Public Funding for Quantum Dice Limited

The need for truly random keys for encryption purposes is ever-growing. A technology that can provide such numbers and can certify them at high operating speed is sought for in many applications, ranging from securing data-in-motion in telecommunications networks to securing mobile payments from smartphones and other high-end Internet of Things devices. More specifically, the fast-growing adoption of connected systems and devices in enterprise, industrial and critical national infrastructure applications, along with the sophistication of cyberattacks, is increasing the demand for robust reliable cybersecurity infrastructure. Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) leverage the inherent randomness of quantum processes to generate true random numbers. Quantum Dice is commercialising an innovative way of generating secure random numbers from a quantum process, which was developed at the University of Oxford. This innovation is based on a newly developed and patent-protected protocol which allows the generation of provably secure encryption keys. The main objective of this project is to use our patented technology to create the a QRNG system that is ideally suited for the harsh environments and demanding requirements of the above-mentioned enterprise and industrial IoT sector.

The need for truly random keys for encryption purposes is ever-growing. A technology that can provide such numbers and can certify them at high operating speed is sought for in many applications, ranging from securing data-in-motion in telecommunications networks to securing mobile payments from smartphones and other high-end Internet of Things devices. More specifically, the fast-growing adoption of connected systems and devices in enterprise, industrial and critical national infrastructure applications, along with the sophistication of cyberattacks, is increasing the demand for robust reliable cybersecurity infrastructure. Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) leverage the inherent randomness of quantum processes to generate true random numbers. Quantum Dice is commercialising an innovative way of generating secure random numbers from a quantum process, which was developed at the University of Oxford. This innovation is based on a newly developed and patent-protected protocol which allows the generation of provably secure encryption keys. The main objective of this project is to use our patented technology to create the a QRNG system that is ideally suited for the harsh environments and demanding requirements of the above-mentioned enterprise and industrial IoT sector.

Random number generators (RNGs) are used for a myriad of different applications, ranging from encryption to non-cryptographic use cases such as stochastic simulations. However, the quality of RNGs is often overlooked but can significantly improve the accuracy and time to solution of stochastic modelling methodologies in addition to the effectiveness of encryption schemes. Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) improve on the commonplace pseudo- and quasi-random generators due to the intrinsically unpredictable nature of quantum physical processes. We will combine a QRNG from Quantum Dice with the Hartree Centre's Monte Carlo capabilities and demonstrate their usage on test cases relevant to the Financial Services sector under the guidance of HSBC.

Quantum technology can enable highly-secure communications through satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) which exploits UK expertise in miniature satellites. The space approach mitigates current limitations of terrestrial QKD networks: the relatively high price-tag of infrastructure as compared to miniature satellites, and restrictions on range resulting from terrestrial QKD's fibre-based networks. Our vision for this project is to develop a crucial component required for (satellite-)QKD, a space-suitable and high-rate Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG). The focus of such R&D will be novel globally. This project's key objective is to develop and test a compact, lightweight and low-power consuming QRNG package that can provide reliably secure random numbers at a high enough bitrate for by satellite-QKD developers of at least 400Mbps. The main area of focus is on the environmental testing of such a QRNG device, to ensure that the QRNG is robust enough to withstand the extreme harshness of the space environment. This will be accomplished by leveraging modern integrated photonics and integrated electronics methods to produce a deployable QRNG subsystem that can begin addressing the growing market need for space-suitable sources of entropy. The innovation behind this project is in two parts. First, Quantum Dice is developing an innovative way of generating secure and high rates of random numbers from a quantum process, which was developed at the University of Oxford. This innovation is based on a newly developed and patent-protected protocol called source-device independent self-certification (DISC) which allows for the distillation of quantum entropy into verified random numbers while also accounting for the sources of internal classical noise in the hardware source. The latter classical noise can compromise the security of the output and has in-fact been reported to be the root cause of many security failures in currently-used random number generators. Second, the results of the series of space-environmental testing done by Craft Prospect will be innovative research that is crucial to quality a QRNG for deployment in a space-QKD demonstration mission, after which the QRNG will gain space heritage and hence space-qualification, which is normally both a costly and time-consuming process.

The vision behind QUANTUM4IOT is to investigate how Quantum Random Number Generator's (QRNG) can be used to secure low cost Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The key objectives are to investigate how this technology can be used to address two pressing cryptography issues. The first is entropy depletion where attacks can affect the generation of secure keys and therefor the effectiveness of cryptographic algorithms. The second is how techniques such as Quantum Key Distribution and Post Quantum Cryptography can be combined with QRNGs to secure and authenticate resource constrained IoT devices. The main area of focus is the use of Quantum Technology to solve cryptography problems for low cost devices. Estimates suggest that over the next two years there will be over 30 billion connected devices and they will be generating 2.5 quintillion (10^18) bytes of data every day. Many of these devices have long operational lives and therefore can be subject to Quantum attack once such techniques become available. The project will combine the industrial and academic expertise of Ioetec Ltd and Quantum Dice Ltd to investigate hybrid solutions utilising quantum and conventional cryptographic technology.

Danish physicist, Neils Bohr, said "it is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future." However, to efficiently commercialise Quantum Dice's Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) technology, the company must have reliable forecasts on countries, market sectors and form factors to inform its commercialization and product strategy.  Quantum Dice will undertake a market research study for QRNGs. Primary market research with industry input will be conducted over twelve months, to be then used to road map future markets and establish where and how the supply chains and scale up in quantum random number generation technology will occur. It is anticipated that this approach will guide Quantum Dice's routes to market and will map out how scale up and supply chains can be established. It is anticipated that this approach can be translated to other emerging quantum technologies from within the UK. Quantum Dice will build a sophisticated market model based on a detailed understanding of the fundamental macro market drivers using a technique called Scenario Planning (Lindgren, 2017). The Scenario Planning process will allow an explicit macro view of the future and build a QRNG forecast model based on assumptions consistent with that view. The second part of the project is to build a market model based on volume forecasts for QRNGs across multiple countries, market sectors, and form factors.

Data is one of the world's most valuable commodities -- affecting every person, every company, every government, everywhere. Most of the world's cybersecurity infrastructure is based on the exchange and use of digital cryptographic keys. Random number generators (RNGs) are essential components of this existing infrastructure, and newer technologies such as quantum key distribution. Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) are devices that utilise the inherent randomness in natural physical processes to create random numbers, assured unique to each device if the process is truly quantum, and are one of the first practical implementations of quantum technologies. A key differentiator of quantum RNGs over other conventional pseudo RNGs, crucial for all security applications, is that identically manufactured and prepared pseudo RNGs are certain to produce the same random sequences, while QRNGs are not. A method for providing authoritative assessment of the unique randomness produced by QRNGs does not currently exist. This project will address that need, thereby overcoming this important technological barrier to their commercial and industrial exploitation, and maximising UK return from quantum technology research in this field. Current tests for random number generators (RNGs), based on numerical analysis of their outputs, give information about the statistical properties of the output randomness but cannot assure that the output is unknown to others. Stronger assessment is possible for QRNGs, since in addition to numerical analysis to assure randomness, the physical process used to create the output can be modelled and physically tested. Assessing the "quantumness" of the process also assesses the privacy of the output. This project will take QRNGs that are either already on the market or near-market prototypes and implement this assessment approach. It will thereby provide the expertise and capability for creating a UK assessment process for QRNGs.