OPENQKD · Project

Europe's Quantum-Safe Encryption Network Ready to Protect Your Critical Data

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Imagine someone could crack every digital lock your company uses — passwords, encrypted files, secure transfers — all at once. That's what quantum computers will eventually be able to do to today's encryption. OPENQKD built a real, working network across Europe that uses the laws of physics (not math puzzles) to create encryption keys that are literally impossible to intercept. They deployed 40 quantum security systems across over 1000 km of fiber optic cable and tested them with more than 25 real-world scenarios, from banking to government communications.

By the numbers

QKD systems deployed across European testbed

1000 km

fiber links connecting quantum-safe network nodes

25+

use-case trials tested with real end-users

consortium partners across Europe

countries represented in the consortium

testbed locations (Geneva, Cambridge, Madrid, Poznan)

industry partners in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Every organization that relies on encrypted communications — banks, governments, telecom providers, hospitals — faces a ticking clock. Quantum computers will eventually break the mathematical encryption protecting today's data transfers, stored records, and secure communications. Companies need to start migrating to quantum-safe encryption now, but existing solutions lack interoperability, standardization, and proven real-world deployment at scale.

The solution

What was built

OPENQKD built and operated a multi-site quantum key distribution testbed with 40 QKD systems deployed across over 1000 km of fiber in Geneva, Cambridge, Madrid, and Poznan. The project delivered standardized hardware and software interfaces, ran 25+ use-case demonstrations, and produced final reports on testbed operation and demonstrator deployment.

Audience

Who needs this

Banks and financial institutions preparing for post-quantum securityTelecom operators wanting to offer quantum-safe network servicesGovernment agencies and defense organizations protecting classified communicationsCritical infrastructure operators (energy, water, transport) facing advanced cyber threatsCloud and data center providers needing future-proof encryption for client data

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Banking & Financial Services

enterprise

Target: Banks, payment processors, and financial institutions handling high-value transactions

If you are a bank or payment processor worried about the coming quantum computing threat to your encrypted transactions — this project deployed 40 QKD systems across over 1000 km of fiber and tested them in 25+ real-world use cases, including financial data protection. The testbed demonstrated how quantum-safe encryption integrates transparently into existing telecom infrastructure, giving you a migration path before quantum computers break current encryption.

Telecommunications

enterprise

Target: Network operators and telecom equipment providers looking to offer quantum-safe services

If you are a telecom operator needing to future-proof your network security offering — OPENQKD created standardized hardware and software interfaces for QKD network devices across testbeds in Geneva, Cambridge, Madrid, and Poznan. With 20 industry partners and 41 consortium members from 13 countries, the project established interoperability standards and certification paths that let you add quantum-safe capabilities to your existing fiber infrastructure.

Government & Critical Infrastructure

enterprise

Target: Government agencies, defense contractors, and critical infrastructure operators (energy grids, water systems)

If you are responsible for securing critical national infrastructure against advanced cyber threats — OPENQKD tested quantum key distribution in real operational environments across 4 European testbed locations. The project advanced standardization and certification of QKD technologies, meaning the solutions are moving toward regulatory acceptance for protecting classified communications and essential services.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement quantum-safe encryption in our network?

The project data does not include specific pricing for QKD systems. However, OPENQKD deployed 40 systems across 1000 km of fiber, and the standardized interfaces developed by the project are designed to reduce integration costs by enabling interoperability between different vendors. Contact the consortium for current pricing from participating equipment manufacturers.

Can this scale to protect our entire organization's communications?

OPENQKD was specifically designed to prove scalability. The project connected testbeds across 4 cities (Geneva, Cambridge, Madrid, Poznan) using over 1000 km of fiber links and even tested compatibility with satellite-based schemes. The architecture was built as a precursor to a pan-European quantum-safe network.

Who owns the IP and can we license the technology?

The consortium includes 20 industry partners — among them leading European telecom equipment manufacturers and QKD equipment providers. IP is likely distributed across consortium members under Horizon 2020 rules. Licensing would need to be negotiated with individual technology providers within the 41-partner consortium.

Is this compliant with current security regulations and standards?

OPENQKD actively worked on standardization and certification of QKD-enabled technologies. The project aimed to advance regulatory acceptance and developed standardized hardware and software interfaces. This positions the technology well for future compliance requirements as quantum-safe standards are adopted across Europe.

How long would it take to integrate this into our existing infrastructure?

The project demonstrated transparent integration of quantum-safe technologies into existing digital infrastructure across its 25+ use-case trials. The standardized interfaces for network devices and protocols were specifically designed to work with current telecom equipment, reducing integration complexity compared to proprietary solutions.

Is this technology actually working in real environments or still in the lab?

This is well beyond the lab. OPENQKD deployed and operated 40 QKD systems in real testbed environments across 4 European locations. The final deliverables include reports on actual testbed operation and use-case demonstrator deployment, confirming real-world validation with end-users and infrastructure providers.

Consortium

Who built it

OPENQKD is one of Europe's largest quantum communication initiatives, with 41 partners from 13 countries. The consortium is unusually industry-heavy at 49% (20 industry partners), which signals strong commercial intent — this is not a lab experiment. It includes leading European telecom equipment manufacturers, network operators, QKD equipment providers, and digital security professionals alongside 11 universities and 8 research organizations. The coordinator, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, is a major applied research institution. The geographic spread across Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, UK, Spain, and others reflects the pan-European scope needed for a continent-wide quantum network. For a business buyer, this means the technology has been validated by the companies that will actually sell and operate it.

AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBHCoordinator · AT
NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITEDparticipant · UK
VSB - TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF OSTRAVAparticipant · CZ
LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHENparticipant · DE
THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGEparticipant · UK
ORANGE SAparticipant · FR
EXAILparticipant · FR
MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAT GRAZparticipant · AT
UNIVERSITE DE GENEVEparticipant · CH
FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUESparticipant · ES
THALES SIX GTS FRANCE SASparticipant · FR
DIN DEUTSCHES INSTITUT FUER NORMUNG EVparticipant · DE
INSTYTUT CHEMII BIOORGANICZNEJ POLSKIEJ AKADEMII NAUKparticipant · PL
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PADOVAparticipant · IT
DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUR LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EVparticipant · DE
T-SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL GMBHthirdparty · DE
UNIVERZITET U SARAJEVUparticipant · BA
INSTITUT MINES-TELECOMparticipant · FR
TELEFONICA INNOVACION DIGITAL SLparticipant · ES
FUNDACION IMDEA SOFTWAREparticipant · ES
ID QUANTIQUE SAparticipant · CH
MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD - MLNXparticipant · IL
TOSHIBA EUROPE LIMITEDparticipant · UK
DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PLCparticipant · UK
NOKIA NETWORKS FRANCEparticipant · FR
THALES ALENIA SPACE FRANCE SASparticipant · FR
ADTRAN NETWORKS SEparticipant · DE
MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EVparticipant · DE
OESTERREICHISCHE AKADEMIE DER WISSENSCHAFTENparticipant · AT
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AGparticipant · DE
DEUTSCHE TELEKOM SECURITY GMBHthirdparty · DE
UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRIDparticipant · ES
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFTparticipant · NL

How to reach the team

AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH (Vienna, Austria) — the coordinator. Reach out through their quantum technologies division.

Order a report on this consortium See AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right technical contact within the OPENQKD consortium for your specific use case. We identify which of the 41 partners best matches your industry and security requirements.

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