BTQ Applied sciences, a worldwide quantum know-how firm targeted on securing mission-critical networks, is happy to announce it has signed a USD 15 million funding and improvement settlement with ICTK, certainly one of Korea’s main safe aspect (SE) chip producer.
This partnership goals to handle the rising cybersecurity threats introduced on by the appearance of quantum computing, with a selected concentrate on safeguarding the digital asset and stablecoin markets. It additionally enhances Korea’s broader efforts to speed up the deployment of quantum-safe applied sciences throughout defence, finance and communications, reinforcing each commercialisation velocity and self-reliance. Via the co-development of a quantum-secure safe aspect chip, often called Quantum Compute in Reminiscence (QCIM), BTQ and ICTK will mix BTQ’s post-quantum cryptography (PQC) know-how and mental property with ICTK’s confirmed SE design and manufacturing capabilities to ship a commercially deployable, quantum-resistant {hardware} platform for next-generation monetary safety.
Underneath the collaboration, the businesses have entered into two key agreements:
- Growth Settlement: Joint design, validation, tape-outs, certification and productisation of the QCIM chip.
- Funding Settlement: BTQ’s direct fairness funding into ICTK, coupled with ICTK’s in-kind contribution by way of cost-sharing and preferential deployment of producing capability, aligning each corporations’ industrial pursuits and accelerating co-development and go-to-market execution.
- Commercialisation and Gross sales: The partnership will use ICTK’s established buyer base throughout Korea’s telecommunications and monetary sectors to allow early adoption of PQC-enabled safe chips. The businesses additionally plan to increase joint commercialisation into worldwide markets the place demand for quantum-safe semiconductors is quickly rising throughout defence, IoT, AI and monetary companies.
As a KOSDAQ-listed secure-element chief, ICTK’s dedication supplies robust third-party validation of QCIM’s industrial potential. ICTK is aligning its next-generation secure-element roadmap with QCIM, committing important in-kind sources and preferential manufacturing capability to convey the platform to market at scale.
The QCIM chip is being designed for high-assurance use circumstances, together with chilly and {hardware} wallets for digital property, cell authentication and fintech safety, Web of Issues (IoT) endpoints, cost gateways and defence methods. By embedding PQC on the silicon layer, QCIM goals to ship end-to-end quantum-secure id, signing, attestation and safe storage for next-generation monetary and industrial networks. This joint improvement represents a sensible and speedy response to the hacking dangers which can be anticipated to surge with the emergence of quantum computing, offering the digital asset and stablecoin industries with a tangible path to future-proof their infrastructures. It additionally helps nationwide targets to safe defence-grade communications and infrastructure below Korea’s know-how roadmap.
QCIM will incorporate BTQ’s CASH cryptographic acceleration as its engine for each classical and post-quantum primitives, offering companions with a sensible path to quantum-safe upgrades on the identical silicon whereas sustaining present buyer workflows unchanged. Current testing reveals as much as 5 instances quicker AES throughput in comparison with main safe {hardware}, reaching round a million digital signatures per second for real-time authentication, with vitality consumption below one microjoule per cryptographic operation, and a compact footprint appropriate for digital asset wallets, cell authentication, Web of Issues units, funds and defence methods.
“This settlement places quantum-safe safety on the middle of the worldwide silicon ecosystem,” stated Olivier Roussy Newton, the CEO of BTQ. “By combining BTQ’s QCIM platform, powered by our CASH acceleration, with ICTK’s secure-element experience, we give {hardware} makers a transparent path to embed post-quantum safety at scale. Simply as essential, ICTK’s resolution as a KOSDAQ-listed producer to anchor its next-generation platform on QCIM and commit materials sources is highly effective exterior validation. The result’s silicon that meets efficiency, vitality and certification necessities, stays upgradeable as requirements advance, and drops into defence, vital infrastructure, IoT units, funds, cell authentication, AI and digital property with out altering how individuals use them.”
Jungwon Lee, the CEO of ICTK, stated: “ICTK has a protracted observe document of safe aspect innovation throughout telecommunications and monetary companies. By teaming with BTQ, we’ll combine post-quantum safety natively into our next-gen SE platform, enabling prospects to undertake quantum-safe cryptography with the efficiency, certification and supply-chain scale they anticipate from ICTK.”
ICTK is recognised as Korea’s No. 1 safe aspect chip firm, with intensive partnerships throughout telecommunications and monetary sectors, together with robust ties with cell community operators reminiscent of LG U+. The partnership underscores BTQ’s enlargement in Korea’s quantum safety market and aligns with BTQ’s broader technique to commercialise its Quantum-secure Infrastructure Stack throughout regulated finance and high-assurance communications.
Along with co-development, BTQ and ICTK are exploring collaboration in mass manufacturing, check and world standardisation, together with engagement with worldwide requirements our bodies reminiscent of ITU and ISO – with each events contributing sources and capital in complementary kinds. The businesses intend to pursue related safety and funds certifications to assist fast buyer integration.
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