Two Years of Federal Quantum Alliance - Review and Outlook

On 10 January 2024, the managing directors and key players of the BQA (Bundesquantenallianz) members met in Berlin for an initial review and to plan the further expansion of BQA's activities.

Motivated by technological progress and political agendas

In the USA, the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act is driving federal companies to prepare for the quantum age, while in the EU, the European Declaration on Quantum Technologies is creating important framework conditions. Authorities and companies with federal involvement are called upon to help shape the future.

In order to be a modern, resilient and capable state, the administration must prepare for the quantum age.

Objectives of the BQA

• Create decision papers and risk assessments on the use of or prepare against quantum computing for federal companies and authorities
• Bundle activities in the field of quantum technologies
• Be an exchange platform and think tank on quantum technologies and their application

What the Federal Quantum Alliance has already established

• Cross-company exchange of QC experts
• Contact for board members and management boards for quantum-related enquiries
• Website with PQC-relevant information for Germany
• Visualisation of the quantum computing ecosystem in Germany
• Testbeds for testing quantum-safe algorithms (NIST and BSI recommendations)

• Close dialogue on quantum security aspects with the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI)
• Implementation on quantum computers as part of the PlanQK programme (BMWK)
• Member of the German Industry Association for Quantum Security (DIVQSec)
• Member of the governance board of the European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC)
• Member of the management doard des bitkom working group HPC/QC

Outlook for 2024 and beyond

BQA is set to grow further, talks with several potential partners are already underway and are very promising.

The topic of quantum computing is to be more firmly anchored in the respective partner companies: “Make the enterprise quantum ready”. To this end, a roadmap for securing IT and OT using quantum-resistant cryptography for KRITIS companies is to be developed as good practice. The inclusion of post-quantum readiness in tenders also serves this goal.

These activities are rounded off by supporting components that have an impact on the respective partners, such as test implementations of quantum-resistant algorithms or testbeds to prepare for the productive use of PQC and/or QKD.

In the future, the BQA can position itself as a neutral body to support the introduction of NIS 2 at EU level and thus the effects on KRITIS on the process side. We see the BSI and the BMI in particular as important partners in order to form a “blueprint” for selected federal companies and federal institutions in terms of quantum security with the BQA.

The next meeting of the management boards will take place in Frankfurt.