IDQ Europe Becomes Quantum-Safe

131Insider Summary

• ID Quantique Europe GmbH (IDQ Europe) now In short Quantum-Safe GmbH.
• The company is separated from ID Quantique and wholly owned and controlled within the EU.
• Critical Quote: “QKD can and should immediately generate value for European citizens by protecting personal, government and commercial data. In short, Quantum-Safe supports European initiatives to accelerate the availability of advanced, high-value QKD technologies.” — Florian Fröwis, CEO of Nutshell Quantum-Safe

PRESS RELEASE — ID Quantique Europe GmbH (IDQ Europe), a developer and provider of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solutions based in Vienna, Austria, becomes In short Quantum-Safe GmbH. Aiming to supply QKD network solutions to protect European data in transit, the company supports national and European QKD initiatives and contributes to building a leading and sustainable quantum industry in the EU.

QKD is a technology to permanently protect data in transit – even against attackers using today’s and tomorrow’s most powerful quantum computers. The European Commission and EU member states have realized this potential and initiated programs, such as the European Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI), to develop and deploy QKD networks for the future proof protection of their critical infrastructure.

Currently, the EU requires a coordinated effort to develop, certify, deploy and accredit the necessary QKD infrastructure across its 27 members. At the same time, he wants to avoid new dependencies from companies and countries outside the EU. However, while several start-ups have developed QKDs in Europe, the EU-based QKD industry itself is currently at an early stage, implying a risk that common goals may not be reached in time.

In 2021, Swiss company ID Quantique, a world leader in QKD development and commercialization, decided to spin off Austrian company IDQ Europe to make its pioneering QKD technology available to the European government market in a compliant manner. Currently, IDQ Europe is wholly owned and controlled within the EU. The independence of ID Quantique is now underlined with this new, distinguishable branding.

In short Quantum-Safe has set up its business in Vienna to support the EU’s cybersecurity agenda with cutting-edge QKD technology. The company is a value added retailer of QKD solutions from ID Quantique. With an experienced team, Nutshell offers services such as consulting, QKD network project implementation and technical customer support. The next step is to open up EU-based production of QKD equipment. In addition, the company is actively pursuing R&D collaboration on QKD components, systems and network integration with European partners.

According to Dr. Florian Fröwis, CEO of Nutshell Quantum-Safe: “QKD can and should immediately generate value for European citizens by protecting personal, government and commercial data. In short, Quantum-Safe supports European initiatives to accelerate the availability of advanced, high-value QKD technologies.”

Meaning in short. QKD’s security is based on the basic laws of quantum mechanics. In QKD, single photons are exchanged between remote users. Attempts to read the information carried by the photons by an attacker will inevitably leave traces that can be detected by QKD devices. The short symbolizes the protection of quantum information. Accessing information is like breaking the gist to the gist. It is impossible to get nuts without leaving marks on the skin.

To learn more, please visit www.nutshell-qs.com.