Pre-commercial Public Purchase of QKD Systems (Quantum Key Distribution)
Center for Industrial Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI)
Year: 2023
Application deadlines: Start: 9/21/23 - End: 11/3/23
Strategic plan: Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia
Budget: 151 250 000 €
Instruction body: Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial y la Innovación (CDTI)
Scheme: Licitación
: PERTE Aeroespacial
: Pilar Espacial
: ACT 08
The R&D services contract aims to develop innovative solutions involving the development of two prototypes of experimental payloads and their associated ground segments that will constitute complete end-to-end systems of quantum key generation and distribution (QKD System – “Quantum Key Distribution”), all with a view to the availability of secure communications technologies by Public Administrations and other operators.
These systems are not currently commercially available, and therefore will require the development of new technological elements, as well as the adaptation to the spatial environment of technologies such as photon sources, quantum random number generators, telescopes for optical communications compatible with the transmission of quantum states and processors for the distilling of keys received by quantum channel, among others. In addition, a new ground segment will be needed to control and manage the innovative quantum key distribution service and its potential integration with the future European Euro-QCI network.
Specifically, this contract is intended for the development of two payloads and their associated ground segments: one destined to be embarked on a geostationary satellite (GEO) and another destined to be embarked on a low-orbit satellite (LEO). The detailed description of the subject matter of the contract, insufficient means and other factors to be taken into account have been described in the Contract Justification Report.
In this contract, the value of the R&D services shall be the greater part of the tender price.
A technological jump from TRL 3-4 to TRL 7-TRL 8 is required, which is an advance in the current state of the art of technologies.
Lot 1 “Pre-commercial public purchase to contract R&D services for the development of a satellite payload prototype for quantum key distribution (QKD) from geostationary orbit (GEO)”.
Lot 2 “Pre-commercial public purchase to contract R&D services for the development of a satellite payload prototype for quantum key distribution (QKD) from low orbit (LEO).
