Periodic Reporting for period 1 - levelQuantum (Quantum-based cybersecurity protocols)
Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2024-03-31
levelQuantum is an innovative, deep-tech startup founded in 2022 by Dr. hab. Magdalena Stobińska, a physicist and a university professor, and the CEO of this company. The goal of her startup is to commercialize a disruptive new technology of quantum communications, which will provide high security of information streamed over insecure public networks, but also stored in data centers. It will have huge impact on the cybersecurity technology, as the solution developed by the startup ultimately protects the information against any tampering or eavesdropping.
To achieve this technological advantage, the solution developed by levelQuantum utilizes laws of quantum physics, backed by strict mathematical security proofs. Quantum terminals will first, create a long-distance quantum entanglement using a patented technology invented by M. Stobińska , and then use it to remotely generate two identical copies of a cryptographic key in a manner which precludes any additional listeners, such as eavesdroppers. The entanglement will be distributed either by standard telecom optical fibers, or, in the future, through a network of optical quantum satellites, without trusting any nodes of the network. Furthermore, the utilization of the phenomenon of quantum entanglement allows the terminals to discover any known and future cyberattacks. The keys will be subsequently used to encrypt the data sent over a public, insecure network, such as the Internet or 5G. In this way, this product will allow remote parties, such as users at two branches of a bank or two computers at datacenters, to securely exchange the most sensitive data and monitor the network for any known and yet unknown attacks. Up to date, these features have not been enabled by any existing technology on a commercial scale.
This technology is of high demand in the European Economic Area, as the number of cyberthreats is rapidly growing and the existing widespread cryptographic solutions, based on the hardness of specific mathematical problems, are shown to be breakable, especially by international hacktivists supported by unlike-minded nations and powerful computing resources. Therefore, a new, physics-based solution developed by levelQuantum will significantly shape the future landscape of cybersecurity, improving the security of data for citizens, businesses and governments, with a particular focus on critical infrastructures, financial payment systems, transport and logistics, as well as healthcare, where keeping the data secure for a very long time is critical.
To develop the company, the EIC Women in TechEU project''s Objectives were the following:
1. Market study merged with the identification of partners and early adopters.
2. Developing a commercialization strategy.
3. Securing the intellectual property.
The goal was to support the company at the early stage of the technology and business development and support its CEO, dr hab. Magdalena Stobinska at her journey as the company director.
To achieve this technological advantage, the solution developed by levelQuantum utilizes laws of quantum physics, backed by strict mathematical security proofs. Quantum terminals will first, create a long-distance quantum entanglement using a patented technology invented by M. Stobińska , and then use it to remotely generate two identical copies of a cryptographic key in a manner which precludes any additional listeners, such as eavesdroppers. The entanglement will be distributed either by standard telecom optical fibers, or, in the future, through a network of optical quantum satellites, without trusting any nodes of the network. Furthermore, the utilization of the phenomenon of quantum entanglement allows the terminals to discover any known and future cyberattacks. The keys will be subsequently used to encrypt the data sent over a public, insecure network, such as the Internet or 5G. In this way, this product will allow remote parties, such as users at two branches of a bank or two computers at datacenters, to securely exchange the most sensitive data and monitor the network for any known and yet unknown attacks. Up to date, these features have not been enabled by any existing technology on a commercial scale.
This technology is of high demand in the European Economic Area, as the number of cyberthreats is rapidly growing and the existing widespread cryptographic solutions, based on the hardness of specific mathematical problems, are shown to be breakable, especially by international hacktivists supported by unlike-minded nations and powerful computing resources. Therefore, a new, physics-based solution developed by levelQuantum will significantly shape the future landscape of cybersecurity, improving the security of data for citizens, businesses and governments, with a particular focus on critical infrastructures, financial payment systems, transport and logistics, as well as healthcare, where keeping the data secure for a very long time is critical.
To develop the company, the EIC Women in TechEU project''s Objectives were the following:
1. Market study merged with the identification of partners and early adopters.
2. Developing a commercialization strategy.
3. Securing the intellectual property.
The goal was to support the company at the early stage of the technology and business development and support its CEO, dr hab. Magdalena Stobinska at her journey as the company director.
During the program, levelQuantum and its CEO, dr hab. Magdalena Stobinska, realized numerous activities to achieve technical and business goals. They were the following:
1. We managed to reach out to numerous institutions, which resulted in deep analysis of levelQuantum’s business strategy and shaping the requirements of the future customers, to build a product which matches their needs.
2. Between July 2023 and February 2024, along with realization of the EIC Women in TechEU project, levelQuantum participated in the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) bootcamp – an international business acceleration program. The result was the development of the business plan.
3. We prepared and submitted our first international patent (PCT/WIPO) and obtained a positive search report.
4. In October 2023, levelQuantum employed the first employee – a quantum engineer. This will be the beginning of the core team of the company.
5. levelQuantum applied for several other grants and got into the ESA BIC and NATO DIANA programs. We also spoke with several VCs about a future investments.
6. Magdalena Stobinska joined professional networks: ECSO and INSQT, related to cybersecurity and quantum space applications, respectively.
1. We managed to reach out to numerous institutions, which resulted in deep analysis of levelQuantum’s business strategy and shaping the requirements of the future customers, to build a product which matches their needs.
2. Between July 2023 and February 2024, along with realization of the EIC Women in TechEU project, levelQuantum participated in the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) bootcamp – an international business acceleration program. The result was the development of the business plan.
3. We prepared and submitted our first international patent (PCT/WIPO) and obtained a positive search report.
4. In October 2023, levelQuantum employed the first employee – a quantum engineer. This will be the beginning of the core team of the company.
5. levelQuantum applied for several other grants and got into the ESA BIC and NATO DIANA programs. We also spoke with several VCs about a future investments.
6. Magdalena Stobinska joined professional networks: ECSO and INSQT, related to cybersecurity and quantum space applications, respectively.
The main outcomes of the project beyond the state of the art are:
1. getting into the prestigious NATO DIANA programme (one of 44 startups selected among 1300 candidates) and ESA Business Incubation Center, which helped Dr. hab. M. Stobinska and her startup to focus on the development of the technology, better organize the business and improve it in several areas and network among similar companies and their customers.
2. developing unique software for handling cryptographic keys produced by the quantum system, which will be used as a crucial part of the quantum cryptography terminal platform.
The further update will be realized thanks to the collaboration of levelQuantum with early adopters and demonstrating the technology in the relevant environment at e.g. a bank or a telecom company. Dr. hab. M. Stobińska has already contacted several early adopters which are be interested in collaboration and further technology uptake and utilization in their environments.
1. getting into the prestigious NATO DIANA programme (one of 44 startups selected among 1300 candidates) and ESA Business Incubation Center, which helped Dr. hab. M. Stobinska and her startup to focus on the development of the technology, better organize the business and improve it in several areas and network among similar companies and their customers.
2. developing unique software for handling cryptographic keys produced by the quantum system, which will be used as a crucial part of the quantum cryptography terminal platform.
The further update will be realized thanks to the collaboration of levelQuantum with early adopters and demonstrating the technology in the relevant environment at e.g. a bank or a telecom company. Dr. hab. M. Stobińska has already contacted several early adopters which are be interested in collaboration and further technology uptake and utilization in their environments.