November 19, 2024 -- QNu Inc., a company focused on quantum-resistant cryptography, has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange as a corporate partner. QNu Inc. is interested in building research collaborations and leveraging the talent of the CQE community as it grows in the United States.

Quantum-resistant cryptography has received increased attention in recent years as organizations are beginning to develop encryption methods designed to withstand future attacks by quantum computers. Earlier this year, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released new post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards, a set of encryption algorithms that industry and government will ultimately need to adopt. In addition, researchers and industry have been developing quantum random number generator (QRNG) technology, which harnesses the unpredictable nature of quantum mechanics to generate truly random numbers that are impossible for attackers to predict, and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology, which is a shared secret key in which the sender and receiver exchange and measure single or entangled photons. The Chicago Quantum Network, for instance, distributes quantum keys between the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory using Toshiba’s QKD technology.

QNu products include NIST-compliant PQC, QKD, and QRNG, as well as an integrated quantum technology platform that combines these in one system.

“Quantum communication technologies offer potentially transformative benefits, and with these advances come the increasing need to protect the security of our data — and the opportunity to do so using quantum technologies,” said David Awschalom, the Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, a scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, and the director of the Chicago Quantum Exchange. “The CQE has focused on these issues in a variety of ways, and we welcome the opportunity bring QNu’s expertise into our community of collaborators.”

Earlier this year, the CQE-led Bloch Quantum Tech Hub cohosted a symposium with the FBI Chicago aimed at sharing resources on a variety of quantum security issues.

“We are thrilled to join the Chicago Quantum Exchange and collaborate with this exceptional community of quantum technology organizations. This is our continued commitment to innovation and bringing quantum-safe solutions to the market,” said Rajesh Patil, QNu’s chief technology officer. “We were drawn to join the CQE because of its reputation as a leading hub for quantum research and innovation. This collaboration presents a unique opportunity to jointly advance our mission of developing quantum-safe technologies. Through this partnership, we hope to strengthen the regional quantum ecosystem and drive the adoption of quantum technologies across industries.”  

The CQE is based at the University of Chicago and is anchored by the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University, and Purdue University. The CQE also includes more than 50 corporate, international, nonprofit, and regional partners.