EU Project for PQ Cryptography Protocols

The PQC4eMRTD (Post-Quantum Cryptography for electronic Machine-Readable Travel Documents) project is a European initiative launched on 28 February, aimed at enhancing the security of electronic machine-readable travel documents (eMRTDs), such as electronic passports, against emerging threats posed by advances in quantum computing ¹.

Quantum computing is progressing rapidly, with the number of quantum bits (qubits) housed in a circuit expected to increase tenfold by 2026 compared to the approximately 400 qubits achieved by the end of 2022. This significant growth in processing power threatens classical cryptographic systems, necessitating the development and adoption of quantum-resistant (QR) cryptographic protocols.

Coordinated by Infineon Technologies AG from Germany, the PQC4eMRTD project brings together key partners, including Thales and CryptoNext Security from France, the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre from Spain, and the Institute for Comparative Law at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The consortium focuses on advancing existing post-quantum cryptography (PQC) research towards international standardization, facilitating the adoption of QR protocols.