Galaxia Park, Wallonia – On 7 February, IDELUX officially inaugurated the Quantum Laboratory at Galaxia Park, now proudly named “Gilles Brassard” in honour of the legendary Canadian professor Gilles Brassard (Université de Montréal), one of the pioneers of quantum cryptography alongside Charles Bennett (BB84 protocol).
As a leading specialist in space engineering and cybersecurity, Starion was invited to present its interest in such an infrastructure, which is designed to support research and development projects enhancing the security of global communications.
“As a company with over 30 years of expertise in securing satellite infrastructures and data, Starion has been exploring quantum key exchange technologies for years,” said the company’s Managing Director, Emmanuel Adant. “With the new initiative ‘Quantum Shield’ led by Starion, we are taking a concrete step towards securing critical communications against evolving cyber threats.”
Led by Starion, in close cooperation with Nexova, a Belgian cybersecurity provider, Quantum Shield is a strategic collaboration between leading European players in the fields of quantum communication and cybersecurity from industry, institutions and research organisations. The initiative aims to develop a secure end-to-end communication service based on quantum distribution key (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) technologies. It is designed to be open and flexible, allowing it to evolve with future cybersecurity needs and to include new partners.
The IDELUX Quantum Lab at Galaxia Park will serve as a testing and validation hub for the Quantum Shield initiative, accelerating the transition of theoretical models into real-world applications.
“This lab represents a critical first step in establishing Wallonia as a major player in quantum-safe communications,” said Emmanuel Adant. “Thanks to support from ESA, the European Commission, Belspo and the Walloon Region, we are building here the future of digital sovereignty.” The proximity of the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) European Space Security and Education Centre (ESEC) in Redu illustrates the interconnection between terrestrial and space infrastructures – the two being necessary to distribute the quantum keys.
Starion draws in particular on the experience and achievements of ESA’s INT-UQKD project, started in September 2022 and piloted by Starion Luxembourg, the system’s architect and prime contractor, and responsible for its deployment.
“The synergies we are developing at Galaxia will accelerate innovation and turn cutting-edge research into concrete security solutions for the users,” Emmanuel Adant emphasised. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration and building a more secure digital future together.”
More information
Find coverage of the event (in French) at: Le centre de cybersécurité de Transinne est unique en Europe
