“Meet and Greet” with the PQ-REACT Open Call#1-Develop beneficiaries.

Five organisations across Europe are the beneficiaries of the PQ-REACT Open Call#1-DEVELOP. Over the next six months, we will collaborate closely with them to bring their innovative ideas to life and materialise their proposals.

Let’s have a “Quantum coffee sip” with Vicomtech. Vicomtech is an applied research center specialising in digital technologies related to Visual Computing and Interaction and Artificial Intelligence.

Their project title is “Q-PROTECT: 5G Quantum Security Transition”, having chosen Use Case 2 (5G and 6G architectures).

First, congratulations on your win! Can you tell us about your organisation and your journey into quantum science?

Thank you very much! Vicomtech is a research center located in San Sebastián, Spain, specialising in applied research and technological innovation. We focus on areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, 5G networks, and now, quantum technologies.

Our journey into quantum science began with our efforts to address emerging challenges in cybersecurity, particularly in critical infrastructures like 5G networks. We recognised the transformative potential of quantum-safe technologies and started exploring hybrid approaches that combine Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).

This project is a natural extension of our commitment to future-proofing security in complex systems.

What motivated you to participate in the PQ-REACT Open Call#1?

The PQ-REACT Open Call presented an incredible opportunity to address one of the most pressing challenges in cybersecurity: preparing for the quantum era.

The rapid development of quantum computing poses a serious threat to current cryptographic standards. With our expertise in 5G environments and post-quantum cryptographic solutions, we saw this as the perfect platform to showcase and enhance our work while contributing to the European effort to secure critical infrastructures.

It also aligns with our vision of being at the forefront of applied research in cybersecurity.

Can you tell us a few words about your project? The initial idea behind the proposal, its future impact and application?

Our project, Q-PROTECT, is focused on securing 5G networks against quantum threats.

The initial idea was to leverage our advanced physical and virtual 5G labs to integrate PQC and QKD into 5G infrastructure. We aim to evaluate the performance, scalability, and interoperability of these technologies while ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.

The future impact is significant: it will lay the foundation for quantum-safe 5G networks and guide the transition to secure 6G systems. By developing hybrid cryptographic techniques and scalable quantum-secure PKI solutions, we hope to set best practices for adopting these technologies across the telecommunications industry.

What do you believe is the most exciting and important aspect of quantum technologies from your point of view? And how this will impact society?

The most exciting aspect of quantum technologies is their ability to fundamentally change the way we approach problems across industries, from optimisation and secure communications to advanced simulations.

Specifically, in the realm of cybersecurity, quantum technologies will redefine security standards, making them robust against both classical and quantum attacks.

For society, this means greater trust in the digital systems that underpin critical services like healthcare, finance, and telecommunications. It also ensures that as technology evolves, we stay ahead of potential threats, safeguarding sensitive data and infrastructure for generations to come.

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