TechCentral Webinar: The post quantum computing challenge
So what happens when quantum manages to crack the ‘uncrackable’?
IrelandQCI Project Lead Dr Deirdre Kilbane, Director of Research at Walton Institute at South East Technological University, took part in a fascinating webinar hosted by Niall Kitson at Tech Central on 17th April 2025, to discuss this very topic.
Joined by Marc O’Regan, EMEA CTO, Dell Technologies Ireland; John Woods CTO, The Algorand Foundation; John O’Donoghue, Equinix Senior Global Solutions Architect, and Prof Felix Binder, Assistant Professor Quantum Physics, Trinity College Dublin, the panel deep dived into the bleeding edge of post quantum computing and how we can prepare for a new paradigm in security.
The panel discussed the bleeding edge of post quantum computing and how you can prepare for a new paradigm in security. Topics delved into included what could happen when quantum chips by powered by a topological core, which has the capacity to accelerate scientific discovery, and interfere with security standards. A fascinating conversation ensued, with Dr Kilbane highlighting the benefits of a national quantum communication network for Ireland, and Europe, as part of the EuroQCI initiative.
More podcasts by TechCentral can be found here: https://www.techcentral.ie/
IrelandQCI
IrelandQCI ‘Building a National Quantum Communication Infrastructure for Ireland’ incorporates integrating innovative and secure quantum devices and systems into conventional communication infrastructure. The project aim is establishing an infrastructure for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a method of communication based on sharing encryption keys using quantum physics in a manner that boosts security, which will be distributed over the existing classical network, creating a quantum communication network that will provide a huge increase to information security in Ireland.
Funding bodies
Co-funded by the European Commission, European Space Agency and the Irish Government’s Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, IrelandQCI is the €10 million Irish project within the EU-wide Quantum Communications Infrastructure (EuroQCI) programme.
IrelandQCI is one of several across the EU which sees the European Commission working with 27 Member States towards the deployment of a secure quantum communication infrastructure spanning the EU. This project has received funding from the European Union’s DIGITAL Europe Programme under grant agreement No. 101091520.
Consortium partners
Waterford’s Walton Institute, at South East Technological University (SETU), is leading the IrelandQCI project on behalf of CONNECT Research Ireland Centre for Future Networks and Communications, with partners specialising in quantum technologies at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and University College Cork (UCC)’s Tyndall National Institute, with support from University College Dublin (UCD) and Maynooth University (MU) and the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) at University of Galway. HEAnet and ESB Telecoms are also key partners in the project, as the quantum communications network is being built across the dark fibre optic network of ESB Telecoms parallel to the existing HEAnet backbone between Dublin, Waterford and Cork.