Quantum communications, a strategic area
in Galicia according to Nature.
Nature magazine focuses on Galicia:
You can read the full article here: Spanish region emerges as scientific powerhouse
Pushing the boundaries of quantum communications
A strategic area in Galicia is quantum technologies. The region hosts research infrastructure such as QMIO, the quantum computer of the Galician Supercomputing Centre (CESGA), which, at 32 qubits, is the most powerful housed in a public institution in Southern Europe. This strategic commitment has made Galicia a magnet for research talent.
After spending many years abroad, Curty was thrilled to return to his home region to develop Spain’s scientific and industrial ecosystem for quantum communications. “With regional and national funding, we’ve been able to create three experimental laboratories that complement and amplify our theoretical research,” he says.
Marcos Curty advances quantum communications in Spain, enhancing quantum cryptography and contributing to EU’s quantum infrastructure.
Curty and his team specialize in methods to encrypt data using the properties of quantum mechanics — known as quantum cryptography — to safeguard the security of communications. They are participating in various European projects to secure the transmission of information over the internet and satellites, and to build the European Union’s quantum communication infrastructure.
“We have made fundamental contributions to improve the performance and facilitate the security of practical quantum cryptography systems,” Curty says. In recent years they have increased the rate of secret key generation and the maximum transmission distance, which are essential for the widespread use of these technologies, and developed tools to prove the security of quantum communication systems3. Curty is delighted with the uptake of VQCC’s work by companies and public bodies, which he puts down to centre’s unique offering of end-to-end knowledge.
The synergy between public universities, research centres, technology centres, digital innovation hubs, business clusters and innovative companies, supported by proactive government policies, is putting Galicia on the scientific map. Carracedo is confident that the region’s commitment to create and nurture a vibrant innovation culture will ensure the benefits of research are realized.
Thanks to the Xunta de Galicia’s grants, which will have financed more than 1,400 researcher contracts by 2025, and to programmes for attracting and returning talent, such as Oportunius, pursuing a rewarding research career in Galicia has never been easier, and Carracedo encourages researchers to explore the opportunities on offer.
For more information on the exciting research emerging in Galicia, talent opportunities such as Oportunius, and efforts to develop its R&D ecosystem, visit the Xunta de Galicia’s Innovation Agency website.
