Quantum ICT Collaboration Center
About the Quantum ICT Collaboration Center
Quantum ICT Collaboration Center was established in April 2021 aiming at investigating a new cross-disciplinary field of quantum security by merging quantum communication and cryptography, modern cryptography, and network technologies, and promoting construction of quantum technology platform which integrates quantum computing, quantum communication and cryptography, and quantum metrology and sensing.
In cooperation with related research groups within NICT, we closely collaborate with other quantum innovation hubs, universities, companies, and public organizations in Japan and overseas, and work on basic research, technology deployment, open innovation, and development of quantum ICT workforce.
As a quantum innovation hub
In January 2020, Integrated Innovation Strategy Promotion Council of Japan formulated Quantum Technology Innovation Strategy. This strategy aims to create quantum innovation hubs in Japan that bring together excellent researchers and engineers from Japan and abroad, attract active investment from industry, and establish intensive collaboration schemes between academia and industry.
NICT has been selected as Quantum Security Innovation Hub, one of the eight quantum innovation hubs in Japan. Quantum ICT Collaboration Center will serve as the core organization of the hub in NICT.
Overview of R & D
For more than 20 years, NICT has been engaged in comprehensive R & D on quantum communications and quantum cryptography, from the basics to applications. We have constructed and been operating Tokyo QKD Network (QKD: Quantum Key Distribution), an optical space test bed, and facilities for satellite quantum communications.
Based on these achievements, Quantum ICT Collaboration Center investigates a new cross-disciplinary field of quantum security by merging quantum communication and cryptography, modern cryptography, and network technologies.
Quantum secure cloud technology
Quantum secure cloud technology is an example of a new technological paradigm brought about by such convergence.
By combining quantum cryptography with secret sharing, quantum secure cloud technology enables secure data backup storage that does not leak secrets in the future and does not lose data even in a disaster. In addition, by incorporating post-quantum cryptography and secret computation, it is possible to prevent spoofing and falsification, and to use secure data for secondary use while keeping it secret. Quantum secure cloud technology is expected to enable the storage, exchange, and use of highly confidential data such as personal and corporate information accumulated in the medical, new materials, manufacturing, and financial sectors.
Quantum secure wireless network
In addition, by equipping drones and satellites with technologies created in the quantum security field and deploying them in spatial and satellite optical communications, we will be able to realize a high-capacity and secure mobile communications network (quantum secure mobile communications network) that covers space, the stratosphere, high altitudes, and terrestrial networks.
The radio spectrum used in today's mobile communications networks is already tight, and it is not enough to support the rapidly increasing amount of data traffic. On the other hand, the laser light used in spatial and satellite optical communications can transmit information in a much wider spectrum than radio waves, and because of its high directivity, it can increase the efficiency of power use. It also has the advantage of being able to significantly reduce interference and thus requiring no license. In addition, since there is little attenuation of light in space, it is possible to use quantum cryptography on a global scale, which was not possible with terrestrial optical fiber lines.
Finally, we aim to realize quantum network (quantum Internet) technology by combining these technologies with quantum computing and quantum measurement and sensing, and to build a quantum technology platform by integrating these technologies on the conventional network infrastructure.
White Papers on Quantum Network
NICT has published a white paper that outlines domestic and international trends in quantum communications, the images and use cases of a society in which quantum networks will be realized, and the R & D roadmap and promotion strategies that NICT is working to achieve.
Contact information
Quantum ICT Collaboration Center
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