Creotech Instruments supports the European Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) infrastructure

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Creotech Instruments – a Warsaw Stock Exchange-listed company and a leader in Poland’s DeepTech sector – as a subcontractor for a project aimed at advancing Europe’s quantum key distribution (QKD) infrastructure. The initiative, titled BLAM (Background Light and Atmosphere Metrology for QKD at Urban Locations), involves the design and realization of equipment for monitoring atmospheric background light and turbulence, as well as conducting data collection campaigns in key European cities. The data will be critical for implementing QKD systems in Europe under the SAGA and IRIS2 programs. The project is led by OHB Digital Connect GmbH, and the value of the tasks to be executed by Creotech Instruments is approximately EUR 175,500.

“We are pleased to play a key role in a project with the potential to significantly influence the development of European quantum technologies. This is both an honor and a responsibility for us. Quantum technologies, particularly QKD-based systems, are foundational to the future of modern, secure communications infrastructure, including in the space domain. Our know-how enables us to deliver the data and technology required for accurate analysis of urban light conditions and atmospheric turbulence, which is crucial for optimizing QKD systems. We believe that our cooperation with OHB Digital Connect GmbH will strengthen our position in the deployment of quantum technologies across Europe and reinforce Europe’s standing on the global innovation landscape.”  said Dr. Anna Kamińska, Director of the Quantum Systems Division at Creotech Instruments S.A.

As part of the SAGA project, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology is being developed to enable the generation of cryptographic keys based on the transmission of single photons.

“To ensure the required key generation rate, a high signal-to-noise ratio is essential. In this context, background light, both natural and artificial, presents one of the primary challenges for optical QKD systems,” adds Anna Kamińska.

To date, QKD experiments have been conducted in locations with exceptional observational conditions. However, the systems intended to provide services to end-users or network access points as part of the SAGA and IRIS2 infrastructure must function in urban environments. Background light conditions in such settings, especially in wavelength ranges relevant to QKD, have not yet been thoroughly studied, despite their critical impact on noise levels in optical system design.

Additionally, atmospheric turbulence in cities differs significantly from that in previously tested locations, necessitating detailed analysis of its effect on link quality and the development of appropriate adaptive optics solutions.

Given the numerous challenges in this domain, initiatives like the BLAM project aim to improve the design process of advanced optical communication system components and reduce the risk of failing to meet performance requirements.