From Theory to Implementation: PQ-REACT’s Research on Post- Quantum Cryptography
The primary objective of PQ-REACT is to develop and validate a comprehensive framework that facilitates the transition from classical to post-quantum cryptography across diverse application areas. This framework will include migration pathways to PQC, support cryptographic agility, and offer tools for evaluating the effectiveness of post-quantum cryptographic systems.
We are now in the third and final year of the PQ-REACT project, with just twelve months remaining until its completion. Over the past two years, the project has achieved substantial progress through focused research, technical innovation, and a series of high-quality publications. Counting sixteen scientific publications, the project is entering its third year, where its final results will also be delivered.
From the first paper, which offered a comprehensive analysis of the performance of various post-quantum cryptographic algorithms for digital signatures, to the latest, detailing the design and implementation of an Internet-based instant messaging application leveraging isogeny-based post-quantum cryptography, the PQ-REACT publications address emerging quantum challenges, studies, solutions, and more.
We begin with the first publication on the Performance Analysis of Post-Quantum Cryptography Algorithms for Digital Signature. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the performance of various post-quantum cryptographic algorithms specifically applied to digital signatures. It focuses on the implementation and performance analysis of selected algorithms, and it is written by Filip Opiłka, Marcin Niemiec, Maria Gagliardi and Michail Alexandros Kourtis.
The second publication on Resilience of Lattice-Based Cryptosystems to Quantum Attacks, written by Tobias Köppl, Rene Zander, Nikolay Tcholtchev presents first ideas and concepts for a methodology testing the robustness of public key cryptosystems with respect to quantum attacks.
Post Quantum Cryptography Framework for Energy Aware Contexts written by Marta Irene García-Cid, Michail-Alexandros Kourtis, David Domingo, Nikolay Tcholtchev, Evangelos K. Markakis, Marcin Niemiec, Javier Faba, Laura Ortiz, Vicente Martín, Diego López, George Xilouris, Maria Gagliardi, José González, Miguel García, Giovanni Comande, Nikolai Stoianov is presents the PQ-REACT project, its aim, scope and importance.
Challenges and Perspectives of Implementing Effective Post-Quantum Cryptography written by Sebastian Zarębski, Krzysztof Rusek, and Piotr Chołda, presents a potential solution in solving the bug issues related to software changes in 5G base stations.
The many features which make the eIDAS 2 Digital Wallet either risky or the ideal vehicle for the transition to post-quantum encryption, written by Giovanni Comandè and Margaret Varilek, suggest that the European Digital Identity Wallet could be the starting point for an impactful debut of hybrid “quantum resistant” cryptography tools to align the Member States in the transition.
Efficiency Analysis of NIST-Standardized Post-Quantum Cryptographic Algorithms for Digital Signatures in Various Environments, presents a comprehensive analysis of the performance of various post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, focusing specifically on NIST-standardized digital signature algorithms—SPHINCS+ and Dilithium—and their practical implementations, written by Dominik Dziechciarz and Marcin Niemiec.
Unleashing Flexibility and Interoperability in QKD Networks: The Power of Softwarized Architectures, written by Blanca Lopez, Ivan Vidal, Francisco Valera, Diego R. Lopez, and Antonio Pastor, extends concepts to Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) networks, emphasising the importance of virtualising key management functions with advanced cloud-native technologies for enhanced global interoperability and flexibility.
Design and Implementation of a Quantum-Assisted Digital Signature written by Maria Irene Garcia-Cid, Rodrigo Martin, David Domingo, Vicente Martin, and Laura Ortiz, proposes a new quantum-assisted digital signature (Q-DS) protocol based on the composite of truly random symmetric keys generated by quantum key distribution with secure standardized hash functions, which allows for high parameterization to provide different security levels.
The Internet of Quantum Things (IoQT) – A New Frontier in Quantum Emulation and Simulation introduce the concept of the Internet of Quantum Things (IoQT), a distributed quantum development and testing playground that creates a collaborative environment for next-generation quantum developers, connecting quantum simulators and small-qubit devices across secure distributed nodes, written by Ioannis Kefaloukos, Nikolay Tcholtchev, Michail-Alexandros Kourtis, Giorgos Oikonomakis, Emmanouil Eleftherios Rompogiannakis and Evangelos Markakis.
Application of Quantum Resistant Cryptography to Smart Grid deployments is based in one of the Use Cases defined in the HORIZON Europe PQ-REACT project, which is focused on the inclusion of quantum resistance in Smart Grid deployments by means of the application of PQC Digital Signatures to the Smart Meters Firmware Upgrade process written by David Domingo Martín, Rodrigo Martín Sánchez-Ledesma, and Marta Irene García Cid.
A Proportional Approach to Cybersecurity Challenges in the Financial Sector: Ideas from PostQuantum Cryptography Legal Analysis written by Maria Gagliardi and Chiara D’Elia examines the evolution of the cybersecurity regulatory framework, with particular emphasis on the delicate balance between ensuring systemic resilience and protecting individuals, using the financial sector as a test case.
Fast multiplication and the PLWE–RLWE equivalence for an infinite family of maximal real subfields of cyclotomic fields, prove the equivalence between the Ring Learning With Errors (RLWE) and the Polynomial Learning With Errors (PLWE) problems written by Joonas Ahola, Iván Blanco-Chacón, Wilmar Bolaños, Antti Haavikko, Camilla Hollanti and Rodrigo M. Sánchez-Ledesma.
A parameter study for LLL and BKZ with application to shortest vector problems, written by Tobias Köppl, René Zander, Louis Henkel and Nikolay Tcholtchev, studies the solution of shortest vector problems (SVPs) arising in terms of learning with error problems (LWEs).
End-to-end compilable implementation of quantum elliptic curve logarithm in Qrisp leverages the Qrisp programming language to realise one of the first fully compilable implementations of EC arithmetic and verify its correctness using Qrisp’s built-in sparse matrix simulator written by D. Polimeni and R. Seidel.
Enhancing Security of Error Correction in Quantum Key Distribution Using Tree Parity Machine Update Rule Randomization written by Bartłomiej Gdowski, Miralem Mehic, and Marcin Niemiec presents a novel approach to enhancing the security of error correction in quantum key distribution by introducing randomization into the update rule of Tree Parity Machines.
An Internet Messenger Using Post-Quantum Cryptography Algorithms Based on Isogenies of Elliptic Curves written by Beniamin Jankowski, Kamil Szydłowski, Marcin Niemiec and Piotr Chołda presents the design and implementation of an Internet-based instant messaging application that leverages post-quantum cryptographic algorithms founded on isogenies of elliptic curves.
That is the full list of the PQ-REACT publications.
Our work will continue and as we enter the third and final year of the project, more publications will be released.
