Quantum-Optic Silicon as a Commodity: Extending the Trust Continuum till the Edge of ICT Networksbroad
QOSiLICIOUS · Horizon Europe grant · 2025-02-01–2029-01-31
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01 · scheme HORIZON-EIC · topic HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDEROPEN-01-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
The rapid rise of quantum computation has raised concerns about conventional encryption methods. In response to this emerging threat, quantum key distribution (QKD) offers an information-theoretically secure key exchange. However, its complexity currently hinders its widespread adoption.QOSiLICIOUS introduces a disruptive “commodity” approach, integrating every element of quantum random number generation (QRNG) and QKD monolithically on silicon. This results in ultra-compact implementations with clear photonic/microelectronic co-integration strategy and excellent cost credentials allowing us to address new QKD markets. A pixel-size (0.01 mm²) QRNG will be realized in 0.18-µm CMOS, including a multi-dot silicon light emitting diode surrounded by a ring-shaped single-photon avalanche detector (SPAD) with co-integrated active quenching. Its true random numbers will feed a QKD transmitter developed on a silicon-photonic BiCMOS platform on a footprint of no more than 1 mm². Simplicity is ensured through a novel GeSi light emitter sourcing a BB84 polarization state encoder. This yields an all-silicon solution free from the burden of complex and costly III-V / silicon hetero-integration. The efforts on QOSiLICIOUS’ QKD transmitter are complemented by surface-normal GeSi SPAD technology for 1550-nm operation at detection efficiencies of 50% under Peltier cooling. The GeSi SPAD will be transferred to the waveguide-based silicon-photonic platform to further yield an integrated QKD receiver including BB84 state analysis.The applicability of QOSiLICIOUS’ technology to commodity segments will be evaluated in techno-economic challenging scenarios (i) intra-datacenter interconnects, (ii) access and 6G networks and (iii) mobile applications with a close-proximity free-space optical key exchange. Performance evaluation activities will target secure-key generation that enables the encryption of co-existing classical data traffic through fast AES key renewal.
Beneficiaries (5)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH | AT | coordinator | €1,041,574 | |
| UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW | UK | participant | €967,825 | |
| IHP GMBH - LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROELECTRONICS | DE | participant | €852,713 | |
| MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD - MLNX | IL | participant | €675,926 | |
| ETHNIKO KAI KAPODISTRIAKO PANEPISTIMIO ATHINON | EL | participant | €537,500 |
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