DE-QOR

DE-QOR was a German collaborative research project aimed at addressing the cybersecurity risks posed by quantum computing. The three-year initiative was funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, grant number: 16KISQ055) and led by Adva Network Security.

The project set out to advance existing QKD approaches based on coherent optical transmission technology — specifically Continuous Variable QKD (CV-QKD) — targeting quantum-secure communication over fiber optic networks in metro and wide-area network environments.

A key feature of the project was its FPGA-based real-time digital signal processing, which ensured high performance and efficiency while maintaining flexibility for future upgrades. By leveraging commercial off-the-shelf technology and standardized interfaces, the project demonstrated that modular QKD solutions can deliver scalable and cost-effective protection.

The project brought together leading academic institutions — Leibniz University Hannover, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology — alongside industrial partners with clearly defined technical responsibilities.
Microwave Photonics GmbH was responsible for the development of a Single-Channel Coherent Receiver — a critical hardware component at the heart of the CV-QKD system. This receiver enables the precise detection of quantum-encoded optical signals, making it an essential building block for the reliable and high-performance operation of the entire transmission chain

Overall, DE-QOR successfully proved the feasibility of an open, disaggregated CV-QKD solution by combining the technology and expertise of its academic and industrial partners — establishing a strong foundation for future certification and broad deployment of quantum-safe encryption