Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LaiQa (Leap in Advancing of crItical Quantum key distribution-spAce components)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-01-01 do 2025-06-30
Secure communication is a strategic priority for Europe in today’s digital world. Conventional encryption faces rising risks from advances like quantum computing. To counter this, the EU has launched initiatives such as EuroQCI to provide secure communication across Member States.
LaiQa project contributes to this vision by developing critical building blocks for space-based quantum communication. The project focuses on advancing QKD technologies that can guarantee unconditional security, even against future quantum-enabled attacks. Its ambition is to establish Europe’s technological sovereignty in this field by designing, testing, and validating quantum sources and subsystems that are suitable for deployment in space.
LaiQa pursues ten interconnected objectives, including:
• Developing compact, space-qualified entangled photon and prepare-and-measure sources at telecom wavelengths.
• Creating integrated photonic circuits and quantum memories for next-generation quantum internet applications.
• Building advanced adaptive optics systems and hybrid portable ground stations to connect satellites with terrestrial infrastructures.
• Designing software tools for network planning and performance optimisation.
• Validating key technologies in laboratory testbeds and field trials.
• Contributing to European and international standardisation of space-based QKD.
• Preparing market uptake through exploitation roadmaps, and engagement with industry and SMEs.
By integrating technological innovation, demonstration, and standardisation, LaiQa strengthens Europe’s future space-based quantum communication infrastructure, enhancing resilience, industrial competitiveness, and sovereignty while supporting EU policies in digital security and space strategy.
LaiQa project contributes to this vision by developing critical building blocks for space-based quantum communication. The project focuses on advancing QKD technologies that can guarantee unconditional security, even against future quantum-enabled attacks. Its ambition is to establish Europe’s technological sovereignty in this field by designing, testing, and validating quantum sources and subsystems that are suitable for deployment in space.
LaiQa pursues ten interconnected objectives, including:
• Developing compact, space-qualified entangled photon and prepare-and-measure sources at telecom wavelengths.
• Creating integrated photonic circuits and quantum memories for next-generation quantum internet applications.
• Building advanced adaptive optics systems and hybrid portable ground stations to connect satellites with terrestrial infrastructures.
• Designing software tools for network planning and performance optimisation.
• Validating key technologies in laboratory testbeds and field trials.
• Contributing to European and international standardisation of space-based QKD.
• Preparing market uptake through exploitation roadmaps, and engagement with industry and SMEs.
By integrating technological innovation, demonstration, and standardisation, LaiQa strengthens Europe’s future space-based quantum communication infrastructure, enhancing resilience, industrial competitiveness, and sovereignty while supporting EU policies in digital security and space strategy.
During the first Period, LaiQa made significant progress in advancing the technologies required for space-based QKD. The consortium has successfully completed the design phase for several key components and laid the groundwork for future demonstrations.
A major focus has been the development of space-suitable EPPS and P&M source. The EPPS design has been finalised with compact dimensions and low power consumption, incorporating features aimed at space robustness that will be validated through environmental testing. The P&M source advanced in parallel, with technical specifications defined and a critical design choice made to ensure reliance on European suppliers, thereby strengthening Europe’s sovereignty in quantum technologies. Simulations confirmed that the performance of both sources will exceed EuroQCI requirements in terms of secure key generation
Progress was also made on next-generation building blocks for the quantum internet. A photonic integrated circuit source was fabricated and tested, already demonstrating high-quality entanglement in a chip smaller than a square millimetre. A prototype quantum memory was set up using erbium-doped crystals and cryogenic environments, validating the first steps towards quantum repeater architectures.
On the ground segment, partners advanced the LaiQa Receiver Breadboard by integrating adaptive optics to enhance free-space-to-fiber coupling. In parallel, the initial design of the hybrid portable optical ground station was completed, identifying and defining the different functional blocks required for both classical and quantum communication.
Complementing the hardware work, LaiQa delivered the first version of a Network Planning Tool, which integrates atmospheric data, orbital dynamics, and security protocol models to optimise system performance in real-time scenarios. This software is already being used to assess different deployment options across European ground stations.
Finally, the project has taken an active role in standardisation. It contributed to new European technical work items on quantum sources under CEN-CENELEC, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in defining global norms. Market analysis and an initial exploitation roadmap were also completed, identifying pathways for commercialisation and long-term impact.
A major focus has been the development of space-suitable EPPS and P&M source. The EPPS design has been finalised with compact dimensions and low power consumption, incorporating features aimed at space robustness that will be validated through environmental testing. The P&M source advanced in parallel, with technical specifications defined and a critical design choice made to ensure reliance on European suppliers, thereby strengthening Europe’s sovereignty in quantum technologies. Simulations confirmed that the performance of both sources will exceed EuroQCI requirements in terms of secure key generation
Progress was also made on next-generation building blocks for the quantum internet. A photonic integrated circuit source was fabricated and tested, already demonstrating high-quality entanglement in a chip smaller than a square millimetre. A prototype quantum memory was set up using erbium-doped crystals and cryogenic environments, validating the first steps towards quantum repeater architectures.
On the ground segment, partners advanced the LaiQa Receiver Breadboard by integrating adaptive optics to enhance free-space-to-fiber coupling. In parallel, the initial design of the hybrid portable optical ground station was completed, identifying and defining the different functional blocks required for both classical and quantum communication.
Complementing the hardware work, LaiQa delivered the first version of a Network Planning Tool, which integrates atmospheric data, orbital dynamics, and security protocol models to optimise system performance in real-time scenarios. This software is already being used to assess different deployment options across European ground stations.
Finally, the project has taken an active role in standardisation. It contributed to new European technical work items on quantum sources under CEN-CENELEC, reinforcing Europe’s leadership in defining global norms. Market analysis and an initial exploitation roadmap were also completed, identifying pathways for commercialisation and long-term impact.
LaiQa has already delivered results that go beyond current capabilities in quantum communication, combining advances in hardware, software, and system integration to position Europe at the forefront of secure communication technologies.
On the hardware side, LaiQa designed a space-suitable EPPS with high fidelity and brightness at telecom wavelengths. Its compact size, low power consumption, and space-oriented design represent a significant step forward compared to existing prototypes. The P&M source under development will be the first EU-built, space-qualified device operating at 200 MHz, offering high key rates and direct potential for commercialisation.
The project also advanced chip-scale integration with prototypes of a photonic integrated circuit source producing entangled photons in the C-band, while progress on quantum memory paves the way for future repeater-enabled networks.
LaiQa enhanced free-space-to-fiber coupling by integrating adaptive optics into the Receiver Breadboard and completed the initial design of a hybrid portable optical ground station, defining the functional blocks for both classical and quantum communication.
On the software side, the Network Planning Tool now combines SKR simulations with atmospheric data, supporting operators to optimise performance and design/plan satellite-QKD missions. Hybrid approaches combining QKD and OKD further broaden the available security options.
Beyond technical work, LaiQa has initiated new European standardisation activities on quantum sources and satellite-based QKD, ensuring its results inform emerging international norms and reinforcing Europe’s leadership in the field.
On the hardware side, LaiQa designed a space-suitable EPPS with high fidelity and brightness at telecom wavelengths. Its compact size, low power consumption, and space-oriented design represent a significant step forward compared to existing prototypes. The P&M source under development will be the first EU-built, space-qualified device operating at 200 MHz, offering high key rates and direct potential for commercialisation.
The project also advanced chip-scale integration with prototypes of a photonic integrated circuit source producing entangled photons in the C-band, while progress on quantum memory paves the way for future repeater-enabled networks.
LaiQa enhanced free-space-to-fiber coupling by integrating adaptive optics into the Receiver Breadboard and completed the initial design of a hybrid portable optical ground station, defining the functional blocks for both classical and quantum communication.
On the software side, the Network Planning Tool now combines SKR simulations with atmospheric data, supporting operators to optimise performance and design/plan satellite-QKD missions. Hybrid approaches combining QKD and OKD further broaden the available security options.
Beyond technical work, LaiQa has initiated new European standardisation activities on quantum sources and satellite-based QKD, ensuring its results inform emerging international norms and reinforcing Europe’s leadership in the field.