Hanwool Materials Science Acquires KISTI's Hybrid Quantum Security Technology... Strengthening Competitiveness in Quantum Cryptography Commercialization

From the left, Eonhyuk Lee, Director of Quantum Communication Research Center at KISTI, and Hyojung Shim, Director of Hanwool Materials Science Research Institute.

Hanwool Materials Science is set to strengthen its foundation for the commercialization of next-generation quantum cryptography communications by acquiring hybrid quantum security technology from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI). The company aims to accelerate its entry into the high-security network market by securing the capability to develop solutions that combine existing quantum key distribution (QKD) technology with post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

Hanwool Materials Science announced on July 1 that it has acquired "hybrid quantum security technology" from KISTI to implement next-generation quantum cryptography communications.

The technology transferred this time is based on two domestic registered patents developed by KISTI's Quantum Communication Research Center. It is designed to combine QKD and PQC, as well as efficiently manage quantum key resources, ensuring both a high level of security and practical applicability in real-world service environments.

Notably, the technology transfer also includes a "relay path determination technology" that optimizes data transmission routes in quantum cryptography communication networks. This technology analyzes the status of quantum key holdings within the network in real time to select the most efficient delivery path, enabling effective utilization of limited quantum key resources.

As a result, it is expected to contribute to improved communication performance and operational efficiency in large-scale quantum cryptography communication service environments in the future.

Hanwool Materials Science has already secured QKD-based encryption key generation and distribution technology. It is also in the final stages of developing communication technology based on National Intelligence Service-certified encryption modules (KCMVP) and a quantum key management system (QKMS) for commercial service deployment.

The company is continuing its collaboration with the KISTI Quantum Communication Research Team to supply the "Quantum Cryptographic Key Interworking and Quantum Cryptography Service Equipment Construction Project." In this process, Hanwool is developing an integrated quantum cryptography communication system that combines its own optical transmission equipment and quantum cryptography module (X4CMS) with HEQA quantum key distribution equipment, a brand developed by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI).

The acquisition of this patented QKD·PQC combination technology is expected to further enhance Hanwool Materials Science’s competitiveness in quantum cryptography communication solutions. The company anticipates that applying this technology to optical transmission equipment will enable the implementation of various functions required in quantum cryptography communication networks, such as intermediate relay, redundancy, and key resource optimization.

Based on this technology transfer, Hanwool Materials Science plans to move beyond its existing QKD-centric business and expand its technological domain to hybrid quantum security-based commercial solutions that combine QKD and PQC.

Through this, the company intends to reduce the cost burden of building quantum cryptography communication networks and provide stable redundancy solutions, thereby expanding its penetration into markets that require the highest levels of security, such as public institutions, defense, finance, and telecommunications.

A representative from Hanwool Materials Science stated, "This technology transfer is an important foundation for advancing our optical transmission equipment, quantum cryptography modules, and QKMS technology, in combination with KISTI’s hybrid quantum security technology, into commercially viable quantum cryptography communication solutions," adding, "Based on cooperation with KISTI, we will actively pursue the development and commercialization of next-generation quantum security solutions that offer both stability and cost-effectiveness."

With the acquisition of KISTI's technology, Hanwool Materials Science plans to strengthen its competitiveness in hybrid quantum security technology that encompasses both QKD and PQC, aiming to secure a leading position in the next-generation high-security communications market.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.