February 27, 2019

Solving cybersecurity for quantum computing with the Sorbonne

With the rapid development of quantum computing and how this will create processors that are significantly faster than the ones we use today, security issues about potential attacks on quantum cryptographic systems are raising concerns around the world.

Since 2012, research collaborations in quantum cybersecurity between the Sorbonne University and the University of Wollongong have grown from strength to strength. This partnership has become a powerful bridge between the two universities and is driven by two researchers, Dr Thomas Plantard at UOW with a focus on building cryptographic protocols, and Prof Jean-Claude Bajard using the Sorbonne’s strong capability in studying mathematical object and applying computer arithmetic improvements (Residue Number System) to improve the computation efficiency in lattice based cryptosystems.

The partnership has led to a number of students from the Sorbonne coming to UOW to pursue doctorates at our , led by Prof Willy Susilo. It also recently resulted in a collaborative funding grant for three years (EUR36,000 and AUD55,000) for the project Mathematics and Algorithms for Cryptographic Advanced Objects (MACAO), which will pave the way to expand future collaboration and apply for more grants in the future.