September 25 2025 -- Quantum Optics Jena today announced a milestone in building secure quantum communication systems: independent certification of its entangled photon-pair source by Italy’s National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM). This evaluation represents a crucial step toward trusted, certifiable quantum key distribution (QKD) networks.

Quantum communication promises virtually unbreakable security by using the laws of physics instead of mathematical algorithms to protect data. But for this technology to move from the lab into real-world networks, independent certification of its building blocks is essential. INRIM’s assessment of Quantum Optics Jena’s photon source confirms that it reliably generates entangled photons at two different wavelengths, which are an important requirement for use in operational QKD systems.

“Certification is the bridge between research and deployment,” said Fabrizio Piacentini from INRIM, who led the evaluation. “The key ingredient of the certification is reliable and independent characterisation of the component. Our independent characterisation confirms that Quantum Optics Jena’s source works according to the technical specifications.”

The evaluation showed that Quantum Optics Jena’s source produces entangled photon pairs with very high quality, matching the requirements needed for network integration. While performance values are strong, the true significance lies in trust: certification from an independent, nationally recognized laboratory gives network operators and governments the confidence to deploy quantum-secure systems.

“This is only the first step, but it’s a crucial one,” said Kevin Füchsel, CEO of Quantum Optics Jena. “Independent evaluation of our photon source demonstrates that we are serious about trust and security, not just performance. It lays the foundation for full certification of QKD systems and, ultimately, for secure communication infrastructure that Europe and the world can rely on.”

The activities were supported by the Horizon Europe Program from the European Commission in the »Qu-Test« project. It started in 2023 and consists of 25 partners from 11 countries aiming to develop and provide infrastructure for testing and experimentation for quantum technologies in Europe.