DIY-QKD Project Kick-Off!

We are excited to announce the kick-off of our first Innovate UK project!

SEM image of a grating coupler.

Funded as a 6-month germinator project through the Innovate UK Commercialising Quantum Technologies programme, part of the larger UK National Quantum Technologies Programme, we will be exploring the technical and commercial feasibility of using passive integrated photonics to allow for self-assembled, or “do it yourself”, quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. 

QKD provides a means to exchange information with total privacy, where the security the key generation is guaranteed by the laws of quantum mechanics. This quantum-safe cryptography is future-proof, even to a quantum computer. Within this framework, however, there are subtleties in the operation of the devices and components used in the QKD systems and protocols which can lead to compromised security. The most obvious route for a malicious adversary is to target these vulnerabilities in the devices and software controlling the protocol. Furthermore, the adversaries may look to target the internals of the QKD system manufacturer, compromising security from within.

In this project, we look to explore a radical alternative. Based on the concepts of “open-source” and the notion of “do it yourself”, we will consider an alternative chip-based passive scheme to QKD coupled with open-source software. This DIY-QKD would allow customers greater flexibility to build their owns systems using tried and trusted components, with the trust of completely passive chips and open-source software closing many of the channels open to a malicious adversary.

Follow our LinkedIn page to stay tuned for more updates!

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