The Canadian Space Agency has awarded QEYnet $1.4 million in funding to demonstrate its quantum key distribution technology in orbit. The demonstration will showcase the technology’s ability to generate new encryption keys in space, establish QKD links between various locations on Earth and validate its overall viability.
QEYnet aims to use QKD to create encryption keys that are “mathematically guaranteed” to prevent undetected eavesdropping. This technology addresses a significant challenge satellites face, as their keys can be compromised after launch. With its solution, QEYnet offers to maximize the use of photons to generate these keys, ensuring the continued security of communication satellites.
CSA said the funding will help protect Canadian public, private and commercial data against cyberthreats, especially at a time when nearly every transaction and device is connected to the internet.
In addition to QEYnet, the space agency has also extended funding to two other space technology projects: Mission Control’s Machine Learning Operations for Production EdgeAI in Space and StarSpec Technologies’ InspireSAT Constellations On-Demand.
The funding opportunity is part of the Canadian government’s increasing investments to enhance its space capabilities. In October, Francois-Philippe Champagne, the minister of innovation, science and industry, announced a $14 million investment in Kepler Communications. The grant is expected to support the development of the $203 million Aether high-speed data relay constellation.