The main objective of QUARTER is to increase the maturity level of quantum communication (QC) technologies, enabling their deployment in quantum-secure networks and infrastructures. QUARTER brings together a European consortium formed by 4 SMEs specialized in quantum key distribution (QKD), quantum random number generators (QRNGs), high performance laser sources, and classical security solutions, together with 5 large companies/RTOs, who are European leaders in quantum technologies, security solutions, and telecommunications. By strongly leveraging technology development and know-how of previous EU-funded project, the specific objectives of QUARTER include:

- Increasing maturity level of EU-made QKD systems to TRL8 and start their industrialization, with special focus on physical module security and interfaces for seamless network integration.

- Increasing maturity level to TRL8 and start industrialization of EU-made QRNG based on photonic-integration with the highest bitrate;

- Developing EU-made TRL6 photonic integrated lasers with specifications that meet CV-QKD requirements.

- Developing a TRL9 high-performance secret-sharing appliance which, combined with QKD systems, can offer information theoretic security on data transmission and storage. - Developing a stand-alone QKD postprocessing (TRL6) module which is compatible with QKD systems from different vendor and protocols.

- Providing high TRL (6 or above) technology for QKD network integration and encryption, this including a key management system with end-to-end security by post-quantum cryptography, software defined network interfaces, modelling tools for coexistence of QKD and classical data in shared fibres, and encryptors with upgraded interfaces for QKD networks.

QUARTER will thus play a key role in producing next generation EU-made technologies for the EuroQCI deployment, in this way strengthening the EU supply and sovereignty in the critical areas of quantum communication network and cryptography.

• Partner: LuxQuanta Technologies S. L. (Koordinator),
• Funding: EU Secure Quantum Communication Infrastructure, DIGITAL-2021-QCI-01-DEPLOY-NATIONAL, TELEFONICA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO SA, THALES SIX GTS FRANCE SAS, TECNOBIT SL, QUSIDE TECHNOLOGIES SL, ADVA OPTICAL NETWORKING SE, AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH, Chilas BV, FRAGMENTIX STORAGE SOLUTIONS GMBH
• Project duration: 01/2023-05/2025