunhofer IOF work on the annual research volume of 40 million euros.
Further information about the Fraunhofer IOF can be found at: www.iof.fraunhofer.de
Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences (HSN) is a young university in Thuringia and an attractive location for new, innovative degree programmes and forms of teaching and learning. A total of 30 degree programmes are offered in the two faculties of Engineering and Business & Social Sciences. Sustainable technologies, future-orientated research and socially relevant subject areas are just as much a part of the Nordhausen portfolio as traditional scientific fields. Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences stands for a well-founded education rooted in the respective subject area, which is combined with interdisciplinary seminars and practical and foreign language courses. As a university of applied sciences in northern Thuringia with a strong research and third-party funding base, we offer an excellent foundation for numerous projects with the regional and national economy.
Further information about Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences can be found at:
Prof Dr Thomas Hühn
Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences
Professorship for Communication Technology and Bus Systems
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Dr Fabian Steinlechner
Fraunhofer IOF
Future Technologies department
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