Space–Ground QKD and Secure Satellite Communications

Project cooperation in space–ground quantum key distribution (QKD) and secure satellite communications, supporting collaborative research, development, and demonstration activities across academia, industry, and SMEs. Cooperation covers co-design of satellite and hybrid space–ground QKD architectures, optical free-space link analysis, and system-level performance and security evaluation tailored to realistic operational scenarios.

The cooperation includes joint development and validation of QKD protocols, integration with classical secure satellite communication systems, and interoperability with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) for end-to-end security solutions. Activities support technology maturation (low-to-mid TRL), standardisation-aligned research, and application-driven use cases such as governmental, critical infrastructure, and secure data services, delivered through MSCA-style secondments, joint supervision, and knowledge transfer.