The initiative strengthens cybersecurity by enabling secure communication between public institutions, critical infrastructure operators, the scientific sector, and data centres. The project includes the National Information Processing Institute (OPI PIB) as one of its partners.
Quantum technology to ensure cybersecurity
The QKD Network Germany–Poland–Czechia project forms part of the European EuroQCI strategy, which aims to build a continental, quantum-secure digital communication network. The joint initiative will expand and interconnect existing national quantum communication infrastructures (QCIs), creating a resilient cross-border quantum network backbone. A combined network will not only enhance cooperation between partner states but also serve as a model for broader European quantum communication initiatives.
‘The QKD Network Germany–Poland–Czechia project represents a significant step forward in developing a secure, cross-border quantum communication infrastructure connecting Germany, Poland, and Czechia. It seeks to create a trusted quantum communication network that ensures the secure cross-border transfer of sensitive data. By implementing the Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology, cryptographic keys can be exchanged securely and are prevented from being tampered with and hacked. This will protect critical information even from potential threats posed by future quantum computers, which could render many classical encryption methods obsolete,’ says Dr Jarosław Protasiewicz, Head of OPI PIB.
‘The project is an important element in the development of the European quantum communication network infrastructure. Redundant international connections will be created, and QKD use-case scenarios involving international links, services, and applications will be launched. The project will strengthen collaboration among partners from Poland, Germany, and Czechia, who use secure communication technologies, while also enabling the development of new services. A key component will include the PIONIER‑Q national quantum communication network, which will support the construction, deployment, and operation of international QKD links and integration with national projects that use the quantum technology,’ says Piotr Rydlichowski, expert at the Network and Service Infrastructure Department, Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center.
The QKD Network Germany–Poland–Czechia project, as well as other projects conducted as part of the CEF program, will enable the integration of existing quantum communication infrastructures into a single European quantum network—or more precisely, into a network of quantum networks that are operated by different countries and entities, comparable to today’s Internet. While only key information, and not large data volumes, is exchanged here, the security of encryption keys is a major challenge in the face of advances in quantum computing. ‘NASK, the leader of the international consortium developing a ground station, places strong emphasis on the parallel development of the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and QKD technologies, including the construction of a Polish station for satellite-based quantum communication,’ says Dr Michał Marks, Head of the Cloud Computing and Intelligent Networks Division at NASK.
A quantum satellite-to-Earth signal
The initiative will serve a wide range of national stakeholders, including government institutions, critical infrastructure operators, financial entities, and research and data centres By enabling secure communication for these organizations, the project will strengthen national and regional cybersecurity and help protect key data and systems.
An important component of the project is the integration of terrestrial quantum networks with optical ground stations, enabling communication between ground-based networks and satellites. This represents a crucial step toward satellite-to-ground QKD, a technology that may eventually enable global quantum communication links.
By combining terrestrial and space-based components, the project will help lay the foundation for a pan-European—and ultimately global—quantum communication system. It will play a key role in strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty and cybersecurity resilience, helping the continent maintain its leadership in secure digital innovation and better prepare for the challenges of the quantum era. In addition to technological progress, the project will encourage scientific collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation across the participating countries. The initiative supports the secure digital transformation of public services, key industrial sectors, and research institutions—contributing to a safer, better-connected, and more technologically sovereign Europe.
The QKD Network Germany–Poland–Czechia project is funded by the European Union as part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) programme. The project’s total budget amounts to EUR 16,282,383.00, with a maximum EU contribution of EUR 8,141,190.00, provided as a grant covering up to 50% of eligible costs across most expenditure categories. The project leader is Hochschule Nordhausen from Germany. Partners include the National Information Processing Institute (Poland), Poznan Supercomputing and Network Center PCSS (Poland), Cybersecurity Hub (Czechia), Ceske Vysoke Uceni Technicke V Praze (Czechia), Technische Universitat Berlin (Germany), De-cix Management Gmbh (Germany), Fraunhofer Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Angewandten Forschung Ev (Germany), Quantum Optics Jena Gmbh (Germany), Technische Universitaet Muenchen (Germany), the University of Warsaw (Poland), Wrocław University of Science and Technology (Poland), and NASK (Poland).