As reported by idw (Informationsdienst Wissenschaft).
From the press release:
“A €4.9 million Horizon Europe project has launched to develop quantum-resistant secure boot mechanisms for critical national infrastructure, combining novel hardware architectures with post-quantum cryptography in operational demonstrators.
The FORTRESS (Post-Quantum/Traditional Hybrid Cryptographic Secure Boot) project brings together six European partners; Eurescom (coordinator), PQShield, CyberHive, Codasip, eShard, and Universität der Bundeswehr München, to address the imminent threat quantum computers pose to RSA/ECC-based secure boot processes that underpin modern cybersecurity.”
The project pages provide more details:
“FORTRESS aims to develop a scalable and efficient hybrid secure boot architecture. It will design a flexible Root of Trust, integrating both traditional and post-quantum algorithms while exploring trade-offs between security, performance, and cost. The project will focus on hardware-software co-design principles, enabling diverse platforms – embedded systems, edge devices, and Critical National Infrastructure – to transition to quantum-resistant architectures seamlessly. Additionally, the project will engage industry stakeholders to align with regulatory and standardisation efforts, ensuring practical deployment and maximum impact. By developing a critical building block for a wide range of applications, FORTRESS will safeguard Europe’s digital infrastructure, fostering resilience and leadership in the post-quantum era.”
More information and origin of text: https://idw-online.de/en/news860656
Project page: https://pq-fortress.eu/