Ireland and the EU invest €10 million in a national Quantum Communications Infrastructure network

The Irish Government and the EU are committing €10 million in a new initiative which aims to protect the transmission of sensitive data and prevent cyberattacks.

Quantum Communications Infrastructure (QCI) network is a first for Ireland, and will be deployed over the next two years by the IrelandQCI. This pilot network forms part of Europe’s initiative EuroQCI, which aims to build a secure Quantum Communication Infrastructure across the whole EU.

The main function of this new QCI network will be to enable an ultra-secure form of encryption so that data can be transmitted safely without the risk of being hacked.

The Irish Government is committing €5 million to the initiative, matching the €5 million in EU funding secured by IrelandQCI through the EU’s Digital Europe Programme. This funding will result in the deployment of a pilot QCI network across Ireland by 2024.

IrelandQCI consists of experts from six different universities, led by Waterford’s Walton Institute in South East Technological University (SETU), and also includes specialists in quantum technologies from Trinity College Dublin and University College Cork’s Tyndall National Institute, with support from University College Dublin (UCD) and Maynooth University (MU), the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (University of Galway), as well as HEAnet and ESB Telecoms.

The new network will be made available for research purposes, as well as allowing Government, agencies, and companies to start building competence and capability in this key area and ultimately, to develop the skills to secure critical infrastructure, data assets, and encryption systems.

Welcoming the development today in Trinity College Dublin, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with responsibility for Communications, Ossian Smyth, said: >"It is exciting that Ireland already has such strong expertise in this critical area. I’m delighted that our experts have pooled together so effectively to kick start Ireland’s quantum ecosystem. Quantum technology is much closer than people might think; it will soon arm us with the capabilities we need to solve the most complex problems, most of which are impossible to solve with existing technologies. For example, research is emerging on the use of quantum computers to simulate different actions that may mitigate climate change."

The State's Digital Connectivity Strategy was launched by Minister Smyth earlier in December. This strategy recognises the need to facilitate and promote research and innovation in new emerging technologies such as Quantum Communication Infrastructure, particularly for the use of public bodies and agencies. Today’s announcement forms part of the commitment set out in the strategy.

ENDS

EU’s Digital Europe Programme

The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) is an EU funding programme focused on bringing digital technology to businesses, citizens and public administrations.