Delft-based Q*Bird and Eurofiber secure €1M grant to advance quantum-secured communication

Delft-based Q*Bird, in collaboration with Single Quantum, and Eurofiber has been awarded a €1M subsidy to push the boundaries of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology.  

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) provides a new level of security for digital communications by using quantum mechanics to create nearly unbreakable encryption.

This technology could change information and communication technologies (ICTs), making it essential for the future of the digital economy and society.

The subsidy was announced at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. 

Eurofiber provides digital infrastructure in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. The company has a fiber-optic network that stretches 72,300 kilometers and 11 data centers. 

“As a provider of vital digital infrastructure, Eurofiber is working on the network’s reliability and security. This project is an important step in the development of quantum-enabled communications. By making Quantum Key Distribution a permanent feature in our Randstad data centres and our private cloud infrastructure, we are not only providing access to our customers but are also creating the basis for future Quantum Internet services,” says Marc Hulzebos, Innovation Manager at Eurofiber.

This initiative is part of the QUEST project, funded by the Kansen voor West program and the European Regional Development Fund (EFRO).

Project QUEST

The QUEST project aims to give businesses and public organisations strong security to protect their data from cyber threats, including those from future quantum computers.

The project will establish QKD connections across two of Eurofiber’s primary data centers in the Randstad region.  

The project marks a significant milestone in the development of Measurement Device Independent (MDI) quantum key distribution technology, offering secure, tamper-proof communication between users.

This collaboration will allow customers to use secure services through Eurofiber’s fiber optic network, ensuring strong data protection for important applications across various local quantum networks.

By working with Single Quantum, a company that specialises in quantum detection, Q*Bird aims to expand Measurement-Device-Independent QKD (MDI-QKD) for wider commercial use.

The project will connect QKD systems, enabling secure communication between users in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Founded in 2022 by Joshua Slater, Ingrid Romijin, and Remon Berrevoets as a spin-off of Delft University of Technology, Q*Bird is on a mission to protect data communications and digital infrastructure. It uses patented technology that outperforms the competition in security and cost. 

“While we are rolling out quantum communication solutions, we are enthusiastic about working towards a more transparent and better connected digital world for our customers,” says CEO of Q*Bird Ingrid Romijn. 

“Moments ago, we bought equipment for quantum data communication, whereupon this project was launched to develop our own proposal for a new scale for talking about sound. In the end, we will be able to make quantum connectivity a reality by using new products and integrating them with our existing quantum cryptography network in data centres,” adds Romjin.