QR.N Partners contribute to new Research Project –
As part of the German Federal Government’s IT security research framework program “Digital. Sicher. Souverän.”, the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (BMFTR) is funding research and development aimed at transferring Quantum Communication Systems into practical applications. A particular focus lies on application- and end-user-oriented research projects that address key challenges in integrating these systems into existing and future ICT networks and prepare them for deployment under real-world conditions. Among the projects launched in January 2026 is the joint project “QCyber”, coordinated by the Universität Stuttgart and led by Prof. Dr. Stefanie Barz, which is being funded with a total of six million euros over a period of three years.
Within the project, new approaches for networked multi-party Quantum Communication Applications are being explored. While existing Quantum Networks typically connect only two users, QCyber develops and tests applications for networks involving multiple users. These go beyond pure communication scenarios and encompass a wide range of additional use cases. The project aims to systematically evaluate the practical suitability of the hardware and software developed by the partners and to assess the security of their implementation. In doing so, the project analyzes how Quantum Applications can be integrated into existing cybersecurity systems. Advanced multipartite Quantum Communication Protocols are investigated, and suitable hardware solutions for the use of multipartite entangled Quantum States as a key resource for future Quantum Networks are being developed. The methods are tested under real-world conditions. To this end, a campus-wide fiber network is being established in Stuttgart, connecting the Vaihingen campus with the Stadtmitte campus. Within this network, applications involving up to six nodes can be tested over distances of up to 20 kilometers. In addition, Nokia, as an associated partner, provides a further test link.
The applications explored in the project open up new possibilities, including a secure quantum-based method for communication between multiple users. This could be particularly beneficial in diplomacy and the financial sector, as a high degree of anonymity can be ensured. Another application is “Quantum E-Voting,” in which information is distributed in such a way that it can only be decrypted through the cooperation of multiple parties – forming the basis for verifiable, anonymous elections with maximum trustworthiness in the future. Secure computing in networks also constitutes a key prerequisite for future quantum-based cloud computing. According to project leader Stefanie Barz, with its fundamental yet application-oriented research program, QCyber makes an important contribution to strengthening technological sovereignty in future IT security in Germany and Europe. Further information about the collaborative project can be found here.
Source references: https://www.uni-stuttgart.de/en/university/news/all/Secure-quantum-applications-for-real-world-networks/; https://www.forschung-it-sicherheit-kommunikationssysteme.de/projekte/qcyber
