The Regional Government of Madrid has invested €16 million ($17.3 million USD) in the MadQuantum-CM project, aimed at expanding MadQCI, Europe’s largest quantum communications network. The project, funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU program and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), involves key participants such as IMDEA Networks, 5TONIC, Telefónica, and Universidad Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M). The initiative focuses on developing next-generation quantum communication protocols and integrating Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technologies into existing fiber optic networks.
IMDEA Networks leads the development of advanced quantum communication protocols, while 5TONIC and UC3M validate and test new technologies, including a cloud-native solution for secure end-to-end key distribution. The project leverages Telefónica’s fiber infrastructure to implement QKD protocols, ensuring secure communications based on quantum mechanics. The consortium, coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, also includes institutions like the National Institute for Aerospace Technology, the Spanish Metrology Centre, the Fundación Vithas, the Universidad Autónoma of Madrid, and the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, with a total investment of €73 million ($78.81 million USD).
The project aims to create use cases in critical sectors such as healthcare, energy, and public services, while training specialized researchers to support the national quantum industry. This initiative positions Madrid as a leading hub for quantum communication research and development in Europe, strengthening the region’s role in securing future communications infrastructure.
For more details, visit the original announcement by IMDEA Networks here, and the Regional Government of Madrid (in Spanish) here.
March 5, 2025
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