Menu
Post Quantum
Cryptography Framework
for Energy Aware Contexts
Framework design, development, and validation for a faster and
smoother transition from classical to post-quantum cryptography
Post Quantum
Cryptography Framework
for Energy Aware Contexts
Framework design, development, and validation for a faster and
smoother transition from classical to post-quantum cryptography
The Case
Public key cryptography has developed into a crucial aspect of the digital communication infrastructure in all over the world during the past three decades. Mobile phones, internet shopping, social networks, and cloud computing are only just a few of the numerous applications supported by these networks which are of the utmost importance to our economy, security, and way of life.
The ability of people, organizations, and governments to communicate securely is crucial in such a connected world. Since there are currently no quantum computers that can perform Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms on long keys, the quantum threat is only theoretical at this time. However, it is clear that current cryptosystems like RSA, ECDSA, ECDH, and DSA will need to be replaced by post-quantum cryptography (PQC) as soon as possible.
Several pertinent organizations have acknowledged the importance of addressing this issue as fast as possible. In this regard, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently launched an initiative to identify cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum computer attacks by 2022 and make them accessible by 2024.
The Case
Public key cryptography has developed into a crucial aspect of the digital communication infrastructure in all over the world during the past three decades. Mobile phones, internet shopping, social networks, and cloud computing are only just a few of the numerous applications supported by these networks which are of the utmost importance to our economy, security, and way of life.
The ability of people, organizations, and governments to communicate securely is crucial in such a connected world. Since there are currently no quantum computers that can perform Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms on long keys, the quantum threat is only theoretical at this time. However, it is clear that current cryptosystems like RSA, ECDSA, ECDH, and DSA will need to be replaced by post-quantum cryptography (PQC) as soon as possible.
Several pertinent organizations have acknowledged the importance of addressing this issue as fast as possible. In this regard, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently launched an initiative to identify cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum computer attacks by 2022 and make them accessible by 2024.
The Team
Funded by the European Union, a team of 12 distinct but highly experienced organisations form the PQ-REACT consortium in order to address the challenges of post quantum cryptography coordinated by the NCSR Demokritos.
Explore the PQ-REACT consortium!
The PQ-REACT solution
About The PQ-REACT project
The PQ-REACT project aims to design, build, and validate a framework for a quicker and more effortless shift from classical to post-quantum cryptography for various contexts and usage domains.
This framework will include cryptographic agility techniques, PQC migration paths, and a toolkit for validating
post-quantum cryptographic systems, enabling users to switch to post-quantum cryptography while considering their
unique circumstances and preferences.
The Challenges
About The PQ-REACT project
The PQ-REACT project aims to design, build, and validate a framework for a quicker and more effortless shift from classical to post-quantum cryptography for various contexts and usage domains.
This framework will include cryptographic agility techniques, PQC migration paths, and a toolkit for validating
post-quantum cryptographic systems, enabling users to switch to post-quantum cryptography while considering their
unique circumstances and preferences.
The Challenges
The Objectives
Design and build a framework for a faster and smoother transition from classical to post-quantum cryptography for a wide variety of contexts and usage domains.
Design architectures and develop innovative approaches and tools that enable cryptographic agility and
migration to new cryptographic algorithms and standards in an ongoing way.
Build an open platform that will provide a portfolio of tools around an actual quantum computer, for evaluation of PQC algorithms and cryptanalytical methods.
Demonstrate the project outcomes with a set of relevant pilot demonstrators.
Maximize the impact to streamline the migration to quantum-resistant cryptography assets. A realistic
and meaningful uptake will require validating the performance and transferring knowledge among a European ecosystem of researchers and SMEs capable of capitalising on the funding and guidelines.
The Ambition
The ambition of PQ-REACT is to create a bulwark against the imminent threat that quantum computing poses to
the cryptographic underpinnings of the digital world.
The project’s focus is not merely academic; it aims to tackle the practical complexities involved in transitioning from
classical cryptographic systems to quantum-resistant ones.
Given the pervasive use of public key cryptography in contemporary digital infrastructure, PQ-REACT seeks to forge a
robust pathway for the industry’s shift to post-quantum cryptographic systems.
Key Goals
PQ-REACT aims to carry out a detailed
evaluation of the cryptographic components
in existing IT and OT systems.
The project will develop tools that assist
organizations in identifying their vulnerabilities
and in formulating migration strategies tailored
to their specific needs.
Recognizing the diversity of computing systems
that serve society, PQ-REACT is committed to
exploring optimal trade-offs among the
configurable parameters of PQC algorithms.
This includes factors like computation time,
communication overhead, and various system
constraints such as power consumption and
bandwidth
Practical, actionable roadmaps for the shift to
PQC will be a central deliverable of the project.
These roadmaps will be customized to meet
the distinct requirements and priorities of
different technology infrastructures, thereby
enabling a seamless and secure transition to
the post-quantum era.
The project acknowledges the complexities
arising from the layered and heterogeneous
nature of current systems.
As such, PQ-REACT aspires to ensure that
new cryptographic standards are
backward-compatible with existing
technologies, thus facilitating a smoother
migration process and minimizing
operational disruptions.
Understanding the critical role that small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play in
technological innovation and implementation,
PQ-REACT plans to initiate open calls that
attract these businesses.
The aim is to engage SMEs in contributing to
the development, testing, and scaling of
post-quantum solutions, thereby enriching the
project with diverse perspectives and expertise.
In addition to its technical goals, the project is
committed to raising awareness about the
urgency of migrating to quantum-safe
cryptographic systems.
This will be accomplished through the creation
of educational materials, white papers, and
symposiums aimed at disseminating key
insights and knowledge.
The Pilots
Application of Quantum Resistant
Crypto to Smart Grid deployments
Converged QKD and PQC
application for next-generation
networks (5G and beyond)
Quantum Resistant Distributed Ledger
for E2E Network Services
The Open Calls
The program will run two open calls that will allow the selected SMEs and technology providers to obtain optimized solutions to solve cryptographic encryptions based on classic algorithms that currently protect data and infrastructure, and this way will enhance Europe’s leadership in the global cybersecurity economy, as PQC is a vital
enabler for the protection and strengthening of critical infrastructure and services.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 101119547. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
©pqreact. All rights reserved