Katia Gallo, Professor of Photonics, has always been fascinated by the combination of the laws of physics and engineering. She currently coordinates Sweden’s participation in a European initiative to build a quantum communication network.
“We are developing an infrastructure in Sweden that will eventually be linked with those of other EU member states,” she says.
The Swedish initiative, the National Quantum Communication Infrastructure (NQCIS), which is led by Gallo, was inaugurated earlier this year. Several other universities and a few companies are involved in the research project. The pilot facility at KTH will eventually serve as a test bed for companies, public authorities and organisations — a place to test and develop new products and services, and to explore how quantum communication could transform the way they work and communicate.
The project is being developed in two phases: first, each country will develop its own infrastructure, and later these networks will be interconnected and linked to satellites.
“Quantum communication is about building resilience, guaranteeing cybersecurity, strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, and fostering knowledge exchange with other nations, “says Gallo.
