Professor Ulrik Lund Andersen. Photo: Joachim Rode.

DTU strongly represented in new EU Quantum Flagship

Information technology Systems and data security Physics Lasers Light sources Optics Telecommunication
A major EU initiative aims at bringing Europe to the forefront of quantum technology development. DTU participates in two of the four projects on quantum communication.

The Quantum Flagship is one of EU’s largest research initiatives.

A total of EUR 1 billion has been earmarked over the next ten years to secure that Europe leads the scientific and technological activities in the area. The reason is that Europe previously has missed out on the opportunity to generate business and capitalizing on major technological advances, and this must not be repeated in relation to the quantum technological revolution we will experience soon.

All projects in the EU flagship therefore includes participants from the entire ‘food chain’ behind new technological advances—from university researchers to production companies, distributors, and end users.

Quantum communication part of the flagship
DTU has world-leading research facilities and expertise within several areas of quantum technology—e.g. quantum communication.

“For several years, we have prioritized quantum technology as a strategically important research area at DTU. Participating in the EU Flagship initiative is therefore a unique opportunity for us to extend our research in a European context and allow both companies and private persons to leverage its results,” says Dean of Research Katrine Krogh Andersen.

Encrypted communication and more accurate measurements
DTU is involved in two projects of the Quantum Flagship—CiViQ (Continuous Variable Quantum Communications) and UNIQORN (Affordable Quantum Communication for Everyone), respectively.

“One project focuses on developing quantum-encrypted systems which in the future will ensure that communication, for example, in the finance or health sector can be done without any risk of unauthorized persons gaining access to it. The aim is to make the technology so flexible and inexpensive that it can be used by companies, organizations, and individuals as well for secure communication,” says Professor Ulrik Lund Andersen, who is heading DTU’s research in quantum technology.

The second project focuses on developing smaller and more inexpensive quantum components, light sources, and detectors for use in quantum communication. This technology will also be applied in other areas, for example, to improve the sensitivity of certain measuring instruments.

EU’s Quantum Flagship consists of 20 projects within quantum technology, which in addition to communication also includes quantum computers, simulation, and measurements, among other things. The aim of the ten-year effort is to make Europe a global leader in the field, both scientifically and technologically.