Project develops scalable Communication Infrastructure based on entanglement-based QKD:
The cryptographic methods that secure today’s digital infrastructure are increasingly under pressure. This is due to steadily growing computing power, AI-driven attack methods, and the foreseeable emergence of cryptographically relevant Quantum Computers. While Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) enhances the resilience of existing schemes, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides long-term protection against so-called “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. In these scenarios, encrypted data is already being collected today in order to decrypt it at a later stage using powerful Quantum Computers.
Against this background, the CHIRON project, funded by the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR), officially started in mid-June 2026. It brings together leading German research institutions and technology companies with the goal of developing a scalable Quantum Communication Infrastructure based on Quantum Entanglement. This is intended to secure Europe’s digital networks against emerging cyber threats. The network will be demonstrated in two real-world test environments – urban Berlin and rural Thuringia – with Quantum Communication being integrated into existing ICT infrastructure. In addition, the Bundesdruckerei is testing quantum-secured access tokens within the project for applications in public administration, critical infrastructures, and the financial sector.
In implementing the Quantum Communication Network, Quantum Optics Jena GmbH plays a key role. The company is building the technological foundation for long-distance Quantum Communication. This involves the use of high-brightness photon sources and novel detector technologies, which are intended to extend the reach of existing QKD Systems and enable the development of a scalable and maintenance-friendly network. A central element of the Berlin testbed is a hyper-entanglement source developed by the Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (IOF) and Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena. By combining different Quantum degrees of freedom, it will act as a Quantum Switch Station, connecting three locations in the Berlin metropolitan area into a fully meshed QKD Network. This approach is complemented by a hardened QKD operating system developed by NewMediaNet, which is specifically designed to resist implementation-level attacks. The Hochschule Nordhausen contributes intelligent key routing and demand-driven active optical switching technology. This enables the network to be flexibly expanded and adapted to growing requirements without compromising security or performance. Together, the project partners thus lay the foundation for a scalable and quantum-secure communication infrastructure capable of protecting future digital systems against emerging cyber threats. Click here for more information about the project.
Source reference: https://thequantuminsider.com/2026/06/15/chiron-project-launches-quantum-communication-network-initiative/