Chilas Secures €1M To Advance Quantum-Safe Communications Through QUARTERNEXT

PhotonDelta ecosystem partner Chilas Lasers joins a €10M European initiative to develop compact, quantum-secure communication systems, with consortium partners set to meet in Barcelona.

PhotonDelta ecosystem partner Chilas Lasers, an Enschede-based manufacturer of integrated photonics-based tunable lasers, has been awarded €1M in EU funding as part of QUARTERNEXT, a four-year European project focused on strengthening the security of Europe’s critical communications infrastructure.

Supported by a total of €10M in funding through the EU’s Digital Europe Programme, QUARTERNEXT brings together six European partners: Luxquanta, Quside, Chilas Lasers, fragmentiX, Telefónica Innovación Digital (TID) and the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.

Together, the consortium aims to develop compact, interoperable quantum key distribution (QKD) systems designed for industrial deployment and European security certification.

The Role of Integrated Photonics in Quantum-Safe Communications
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, protecting sensitive information and critical communications networks is an important priority for Europe.

Quantum key distribution offers an approach to securing communications by using the properties of quantum mechanics to establish encryption keys and detect potential interception attempts.

Within QUARTERNEXT, Chilas will contribute its expertise in tunable, narrow-linewidth laser technology, adapting its integrated photonic lasers for use in quantum-secure communication systems.

Stable, precisely controlled light is essential for continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV-QKD). By integrating these laser capabilities onto photonic chips, Chilas aims to support the development of smaller, more compact systems suitable for deployment beyond laboratory environments.

The project will also contribute to Europe’s broader ambitions for secure communications infrastructure. QUARTERNEXT supports the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative and collaborates with the Nostradamus initiative on testing and certification.

The technologies developed through the project will be tested in operational telecommunications networks, including Telefónica’s TEFQCI infrastructure, helping demonstrate their suitability for real-world applications.

By developing quantum communication components within Europe, the consortium also aims to strengthen European technological sovereignty and reduce dependencies on external suppliers.

Working Together to Secure Europe’s Communications
Dimitri Geskus, CTO of Chilas Lasers, highlights the importance of collaboration in bringing quantum-secure communications into practical use:

“Cyber attacks on Europe’s infrastructure are becoming more frequent and more sophisticated. Protecting our data by using quantum technology means preparing now. We’re proud to contribute our laser technology to QUARTERNEXT, working side by side with leading European companies and research institutes: Luxquanta building the quantum-secure communication systems, Quside creating the secure keys that protect them, fragmentiX safeguarding stored data, and Telefónica and AIT making sure it all works in real networks. Together we can turn this technology into protection Europe can rely on.” - Dimitri Geskus, CTO, Chilas Lasers

QUARTERNEXT Partners to Meet in Barcelona
On 2 November 2026, the six QUARTERNEXT partners will meet in person for the first time in Barcelona for the project’s official kick-off meeting.

Representing Chilas will be Wilson Tsong, the company’s project lead for QUARTERNEXT, and Albert van Rees, laser technology expert.

The meeting marks an important step as the consortium moves from the initial project launch towards the practical development, integration and validation of the technologies required for quantum-safe communications.

For Chilas, the meeting will provide an opportunity to collaborate directly with the other consortium partners and further define how its tunable, narrow-linewidth laser technology will be integrated into the project’s quantum communication systems.

QUARTERNEXT builds on the earlier QUARTER project, in which Chilas also participated, continuing the development of European capabilities in quantum-secure communications.