The Walton Institute at South East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland has secured a €5.3 million ($6.2 million USD) Horizon Europe project, Q-FENCE, to develop EU-mandated quantum-resistant security for critical sectors. This project positions Ireland as a leader in future-proof digital security and aims to protect critical digital infrastructure from emerging quantum computing threats.
The Q-FENCE project brings together 12 partners from academic and industry bodies across Europe. Its two major goals are:
- Creating security tools that can withstand quantum-era threats.
- Helping organizations move smoothly from existing encryption systems to new, quantum-resistant ones.
The initiative addresses the EU mandate that all critical systems must upgrade to quantum-resistant security standards by 2030. The project will test solutions in real-world settings that cannot afford disruption, such as hospitals, banks, and essential utilities.
The Q-FENCE project will run demonstrations across several sectors, including delivering quantum-safe encryption for financial institutions and developing energy-efficient security systems for manufacturers, smart grids, and connected device networks. Dr. Indrakshi Dey, Principal Investigator at Walton Institute, stated that the goal is to create security frameworks that can protect Europe’s digital backbone for decades to come.
Read the full announcement from the Walton Institute here and the formal CORDIS project information here.
December 1, 2025
