2022's
10
Top Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology The Next Big Thing Know the Value of Quantum
Marc Kaplan
Co-founder & CEO
VeriQloud Offering Applications and Software for Quantum Networks
VOL-03 | ISSUE-05 | 2022
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Editor’s Desk The Next Step Quantum Technology
We are living in the age of relentless innovations, and quantum technology has the potential to offer endless opportunities in several industries. We are experiencing the power of the digital revolution in transforming and shaping businesses, but we are almost on the verge of experiencing the revolutionary impact of quantum technology. With brilliant ideas and inventiveness, companies can leverage disruptive quantum technology and reshape businesses in many sectors with better solutions. Companies in quantum technology are solving issues by optimizing machine learning and revolutionizing cryptography with a significant data intensity can benefit most from the opportunities. Companies can produce efficient batteries for electric vehicles by leveraging the potential of this technology and reducing carbon emissions, which can reduce the threat due to climate change. Disruptive quantum technology has the potential to revolutionize business models significantly. By availing of the benefits of quantum technology at an early stage, businesses can have a competitive advantage over others. Renowned companies in the niche are demonstrating the power of quantum, exploring the potential of technology to bridge the gap between theoretical research and its application to real-world challenges. Collaborative initiatives are in place to identify and resolve the complexity of this rapidly evolving technology area by carrying out research, developing prototypes, and several studies that focus on how quantum will play in shaping the future of humankind.
Insights Success admires the efforts of these companies in "2022's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology." Featuring on the cover is VeriQloud, providing a unique approach and solution with quantum technology as one of the fastest-growing startups. Marc Kaplan, the CEO, Co-founded VeriQloud to achieve a collective ambition to unlock the power of quantum communication networks by working on applications, software, and architecture. While flipping through the pages, have a quick rundown of the articles written by our in-house editorial team, and gain inside knowledge with the CxO penned down by industry experts. Dive right in!
Sharad Chitalkar sharad@insightssuccess.com
C O V E R
S TO RY
Offering Applications and Software for Quantum Networks
A RT I C L E
The Next Big Thing Know the Value of Quantum
18
Expert’s View The IIMPACT of the PANDEMIC on HIV INFECTION
30
C X O
22
Leader’s Viewpoint Education as a medium to Combat HIV/AIDS
24 Neuron soundware
14
We ListenSo You Can Fix it Before it Breaks
Delft Circuits Enhancing the Potential of Quantum Industry
28 PHYSEC GmbH Enabling Secure Connectivity in IoT
20 Forge Nano Making ALD Reliable, Scaleable, and Affordable
34 Qubitekk Unleashing the Power of Quantum
Editor-in-Chief Hitesh Dhamani Managing Editor Anish Miller
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Company Name
Featured Person
Brief
Arqit arqit.uk
Julie Moon Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications
Arqit supplies a unique quantum encryption Platform-as-aService which makes the communications links of any networked device secure against current and future forms of attack – even from a quantum computer.
Delft Circuits delft-circuits.com
Daan Kuitenbrouwer COO & Founder
Delft Circuits provides quantum hardware solutions.
Forge Nano Inc. forgenano.com
Paul Lichty CEO
Forge Nano’s proprietary technology and manufacturing processes support you from the research scale up to large-scale commercial production.
Neuron soundware neuronsw.com
Pavel Konecny Founder
Neuron soundware reshapes machine diagnostics and predictive maintenance.
PHYSEC GmbH physec.de
Dr. Christian Zenger CEO
PHYSEC is an expert in IoT connectivity and IoT security.
Qubitekk qubitekk.com
Dr. Duncan Earl President and CTO
Qubitekk have pioneered quantum solutions that will one day enable a quantum Internet, a cyber-secure electrical grid, and a network for interconnecting quantum computing devices.
Qureca qureca.com
Araceli VenegasGomez Founder & CEO
Qureca offers a range of quantum resources and professional services, aimed both at individuals and businesses.
QuRISK qurisk.fr
Joe Ghalbouni CTO
QuRISK help you define, design, develop, test and implement Quantum Use Cases and Applications adequate with your Business needs and current Quantum Computing capabilities.
SBQuantum sbquantum.com
Rachel Taylor Co-founder, COO
Shine Bright Quantum develops diamond based quantum sensors with vectorial capabilities for space, defence and infrastructure inspection.
VeriQloud veriqloud.com
Marc Kaplan CEO
VeriQloud is developing solutions for quantum cryptography.
Cover Story 2022's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology
Offering Applications and Software for Quantum Networks
Unlocking the power of quantum communication networks.
Marc Kaplan
Co-founder & CEO VeriQloud
C
ryptography is extensively used to secure end-toend communications with sensitive files, data, records, and much more to ensure the prevention of data loss. With its disruptive potential, cryptography can enable users to secure their data, which becomes essential in cybersecurity. However, with the introduction of quantum technology, cryptography has enhanced itself with infinite added value compared to classical methods. With a goal to design fully optimized solutions to use-cases in cybersecurity based on quantum information processing, VeriQloud provides a unique approach and solution with quantum technology as one of the fastest-growing startups. Marc Kaplan, the CEO, Co-founded VeriQloud to achieve a collective ambition to unlock the power of quantum communication networks by working on applications, software, and architecture. In our endeavor to find "2021's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology", we at Insights Success came across VeriQloud. We talked with Marc to understand how VeriQloud is pushing forward to unlock the power of quantum communication networks. Below are the highlights of the interview: Give us a brief overview of VeriQloud, its mission, and the key aspects of its strong foothold in the quantum industry. VeriQloud is a startup based in Paris, France. We are developing quantum networking systems with two features that distinguish us from other companies in the field. Firstly, our developments are focused on applications of quantum networks rather than on the hardware. Secondly, they are motivated by a long-term vision of how the technology will evolve from point-to-point quantum communication to a large-scale Quantum Internet in which quantum resources are connected to each other with quantum communication channels.
communication architecture that can be thought of as the ethernet of quantum networks. Qline connects several nodes on a single fibre line. It is optimized to distribute quantum states at the local and metropolitan area scale, with two main use-cases: • In a large-scale QKD network, Qline solves the lastmile problem. It can be combined with satellite links and high-speed backbones to distribute encryption keys to a large number of end-users. • Several Qlines can be assembled to form a metropolitan network. With connectivity that is much higher than point-to-point QKD, Qline can significantly increase the number of nodes in such infrastructures. What makes VeriQloud a preferred choice among your clientele over other competitors? VeriQloud offers the most scalable and secure solution for quantum communications. Our solution, the Qline, is the only existing solution that goes beyond point-to-point quantum communication by genuinely implementing a quantum network of several nodes. Beyond its high connectivity, Qline also removes the trusted nodes that are common in QKD networks. This technique, used to extend the distance of QKD, also injects vulnerabilities into the system. By removing trusted nodes, Qline increases the security of key distribution. QKD offers point-to-point protection, Qline protects a full network. Our solution is the best one for people who need quantum cybersecurity at the local area scale. How is VeriQloud enhancing security via quantum communication? Qline offers future-proof security. Its quantum nature makes it resistant to "store now, break later" attacks. Quantum cybersecurity is also the only technology that can guarantee lifelong data protection for hundreds of years.
Current quantum networks are running a single task: quantum key distribution (QKD). While VeriQloud's systems provide a substantial enhancement over current QKD networks, our mission is wider. The applications that we are developing can run using existing hardware but are motivated by the forthcoming development of quantum internet.
Qline is bringing quantum cybersecurity to a full network. This makes Qline the best solution to protect critical infrastructures within a metropolitan area. Another important use case is for data centers. Qline can be used to secure the distribution of data over servers in a cloud availability zone, which brings long-term security not only for communications but also for storage.
Describe your top-notch offerings that address the need of your customers. Our development unlocks new use-cases for quantum networks. We have developed the Qline, a quantum
Describe the values that drive your organization. At VeriQloud, we believe that security and privacy are fundamental rights. Moreover, we believe that cryptography, the mathematical theory behind data security,
toward online activities, increasing this need further. Our increased online presence should be taken into consideration in all cybersecurity threat models. It creates new opportunities for eavesdroppers and new challenges for security architects. While quantum cybersecurity may today be a niche reserved for critical infrastructures, protecting those is important to boost the confidence of the general public. The lifelong security that quantum technologies offer is what users deserve when sharing their data and their lives online. In what ways have you or your company contributed to the community? VeriQloud participates in a number of research projects. One project that we are very proud of is the Quantum Internet Alliance. This project, funded by the European Commission and led by TU Delft, aims at developing the technologies required for building a quantum internet. This has led us to host the Quantum Protocol Zoo, an online encyclopaedia of quantum communication protocols. It lists the quantum communication tasks available in the scientific literature, analyze them, links them to simulation code and proposes concrete applications. It is available at wiki.veriqloud.com. is a cornerstone of the digital age. It allows these fundamental rights to be enforced by the power of mathematics. Quantum technologies are a new step toward more security and privacy for our data. Quantum technologies are getting a huge boost worldwide, with increasing private and public funding. The related technologies will have a very important impact on the general public. We believe that the general public should be able to evaluate this impact. This is particularly challenging due to the technicality of quantum technologies. But as entrepreneurs, it is our duty to work on education and popularization. Anyone that is willing to invest time and energy should be able to get a clear vision today of how quantum technologies will impact everyone's life in the future. In your opinion, what could be the future of the quantum communication market post the COVID-19 pandemic? And how are you strategizing your company's operations for that future? We have experienced a boom in data value over the last decade. This, in turn, has increased the need for privacy and data security. The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the shift
What are your future aspirations? Where do you see VeriQloud in the next five years? The field of quantum communication is growing fast. There is currently a strong push toward the creation of a European ecosystem, with the objective of forming a complete supply chain to deliver European quantum communication infrastructures. VeriQloud is going to play a key role in this development. In parallel, we are working on the development of a quantum internet. Such an infrastructure can be used to build a secure quantum cloud platform in which a quantum computer remotely executes a client's program without learning any information about it. We are starting to develop applications for secure quantum cloud computing today. This is our natural horizon and the ultimate application of quantum cybersecurity that we consider at VeriQloud.
2022's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology
Delft Circuits E n h a n c i n g t h e P o te n t i a l o f Q u a n t u m I n d u s t r y
Q
uantum technology is an emerging field of engineering and physics. This technology works on the principle of quantum physics. It creates various practical applications such as quantum sensors, quantum computing, quantum cryptography, quantum imaging, secure communications etc. Delft Circuits is a company developing, producing and selling i/o solutions (cabling) for the quantum industry. Quantum engineers building world changing setups to reach unprecedented computing or unhackable internet work with tools that were not made for this industry. Its first step is to provide cabling that is easy to work with and has optimal performance for high frequency signals at extremely low temperatures (the environment of the quantum setups). The company’s vision is to build increasingly more tools for the
quantum industry enabling these technologies to reach their potential, faster. Flexible and Flat Cabling Solution Delft Circuits’ Cri/oFlex® productline is a flexible and flat cabling solution for high frequencies at low temperatures. It is optimized to fit in densely spaced environments and reduce thermal coupling between different temperature stages. For the production, a combination of technologies from various industries are used. Innovative Leadership Daan Kuitenbrouwer is the COO of Delft Circuits. Within Delft Circuits, he focuses on strengthening the company’s team (HR) – which organization considers the most important asset of the company. Next to that, Daan is responsible for sales and the company’s sales network. In that role he is also involved in business development and which serves as input for the company’s technical development. Daan has a background in physics and innovation studies which gives him very clear insights in the development of the industry and how to address opportunities coming up. Substituting Coax Cables
Daan Kuitenbrouwer COO
14 | March 2022
The company’s product is a completely new in the field of quantum technologies. Its first product on the market substitutes regular coax cables. Its follow up product – multichannel cabling to bring high numbers (>1000) signal channels to the quantum setup is completely new in its kind. At a certain point (300 – 1000 signal channels, depends whom you ask), it becomes impossible to bring more signal channels to the quantum experiment with coaxial cables. This is the case since these cables are too bulky (taking up too much space) and they conduct too www.insightssuccess.com
much heat, causing the system to heat up and to malfunction. Development of Cabling
The energy of working at Delft Circuits, developing such amazing products is awesome.
The first product Delft Circuits aimed at developing was cabling for quantum computing. The company saw it as its task to make cables at the length of a dilution refrigerator (the fridges that cool down the quantum processors to the lowest of temperatures), which is about 120 cm (depending on the type of system). Also, the organization wanted to make multiple channels per flexible ribbon. The journey to get there was quite long. However, after its first prototype was developed in January 2017, it decided to show its product at the APS March meeting (the biggest physics conference in the world). At that conference the team met several people who said they were very interested in a much simpler version of the product, namely a short cable (30 cm) and only a single signal channel instead of 1000s. This drove the team to first nailing the development and sales of these precursor products. This is where company is now, having its first products on the market and shaping up for the development of the cabling for large-scale quantum computing.
(low temperature) high frequency cabling on its website and actively attracts people to its website to share knowledge and show its solutions.
Strong Sales Network
Development of Relevant Products
The company visits various conferences to meet companies building equipment as well as engineers and researchers in the lab. Also, it is in the midst of setting up its sales network of strong players in the field. Lastly, Delft Circuits aims to gather a lot of relevant information for cryogenic
As said Delft Circuits is shaping up to develop high channel density cabling with signal conditioning (e.g. filters and attenuators) components on flex. It plans to do so with big players in the field of quantum computing to keep the company’s design cycles short and its pace of development high. In the long run Delft Circuits aims to become a provider of various tools for the quantum industry. In that regard, it focuses on developing products which are relevant for most of the quantum industry. Company sees a lot of similar development going on in both quantum internet and quantum computing with regard to electronics – both go to increasingly higher numbers of interconnects for photon detectors and qubits respectively. Appreciating the Contribution These cables are so much easier to install – TU Delft The base platform temperature rise was the lowest we’ve seen so far! – Montana Instruments
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March 2022 | 15
The Next Big Thing
Know the Value of
Quantum W
hat is the next generation of human experience set to be as big as the internet is today? An expansion is being driven through applications in secure communication disaster management through better prediction, computing, simulation, chemistry, healthcare, cryptography, imaging, and many others. Setting its stronghold today, quantum technology is planting its root to enhance and revolutionize the overall technological landscape.
Quantum computers were put forward in the 1980s by Richard Feynman and Yuri Manin. Quantum Mechanics was developed between 1900 and 1925, and it remains the cornerstone on which chemistry and technologies ranging from computer chips to LED lightning ultimately rest. IBM, QCI, Microsoft Azure Quantum have been some of the leading quantum computing companies for some time. Eventually, many other companies started to build their solutions and services around the quantum. They are capable of their extremely high processing power; these machines will allow drug options to be developed faster and more effectively than today. Scientists believe that quantum simulations will protect against COVID, influenza, cancer, and even potentially find a cure for Alzheimer's. In addition, quantum could also replace laboratory experiments, reduce the cost of research, and even minimize the need for human and animal testing. Quantum computers may also accelerate the discovery of new CO2 catalysts to ensure efficient carbon dioxide recycling while producing useful gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In finance, many major institutions are already looking to quantum computing to boost trade, transactions, and data speed. Banks such as IBM and JP Morgan have started experimenting with quantum technology, hoping to increase its use shortly. Financial modeling could also be greatly
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improved with quantum computers, which means lower processing costs and faster transactions.
In the future, quantum computers will be able to solve difficult problems that could not have been possible to solve before. For example, they hold the potential to be used for modeling molecules or predicting how a molecule will behave under different conditions. It won't completely replace classical computing – not in the foreseeable future – for many computational tasks, and it won't offer any real advantage. Although many quantum technologies can change the world for good, there is also a flip side. In terms of information security, quantum computers may break through the public-key encryption, meaning that no matter how secure data may be, it could be vulnerable to future attacks. From the above things, it is clear that quantum computers will significantly impact organizations and are already starting to disrupt industries, advancing technology in a way that can't be fully comprehended. As the top companies continue to innovate, this technology will become more powerful and accessible. While these technologies' future is undoubtedly likely to bring huge benefits, it is equally important that we educate ourselves on its potential risks. Especially when it comes to cybersecurity, the potential threats are devastating, so it is crucial to take them seriously. Ultimately, companies are likely to adopt these technologies. Businesses, Governments, and the public should be more and more educated in the reality of quantum computers and be prepared for the coming disruption.
March 2022 | 19
2022's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology
Forge Nano Making ALD Reliable, Scaleable, and Affordable
F
orge Nano is a global expert in Particle Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD). Through years of extensive research and development, they have put the days of slow, expensive nano-coatings in the past. Forge Nano creates customer based nano coating solutions for clients big and small. Using proprietary technology, they enable fast, affordable, atomic level coatings and surface engineering. Their powder-on-demand system applies lean manufacturing principles to ALD for commercial scaleability. Forge Nano technology minimizes costs, while maximizing potential.
Give a brief overview of your company, its uniqueness and its vision.
Forge Nano is unique, because they are active in all stages of development for ALD. They offer resources and knowledge that are second to none. The company not only creates solutions from lab-scale to commercial-scale, but offers toll coating services as well. No matter the size or scale, Forge Nano has a solution to fit.
We use ALD to apply atomic level coatings to industrial powders. We’ve developed proprietary, high throughput technology that enables ALD at scales that were never possible before. Our technology makes commercial ALD scaleable and economical.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between Forge Nano and Insights Success:
Forge Nano is a surface engineering company with expertise in Particle ALD. We use our technology to help make products better through nano-scale engineering. Our goal is to improve the performance and value of the products we help create. Describe your company’s cutting edge solutions, which address all the needs of your customers.
Give a detailed description of the featured person’s influence over the company and the industry. Paul Lichty PhD, is the Founder and CEO of Forge Nano. Paul is an inventor of the high throughput ALD patent. Paul has a broad technical background that has allowed him to be co-inventor on over half a dozen patents. He has 8 years of experience directing research and managing projects. Paul has managed several research and development groups and has extensive experience leading these teams from idea conception to commercial production. Paul’s leadership and organizational experience has helped him to run Forge Nano’s operations while developing the technology through 3 prototype stages, up to the current commercial scale. He is dedicated to commercializing high-tech energy solutions. Paul received his PhD in Chemical Engineering and bachelor’s Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado. How do your services differ from the other companies’ offerings?
Paul Lichty Founder and CEO
20 | March 2022
At Forge Nano, we make our ALD solutions scaleable. We create everything from lab-scale tools, to mid-sized pilotscale tools, all the way to large, commercial-scale solutions. We are a team of scientists and engineers who develop our solutions specifically for each client. www.insightssuccess.com
What technologies are you leveraging to make your solutions resourceful and bringing advancement in the industry? We are constantly pushing the boundaries of particle ALD. We use our proprietary high throughput technology to make ALD scaleable to commercial applications. Our innovative solutions allow for processing of milligrams, to kilotons of materials. We use our lab-scale tools to perform research and development of cutting edge materials. Our tools are used by companies, National Laboratories, and Universities to enable the discovery of next generation technologies. Describe the experiences, achievements or lessons learned that have shaped the journey of the company.
Forge Nano’s proprietary technology makes ALD commercially viable.
We are learning every day, and that is part of the fun and challenge. As we develop new technologies and find new optimized chemistries, we grow and improve. We are cultivating new relationships with our clients, and building upon our existing relationships. Every day, we learn new things that work, and new things that do not work, and we are constantly making ourselves better for it. What marketing activities do you implement to reach out to your potential customers?
What are your company’s future aspirations? What strategies are you undertaking to achieve those goals?
We use several avenues to reach new potential clients. We’ve created an ALD newsletter that is sent out quarterly, which provides useful resources and articles about the field of ALD. We are also constantly publishing our research findings, not only in scientific journals, but in our own white papers that we make available on our website. Currently, we are in the middle of a massive overhaul of our website. Our hope is to make our site a true resource in the field of ALD, by providing relevant, meaningful content.
Our mission is to become the world leader of innovative materials solutions. We are actively engaging in strategic partnerships and collaborations to make advancements in materials science. We are working with some of the world’s most innovative minds, with the hopes of creating solutions that truly make the world a better place.
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March 2022 | 23
2022's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology
We Listen- So You Can Fix it Before it Breaks
E
stablished in February 2016, Neuron soundware delivers smart diagnostic solutions based on the acoustic analysis of machines in several industries including the energy sector. The company currently employs twenty experts and its revenues amounted to almost half-million Euro, last year. The solution from the house of Neuron currently uses artificial intelligence to recognize impending mechanical problems in machines, thereby preventing breakdowns of critical manufacturing equipment. The organization uses AI methods in order to understand audio signals. Neuron developed a diagnostic technology for early detection of broken machines. Industry 4.0 Neuron’s innovative audio diagnostics technology consists of special IoT recording and edge computing hardware (nBox & nCard), sensors and microphones, AI algorithms, and analytics and monitoring software platform. The company has collected millions of recordings of different machines hums and thousands of failures noises to provide the best possible accuracy. Neuron is following the Industry 4.0 and predictive maintenance wave in the European industry. It is proud to work on implementation of its technology with customers like Airbus, Siemens, ŠKODA AUTO, BMW, Daimler, innogy and LG. Neuron provides following services ; Machine Monitoring Service: Neuron’s solution works for many types of machines such as engines, compressors, pumps, turbines, cranes, robots, and many others. Ÿ Quality Monitoring Service: With this system, Neuron helps its clients to make their end-of-the-line quality testing processes better, which eventually improves its client’s overall quality control. Ÿ
24 | March 2022
We developed a diagnostic technology for early detection of broken machines. Pavel Konečný CEO
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Serving the Needs of OEMs Neuron developed the Acoustic Lab offering in order to better serve the needs of industrial OEMs; Neuron soundware can adapt various equipment. As an organization, Neuron likes to work on custom projects, as it has just the right mix to make it work, which includes dedicated experts in IoT and Machine Learning, unique sound processing and research, continuous development, and years of industry experience. The organization is also leveraging technologies like Internet of Things (mix of cloud and edge computing), Artificial Intelligence (neural networks, deep learning etc.) in order to make its solutions much more resourceful. Additionally, Neuron has been co-developing advanced monitoring solutions and services with several industrial partners. The Cool Quotient Since its inception 4 years ago, Neuron soundware has bagged multiple awards and accolades. During this short period the organization has been awarded by Startup and Idea of the Year 2016 in The Czech Rep, #3 FORBES TheNextBigThing, accepted to Plug and Play in 2017. Neuron has also received EUR 600k investment by VC fund J&T Ventures in 2017, completed Airbus Bizlab program in Hamburg and was also named Cool Vendor in Acoustic Technologies for Predictive Maintenance by Gartner. Additionally, it completed SAP I4.0 Accelerator program in Berlin, awarded 3rd place in PowerUp! CEE Startup Competition by InnoEnergy, and raised 5.75 million Euros to further expand its business activities. The Innovative Leader Pavel Konečný, the CEO of Neuron soundware kick-started his career in the IT consulting company named Accenture, where he participated in more than 35 technological and strategic projects for 25 clients on 3 continents. Pavel was considered one of the most innovative members of the team who designed the innovation every day. Colleagues were frequently asking why he didn’t try to start his own business, but they got the www.insightssuccess.com
same answer for 10 years: “I’m waiting for the computers to be so powerful that artificial intelligence can be used efficiently.” At-last the moment came 4 years ago, when Neuron soundware, a Czech start-up came into foray - that listens to machines by using artificial intelligence that can predict failures and malfunctions of machines. Satisfied Clientele and Investors “We deployed the solution to a fleet of CHP units. We’ve been seeing positive results and hence we are now evaluating long-term business benefits for the whole group.” — Jan Regner, Manager of Information Systems and Technologies Division, MVV Energie CZ. “Neuron is one of a few companies in acoustic emission analysis which is able to compete with top class Israeli and US companies. During its short existence it has developed a unique database of sounds which are used for training of its proprietary neural networks.” —says Petr Míkovec, managing director of INVEN CAPITAL. “We are passionate about the Neuron story and the team. Predictive maintenance is a hot topic for many complex industrial systems, however, practical solutions are still hard to find. The Neuron technology could be a game changer in this space, having substantial impact on industry efficiency across several verticals.” —says Abel Galacz, CEO of Lead Ventures. “You cannot plan production efficiently without predicting unpleasant events in operation. The early diagnostic tools are crucial for managing any modern utility company. That is why we believe Neuron soundware technology contributes to our reliable operation,” — says Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of ČEZ and Director of the New Energy and Distribution Division Tomáš Pleskač.
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2022's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology
Dr. Heiko Koepke CFO & Co-founder
GmbH
Enabling Secure Connectivity in IoT
T
Our product ‘IoTree’ provides highest security for every challenge in the IoT (Device, Communication, Platform)
28 | March 2022
PHYSEC GmbH is a high-tech start-up founded by two PhD graduates of Ruhr University Bochum in 2014. The start-up offers IoT security solutions based on groundbreaking technology innovation “Physical Layer Security” which allows for new ways of protecting IoT systems. The vision of the company is to achieve leadership in the IoT security market and to make the digitalization safe for citizens, companies and organizations that are considered part of a country’s critical infrastructure.
“
“
he Internet of Things (IoT) opens lots of opportunities for businesses and increases the growth of connected devices which has resulted in an exceptional growth in data. The data shared by devices contains a large amount of private information and preserving information security on the shared data is an important issue that cannot be neglected. To make data more secure PHYSEC GmbH offers innovative security products and solutions for the Internet of Things ecosystem and enabling secure connectivity for various scenarios.
Solution for All IoT Devices The innovative Physical Layer Technology is the backbone of the solutions offered by PHYSEC GmbH. It makes the protection of IoT security environments at the system-level possible and allows for quantum-resistant implementations of these solutions. The main product PHYSEC offers is “IoTree” which is a full-stack protection solution for IoT systems.
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Physical Layer Security technology binds physics (of devices itself or its communication channel) with digital world. It satisfies the need for systemlevel protection as opposed to conventional approaches, which are limited to securing individual chips or PCBs. This allows the protection of embedded software and information through the physical verification (or assessment) of all components that are part of the system. The technology lays the foundation for new IoT security solutions in industries with high security requirements, such as logistics, energy or public infrastructure. A system can either be a complex machine (production machines or ATMs are in our portfolio) or simpler IoT devices.
solutions for physical integrity assessment on the market. PHYSEC’s solution is widely applicable and does not need complex customization. The company’s solution to secure wireless communication is unique in a way that it is applicable on top of established communication standard, such as, WiFi, BLE, or ZigBee. While other solutions require novel ultra wideband communication (UWB).
entails the need for organizational progress, which means that the structure of the company has to adapt to new challenges and expectations. There is one characteristic about the IoT security market: trust between companies is the most important factor. Knocking Every Marketing Channel Today, website and social media presence are important parts of marketing concept, both for maintaining contact with existing clients and being seen by new potential customers. For existing clients, PHYSEC offers the possibility to subscribe to its newsletter.
Furthermore, PHYSEC GmbH can provide their clients with a full-stack IoT security solution; it offers a symbiosis of all three essential components of protection: Device, Communication and Platform.
The technology applications are patented and exclusively owned by PHYSEC. Therefore, PHYSEC GmbH offers a product portfolio unlike any of their competitors’. Furthermore, the product portfolios of most other companies only cover some components of the necessary security infrastructure an IoT company needs but PHYSEC GmbH, on the contrary, can provide their clients with full-stack protection. Another important point is the fact that most competitors’ products are not quantum-resistant, while the solutions offered by PHYSEC are.
An Innovator
Series of Achievements
Dr. Christian Zenger, Founder and CEO of PHYSEC, founded the company together with Dr. Heiko Koepke based on the knowledge and experience provided by the work on his doctoral thesis. He invented several novel Physical Layer Security technologies and has been awarded as “Innovator under 35” by MIT Technology Review. Zenger teaches at academic level at Ruhr-University Bochum.
PHYSEC GmbH is a multiple awardwinning high-tech start-up. It has been awarded as the “Digital Start-up of the Year 2018” by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and won the German IT Security Award 2018, which is the most renowned and highly endowed award in the industry.
“This young German innovator shows an ‘impressive combination of entrepreneurial and scientific-technical skills’ and is developing a technology ‘with the potential to impact the world.” — Mahvash Siddiqui, Environment, Science, Technology and Health officer at the United States Embassy in London
Since its foundation in 2014, PHYSEC gained a lot of experience about the market and the industry. An important lesson learned is that keeping the market and the clients in focus while developing products and solutions is absolutely essential. In addition to fast growth as a young company also
“Young, innovative, technologically strong — Through the close exchange with PHYSEC we have learned a lot in the field of IT security. We will continue to develop together and learn from each other in the future.” — Christian Faust, CEO, Viessmann Elektronik GmbH
Additionally, the company is present at professional conferences in order to be able to present the company and its solutions. Another channel is fairs and exhibitions- an important opportunity for giving new potential clients the possibility to get to know the company. Testimonial
In-house Solution Except of very expansive appliances and services for nuclear disarmament verification, there are no products or
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Unleashing the Power of Quantum
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he entanglement of two particles’ quantum states was first theorized by Einstein and experimentally proven by the 1980s. Qubitekk was founded on the idea that this quantum entanglement phenomenon could be harnessed and engineered into superior cryptography products aimed at protecting critical infrastructure communications. In an interview with Insights Success, Dr. Duncan Earl, the President and CTO of the company reveals how Qubitekk is commercializing quantum technology. Could you throw some light on your mission and vision statement? Our Vision is to become the nation’s leading quantum technology provider. Our Mission is to protect the United States critical infrastructure from cybersecurity attack using entangled photon cryptography. Describe your company and its cutting-edge solutions which address all the needs of your customers. Qubitekk is a quantum sciences company specializing in entanglement. Our quantum lab is located in Vista, CA just north of San Diego. Using entangled photon states for quantum key distribution to protect the United States critical infrastructure in the areas of energy delivery, 5G communications and national defense. Qubitekk’s scientist have worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where they gathered knowledge and expertise for what would become Qubitekk. Describe in detail about the work culture and the values that drive your company. The values of the company are rooted in basic quantum research and the application of quantum physics to improve the security of the nation’s critical infrastructure. Our quantum lab is abuzz with research on entanglement, entangled photon sources, single photon detectors and other quantum science applications. Our work culture is focused on enabling collaborative design between quantum physicists and engineers and the premise that the problems we are solving are not impossible they are just really hard problems. Our company is driven by the need to find solutions to the most critical cybersecurity problems using quantum physics.
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Dr. Duncan Earl President & CTO
Our quantum-enabled solutions provide capabilities and products never before thought possible.
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2022's Top 10 Disruptive Companies in Quantum Technology
What marketing activities do you implement to reach out to your potential customers? Qubitekk is leading the global charge to create and drive the new global quantum-safe standards at the International Telecom Union (ITU) and Quantum Alliance Initiative (QAI). We also work closely with our partners like GE, customers like the US Navy, and even our competitors to answer our US government and other governments call to find a path to replace the World’s current encryption and communication technologies that are vulnerable to a quantum attack. Qubitekk is working with US Department of Energy (DOE) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to develop new systems to protect the electric smart grid without a forklift upgrade to enable them to be quantum-safe. We are active members of AFCEA, QAI, QED-C, and the NDIA. What is your idea of Corporate Social Responsibility? Qubitekk’s corporate role in social responsibility is driven by a need to protect the nations critical infrastructure thereby ensuring the United States standard of living, economic wellbeing and international leadership role. What technologies are you leveraging to make your solutions resourceful? It is all about quantum entanglement and optical physics. Qubitekk leverages the quantum sciences with a focus on quantum entangled photon cryptography. Qubitekk is the leader in third-generation quantum mechanics-based cybersecurity solutions. The first-generation systems were R&D-centric QKD (quantum key distribution) systems assembled on optical tables. The second-generation systems were weak-light QKD systems augmenting classical encryption solutions to maintain cybersecurity. Qubitekk is the first to enable a complete quantum entanglement QKD solution to protect 5G mobile and the electric grid. Leveraging quantum entanglement also provides a big leap forward over both weak-light, single photon QKD and classical encryption techniques. What are your company’s future aspirations? What strategies are you undertaking to achieve those goals? Qubitekk focuses on multiple industries where we believe we have the greatest chance to achieve our vision and protect the nation’s critical infrastructure. Qubitekk’s systems and quantum key distribution (QKD) solutions create quantum-protected communication networks for securing industrial control systems, eliminating man in the middle attacks and reducing or eliminating key and certificate management.
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Utility and Energy Delivery: The electric industry is one of the most critical industries in the world. Without electricity provided by the world’s largest machine, the economy of the world would grind to a halt. Qubitekk’s QKD solution protects smart grid and legacy systems communications. 5G Communications: As 5G networks become more prevalent, the protection of the front and backhaul communications is extremely important. Our research is predicated on securing the communications in the fiber networks needed to make 5G successful. Defense: Qubitekk is dedicated to the defense of our nation. Our systems can be used in satellite-to-satellite and satellite-to-ground communications. We can provide security for defense systems communicating via fiber and free-space applications. Our systems can provide communications security for smart depot and smart port applications. Testimonials from the Clienteles “Qubitekk is one of the most innovative and proficient companies working in the quantum technology space today. Where Qubitekk goes, is where the future of the quantum revolution is headed, as well.” — Arthur Herman, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Director, Quantum Alliance Initiative “Qubitekk is the global leader in third-generation quantum entanglement encryption fiber based systems. Qubitekk’s American designed and built platforms will pave the path for “Quantum Safe” 5G and “Smart Grid” networks.” — Greg McGregor, CEO, BrightApps, LLC About the Leader: Dr. Duncan Earl is the President and CTO of Qubitekk, Inc. Prior to starting Qubitekk, Dr. Earl spent 20 years conducting energy and defense-related R&D at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the fields of quantum sources, quantum computing, and quantum cryptography. Dr. Earl is a serial entrepreneur with numerous patents and technical publications.
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