SETU's Walton Institute leads way in multi-million euro TransEuro OGS project 

Waterford’s Walton Institute at South East Technological University has been announced in leading the national ecosystem project in Ireland relating to TransEuroOGS - a new research and deployment project in the EuroQCI initiative.

The project, which has a budget of approximately €18 million, is co-funded by four member state national Governments and the European Union.

In Ireland the project is co-funded by the Government’s Department of Culture, Communications and Sport up to €5.7 million.

A spokesperson for Walton Institute at SETU said TransEuroOGS will provide a quantum-secure space-to-ground network interface for satellite-based communication with a total of eight interoperable optical ground stations (OGS) in Ireland, Germany, Greece and Luxembourg. 

As part of Europe’s EuroQCI initiative, an EU-wide quantum communications infrastructure programme involving all participating EU member states, the TransEuroOGS project will address challenges to secure transnational communication in the EU by utilising the unique security principles of quantum technologies, especially in quantum key distribution (QKD). 

In Ireland, Walton Institute leads the national ecosystem, which includes Galway-based industry partner Mbryonics. 

TransEuroOGS forms phase two of Ireland’s participation in the QCI (quantum communication infrastructure) programme and the Irish element of the project will involve the development of a mobile OGS to conduct feasibility studies for future fixed OGS sites and will also connect to the EuroQCI Eagle-1 satellite, SAGA and other future missions. 

Speaking about the project, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, said the funding will support a 42-month long project to develop a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)-secured satellite ground station in Ireland by leading researchers and innovators based in Waterford and Galway. 

"This funding provides for the building of key indigenous skills and capacities, helping both to strengthen research in quantum communications and support the growth of innovative Irish companies," he said.

"As an island nation, QKD-secure satellite communication will be essential for Ireland’s future participation in highly secure pan-European connectivity services," he added.

"It is becoming increasingly important to build new quantum communication technologies and networks to allow for the transmission of highly sensitive data and to ensure our networks’ long-term security."

Minister O'Donovan also said the funding will provide for development of secure connectivity services to address existing cybersecurity concerns and safeguard "the fundamental sovereignty" of communication across the EU contributing to Ireland’s security, defence and diplomatic communications.

Dr. Deirdre Kilbane, Director of Research at Walton Institute, SETU, and Irish National Coordinator of TransEuroOGS, said: “Walton Institute at SETU is proud to lead national efforts in the TransEuroOGS project to secure sensitive data and critical infrastructure from cyberattacks. Alongside our partners in Greece, Germany, and Luxembourg we are building a network of optical ground stations that will seamlessly link earth and space to deliver quantum-secure, cross-border connectivity across Europe.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Torsten Siebert, central coordinator of the TransEuroOGS project from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF, Germany, said: “It is a privilege and pleasure to collaborate with all of my colleagues in Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany and Greece for taking on the challenges involved in linking the space and terrestrial segment in EuroQCI with a network of optical ground stations ranging over the northwest to southeast of Europe."

"In our joint work to demonstrate and establish quantum-secure communication across the geography of the continent, the collaborations in TransEuroOGS stand for the potential we have in all of Europe, when we unite our valuable resources in research and industry," added Mr Siebert. 

John Mackey, CEO, Mbryonics, said: "Securing the TransEuroOGS contract with the European Commission for the EuroQCI initiative is a watershed moment for Mbryonics and a proud milestone for Ireland as it steps into the EU Presidency. By designing and building this advanced quantum-enabled optical ground station, we are not just delivering cutting-edge hardware; we are anchoring a vital pillar of Europe's sovereign, quantum-secure future. This capability will safeguard critical national and pan-European communications against the cyber threats of tomorrow, ensuring European technological independence and protecting our shared digital infrastructure on a global scale."

The geographical distribution of the participating OGS sites is distinct in its range: it spans from northwestern to central and southeastern Europe, encompassing Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany, and Greece, and includes locations on islands and the mainland, as well as in rural and urban areas.

This encompasses highly diverse metrological conditions in varying local ecosystems together with the coordination of multiple cross-border constellations for satellite-based quantum key distribution among the four participating Member States.

With this unique diversity of geographic locations and local ecosystems, the project will unite the developments in optical ground stations (OGS) and their linkage to local terrestrial fibre networks as an interface between the space and terrestrial segment of EuroQCI. 

Co-Funded by the EU and national governments the total project budget amounts to approximately €18 million, with co-funding from the European Commission’s CEF Digital as well as complementary national co-funding from the four participating member states. The project will take three and a half years to complete.

The TransEuroOGS project kicked off with a consortium meeting in Berlin and Jena recently, where the group visited an existing OGS. The plenary saw a coming-together of some 30 attendees representing 15 partner universities, industry members and research organisations as well as two national space agencies and two national ministries in the project.