Need
At a time when data communications enable many of our everyday life actions, data encryption becomes a basic element for our hyperconnected society. The challenge is that our current encryption technologies are vulnerable to new attack perspectives, such as the development of a quantum computer or progress in cryptoanalysis and mathematics. These threats might render most of today’s encryption unsafe, and if this would happen, the impact on our society and economy would be unmeasurable. Think for instance how would we work tomorrow if we would not have access to email.
There are a few efforts worldwide to improve current encryption technologies. One example is a field known as post-quantum cryptography, which attempts at improving current systems by using more complex algorithms. Another example is quantum key distribution (QKD), which uses the laws of quantum physics to exchange keys in a physically-secure manner.
Objectives
To bring these future-proven solutions into practice, unpredictable and fast random number generators are required. It is the goal of this project to bring new quantum random number generators that meet speed, quality and cost requirements to reach the market and contribute to enable new and safer encryption systems.