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- Success story
IDQ Europe – Working to actively shape and apply quantum information technologies
26. September 2022Cyberattacks have never endangered the IT security of companies and the infrastructure as much as they do today. Quantum technologies will have enormous impacts on our society in the near future. For ID Quantique, the Swiss supplier of quantum-based cybersecurity solutions, Austria in its role as an early pioneer in the field of quantum information research proved to be the logical business location for setting up the independent European competence centre (CoC) IDQ Europe.
Austrian institutes and research groups have long played a key role in many European initiatives such as the Quantum Flagship or the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure. Over the years IDQ has built up a close collaboration with these Austrian organisations. The Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), which is quite an active research centre, is worth mentioning in this regard.
Questions posed to Florian Fröwis, Managing Director ID Quantique Europe
At the beginning of the year IDQ Europe announced the founding of the independent Center of Competence (CoC) in Vienna. What are the underlying plans and business strategy?
Actively shaping the future of quantum information technologies for communications and computing in Europe has always been part of IDQ’s mission. The CoC is independent of IDQ thanks to a newly established foundation. In this way ID Quantique Europe aims to support the EU’s efforts to remain at the cutting edge of quantum technologies and to retain new quantum talents in Europe.
Why did IDQ select Austria for this key position within the company and the EU?
IDQ has a long tradition of strong partnerships with European universities, research institutes and industry. For this reason, the setting up of the independent CoC in Europe is a logical step enabling us to support the EU’s aspirations to achieve technological sovereignty. Austrian institutes and research groups have long played a key role in many European initiatives such as the Quantum Flagship or the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure. Over the years IDQ has built up a close collaboration with these Austrian organisations. The Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), which is quite an active research centre, is worth mentioning in this regard. We are familiar with and greatly value the people there. The confidence in our ability to jointly develop the technology was ultimately the decisive factor in locating the new CoC in Vienna.
What other locational advantages are important to IDQ?
In addition to generic advantages such as social security and the good infrastructure, Vienna also boasts a high quality of life and several universities. Accordingly, we expect to have access to qualified employees. Furthermore, Austria does a lot to promote progress in innovative fields such as quantum technologies.
What role does the CoC in Austria play in a European context?
Austria is ideally suited for our purposes, because, like Switzerland, it is an early pioneer and can draw upon a close to 30-year tradition of quantum information research. We want to gradually create a European centre of competence in Vienna encompassing research and development and covering the entire value chain.
How did Austria and Austrian Business Agency (ABA) support ID Quantique?
Austrian Business Agency, the Federal Ministry for Climate Action and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) strongly supported us and thus laid the foundation for future deep tech development and a deep tech economy in the Vienna region. ABA was a tremendous help for us with regard to the practical aspects of setting up our facility, for example identifying the right lawyer. We also benefitted from ABA’s excellent networking.
ID Quantique (IDQ)
ID Quantique (IDQ) is a globally leading supplier of quantum-based cybersecurity solutions and is particularly specialised in quantum cryptography. The company was established in Geneva in 2001 and has done pioneering work since then. At the time the company was founded, its motto was still “From Vision to Technology.” Today the phase “From Technology to Value” has already been reached. This means value for the user is already generated on the basis of the existing technology i.e., quantum technology is being integrated into normal industrial operations. IDQ’s customers come from the academic world as well as the banking and telecommunication sectors. IDQ is a leader in the fields of quantum-safe cryptography, random number generation and quantum photonic measuring devices.
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