Joint Project researches Quantum Key Distribution using Photonic Integrated Chips:
In response to the growing threat posed by future Quantum Computers, the Free State of Thuringia approved funding for the joint project “Photonisch integrierte Polarisationsanalyseeinheit mit Einzelphotonenprozessierung (PIC-PAM)” in late May 2026. The research and development project, which is co-funded by the European Union, is supported under Thuringia’s funding programme for Research, Technology and Innovation (FTI). Under the leadership of Quantum Optics Jena GmbH, the project partners AIM Micro Systems GmbH, X‑FAB Global Services GmbH, the Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Optik und Feinmechanik (IOF), the Institute of Applied Physics at Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, and IMMS – Institute for Microelectronic and Mechatronic Systems gGmbH will work together over the next three years on new technologies for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The project aims to combine expertise in optics, photonics, microelectronics, and sensor technologies to develop integrated solutions for Quantum Communications. In doing so, it seeks to improve the cybersecurity of digital infrastructures and create the conditions for broader adoption of QKD technologies.
To make the security advantages of Quantum Key Distribution widely usable in future IT networks, the project partners are developing a miniaturized technology platform. At the heart of the project is the realization of a monolithically integrated chip that combines photonic and electronic functional units on a single chip. Similar to an SFP module, the solution is intended to be easily integrated into existing network hardware. This could pave the way for a compact, standardized, and industry-ready platform for deploying QKD in fiber-optic networks, data centers, and campus networks. Click here for more information about the PIC-PAM project.
Source reference: https://www.iof.fraunhofer.de/en/pressrelease/2026/PIC-PAM.html