Portugal news - Portugal is leading a new quantum cryptography project for European Defence named DISCRETION, that is a project costing 6,719,699.75 euros. Below is an explanation of how Portugal developed quantum cryptography technology that has the potential for large-scale implementation, as well as the list of companies and countries that are part of the DISCRETION project consortium:
What is the EU Defence project DISCRETION?
The new EU quantum technologies project for European Defence, named DISCRETION for “Disruptive SDN secure communications for European Defence”, will provide disruptive Software Defined Network (SDN) and Quantum Key Distribution technologies. Combined with legacy optical networks, the project will build a highly secure network for advanced military tactical operation services that will create a degree of autonomy for European Defence forces against new cyber-security threats in the post-quantum era.
How will Portugal use Quantum technologies for the EU Defence project DISCRETION?
The Portuguese National Security Office and Portuguese National Defence have been investing in and preparing optical and quantum communications for the future, enabling the secure and robust exchange of sensitive data.
QSCRIPT, a previous initiative supported by the Portuguese National Security Office and the Portuguese Armed Forces General Staff, enabled the development of a communication anchor based on cipher machines and cryptographic key production processes. Two sites of the Portuguese Ministry of National Defence positioned 4.5 km apart were connected by a quasi-quantum link using Portuguese technology, which DISCRETION will improve.
DISCRETION supports the PErmanent Structured COoperation (PESCO) project and the EU Cyber Academia and Innovation Hub (EU CAIH), led by Portugal. These initiatives will facilitate the research and development of innovative solutions and technologies for cybersecurity, promote training and provide the new competencies required to master these new cryptographic systems.
During the REPMUS exercise that was carried out in September by the Portuguese Navy in collaboration with NATO, the potential of DISCRETION's Software Defined Radios (SDRs) communications was demonstrated, as they received cryptographic keys generated by Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution (CV-QKD) technology to protect sensitive information. The CV-QKD technology has the potential for large-scale implementation of quantum cryptography and is compatible with traditional optical networks.
Here is the list of companies and countries that are part of the DISCRETION project consortium:
1 - DEIMOS ENGENHARIA S.A (COORDINATOR) - Portugal
2 - ADYTA LDA - Portugal
3 - ALTICE LABS - Portugal
4 - INSTITUTO DE TELECOMUNICAÇÕES - Portugal
5 - INSTITUTO SUPERIOR TÉCNICO - Portugal
6 - AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH - Austria
7 - NEXTWORKS - Italy
8 - TELEFONICA INVESTIGACIÓN Y DESARROLLO S.A.U. -Spain
9 - UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE MADRID - Spain
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