Project description
Post-quantum cryptography cryptosystems against cyberattacks
The global rise of smart, digital and connected technologies has increased our reliance on critical systems and telecommunications infrastructure. While these advances offer greater efficiency and automation, they also heighten cybersecurity risks. The emergence of quantum computing adds further urgency, as it could render today’s encryption obsolete. Current post-quantum cryptography (PQC) solutions work only in controlled set-ups and not in edge networks that power vital sectors like energy, transport, manufacturing and space. The EU-funded FOCAL project unites major industry and academic entities to develop a refined and practical PQC framework tailored for these environments ensuring future-proof security across Europe’s critical infrastructure.
Objective
The FOCAL project will deliver a unified framework to achieve practical E2E functional composition of PQC in edge networked environments. Functional composition will be accommodated under a cross-layering paradigm mapping requirements of existing PQC cryptosystems and further improving them through appropriate methodologies and mechanisms via considering device, software, networking and communication properties. Consequently, FOCAL will act as a cornerstone on achieving the first practical and programmable composition of PQC across the full E2E path between a given datacenter orchestrating cloud services to an edge deployment. This will be achieved through (i) crypto-agility via hardware reconfigurability , (ii) exploitation of communication channel properties on the edge, (iii) network instrumentation and orchestration via advanced software-defined technologies, (iv) enhanced PQC key generation, encapsulation and storage underpinned by hardware acceleration schemes, (v) lightweight synthesis of distributed Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) amongst edge devices, and (vi) awareness of application-level interoperability requirements inferred through Machine Learning (ML)-driven edge device learning. The envisaged technical directions will be dictated by non-technical activities encapsulated within the FOCAL framework assessing metrics associated to measuring the transition of such edge-oriented ecosystems into PQC and on improving existing standards and policies through lessons learned. Thus, contributing significantly towards the EU objectives and guidelines as outlined in the EU Commission Recommendation on Post-Quantum Cryptography.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computer security cryptography
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.3 - Civil Security for Society
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.3.3 - Cybersecurity
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL3-2024-CS-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1678 Nicosia
Cyprus
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.