ProtonSuite · Project

Fully Encrypted Email, Storage and Productivity Suite for Business

digitalMarket-readyTRL 8

Imagine every email you send, every file you store in the cloud, and every calendar entry you make is locked in a box that only you and the person you're sharing it with can open — not even the company hosting it can peek inside. That's what Proton built: a complete set of work tools (email, file storage, calendar, contacts) where everything is encrypted end-to-end. They also developed a blockchain-based system that lets anyone publicly verify that encryption keys haven't been tampered with, which is like having a notary seal on every lock. The team behind it came out of CERN, so they applied particle-physics-grade security thinking to everyday business communication.

By the numbers

7 million+

existing users on the platform

€5 million

yearly revenue at project start

€50 million

revenue target by 2024

92%

of Europeans concerned about unauthorized data collection

of EU citizens who trust email providers to protect personal data

60+

new jobs planned

4.13

projected return on investment

€1,911,875

EU contribution for Phase 2 scale-up

The business problem

What needed solving

Businesses increasingly rely on cloud-based email and file storage, yet only 3% of EU citizens trust email providers to protect their personal data. Cyberattacks are rising, GDPR demands strict data protection, and most traditional tech companies have not built their systems around end-to-end encryption. Companies need secure collaboration tools that are easy to use and don't require them to trust the service provider with their data.

The solution

What was built

A complete encrypted collaboration suite covering email, cloud storage, calendar, and contact management with end-to-end encryption. The project also delivered a publicly available streaming encryption library (published on GitHub) and a blockchain-based key management system for auditable security.

Audience

Who needs this

Law firms handling confidential client communicationsFinancial institutions needing secure channels for sensitive dataHealthcare organizations managing GDPR-protected patient recordsGovernment agencies requiring sovereign-grade communication securityAny company where email leaks could cause regulatory fines or reputational damage

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Legal Services

any

Target: Law firms and legal departments handling confidential client communications

If you are a law firm dealing with attorney-client privilege and the risk of email interception — this project developed an end-to-end encrypted collaboration suite that ensures only sender and recipient can read messages. With 92% of Europeans concerned about unauthorized data collection, your clients increasingly expect this level of protection. The suite covers email, file storage, calendar, and contacts in one secure package.

Financial Services

enterprise

Target: Banks, insurance companies, and fintech firms handling sensitive financial data

If you are a financial institution struggling to keep client data secure amid rising cyberattacks — this project built a complete encrypted productivity suite already trusted by government agencies in Germany, Croatia, and the Vatican. The blockchain-based key management system provides publicly auditable proof that encryption keys haven't been compromised, which supports compliance and audit requirements.

Healthcare

mid-size

Target: Hospital groups, clinics, and health-tech companies managing patient records

If you are a healthcare provider needing GDPR-compliant communication channels for patient data — this project created encrypted email and cloud storage where data is protected end-to-end, meaning not even the service provider can access it. With over 7 million users already on the platform, the technology is proven at scale and designed to be user-friendly for non-technical staff.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this solution cost compared to standard business email?

The project aimed to grow yearly revenues from €5 million to €50 million by 2024, suggesting a commercial SaaS pricing model. Proton already operates as a subscription service with free and paid tiers. Exact per-seat pricing is available on their product website.

Can this scale to a large organization with thousands of employees?

The project specifically included datacenter expansion to support growth. With over 7 million individual users already on the platform and government agency agreements in place, the infrastructure is designed for enterprise-scale deployment.

What about intellectual property and licensing?

One deliverable was a finished streaming encryption library published on GitHub, indicating open-source components. Proton Technologies AG holds the commercial IP for the full suite. Licensing would be through their standard commercial agreements.

Is this compliant with GDPR and other data regulations?

The project was explicitly designed with GDPR in mind. End-to-end encryption means the service provider cannot access user data, which simplifies compliance. The blockchain-based key management adds a publicly auditable transparency layer.

How long would it take to migrate our organization to this platform?

Based on available project data, the suite includes email, storage, calendar, and contact management — covering core productivity needs. The project period ran from 2019 to 2021, and the products are now commercially available. Migration timelines would depend on organization size and current infrastructure.

Can this integrate with our existing IT systems?

The project developed custom APIs and client libraries specifically to support advanced collaboration features. The architecture was designed for business use, including key management infrastructure. Integration capabilities would need to be evaluated against your specific IT environment.

Is there ongoing technical support and development?

Proton Technologies AG is a funded, revenue-generating company with plans to create over 60 new jobs. The project received €1,911,875 in EU funding for Phase 2 scale-up, indicating serious commitment to long-term product development and support.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: Proton Technologies AG, an SME based in Switzerland, received the full €1,911,875 as a Phase 2 SME Instrument grant. The 100% industry consortium with no university or research partners signals that this is a commercial scale-up, not a research initiative. Founded by CERN, Harvard, and Caltech scientists, the company brings deep cryptography expertise packaged in a commercial entity. For a business buyer, this means you're dealing with a proven tech company — not a lab experiment looking for its first customer.

PROTON TECHNOLOGIES AGCoordinator · CH

How to reach the team

Proton Technologies AG, Geneva, Switzerland — reachable through their business sales channels

Order a report on this consortium See PROTON TECHNOLOGIES AG profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want a tailored briefing on how Proton's encrypted suite compares to your current setup? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the team.

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