Two large cryptographic research areas came together between 15 -17 November to advance and harness future quantum technologies (the physics of sub-atomic particles).
In one research area that focuses on quantum key distribution (QKD), participants leverage quantum resources so that protocol security is mostly based on properties of quantum mechanics. The other research area, that of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) focuses on the design of classical cryptographic solutions that remain secure if an adversary obtains access to a large-scale quantum computer. Both lines of research are funded through the NATO SPS programme.
The workshop held in November brought together these two research communities to facilitate communication in academia and standardisation efforts in the future, to maximise the impact on the long-term security of our cyber infrastructure. This workshop focused on identifying a strategy through the coordinated NATO SPS multi-year projects to find an effective development of such technologies and techniques.
This workshop was organised by Rainer Steinwandt (University of Alabama in Huntsville, US), André Xuereb (University of Malta, MT), Marina Mondin (California State University, US), Davide Calonico (Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, IT), and María Isabel González Vasco (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, ES). The team acknowledges support by the NATO Science for Peace and Security programme.
This workshop was funded by the NATO Science for Peace and Security programme under Grant Agreement G5756. Support was also gratefully acknowledged from Conventions Malta.