In September 2023, SnT will start classes in quantum communication as part of a training programme where professionals will be given the opportunity to learn from the leaders in this field in Luxembourg. “We want to give local ICT professionals the opportunity to get ready for a quantum future and bring their skills back to organisations around the country, or even the EU,” says Prof. Symeon Chatzinotas, who will also be teaching in this programme.
“Cybersecurity is one of the most critical areas in ICT and quantum technologies will revolutionise this domain,” says Prof. Chatzinotas.
The classes are one of many ongoing initiatives and projects at SnT in the field of quantum communications. In March 2022, the LUxembourg Quantum Communication Infrastructure lAb (LUQCIA) project – a project set up by SnT, in close collaboration with the Ministry of State’s Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy – was launched. This five-year project aims to make Luxembourg more competitive while nurturing the research around quantum communication. With “Quantum Key Distribution” (QKD) applications as its initial target, the project consists of several milestones, which need to be met to provide the necessary groundwork for innovative research in all layers of quantum communication networks.
Building on LUQCIA, the Lux4QCI project, envisages the design, development, procurement and implementation of the first quantum communication infrastructure in Luxembourg. The project is funded by the European Union, under Digital Europe Programme. It gathers a consortium of seven partners that SnT is leading, including LuxConnect, SES, INCERT, itrust, Restena, and the Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy (SMC) of Luxembourg. It kicked off in February 2023 and will also explore key use cases for quantum communications and encryption.
Eventually, LUQCIA and Lux4QCI should allow local businesses, especially those in the financial sector, to profit from this technology.
SnT will in a first step be linked to other universities. “The final target is a link via satellite to access be able to exchange quantum keys to any location in Europe, or if needed, the globe,” explains Prof. Chatzinotas. “Our project is starting with research on terrestrial networks, but integrating satellite is key as it promises to be the most efficient way to transmit quantum keys, which degrade over long distances on earth.”
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