Progress in building quantum computers is increasingly threatening the security of today's digital encryption methods. To counter this, the new international consortium QUASAR-CREATE, based in Singapore and involving the Technical University of Munich (TUM), aims to develop the world's first fully open-source post-quantum-secure processor system.
Astrid Eckert / TUM Specifically, the focus is on a Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) RISC-V processor system. What makes this special: the quantum-resistant security mechanisms are integrated directly at the hardware and system levels. Software-only solutions would not be sufficient to meet the high, future-proof requirements for long-term trustworthy technology, transparency, and resilience.
The three-and-a-half-year research program, funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore, brings together the expertise of TUM, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore, Fraunhofer@NTU (FSR@NTU), and the National University of Singapore (NUS).
TUM's Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation, Prof. Gerhard Kramer , emphasizes: "At a time of rapidly changing cyber and civil-society threats, we must ensure the resilience of critical systems as a shared priority for Germany and Singapore. Our world will continue to need robust and trustworthy digital systems in the future."
The QUASAR research project
TUMCREATE, TUM's research platform based in Singapore, leads the research on a secure hardware platform within the consortium. It works closely with the NTU School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. In addition, the program creates links to the QUASAR professorships at NTU and NUS, which are funded by the Dieter Schwarz Foundation.
Prof. Georg Sigl , Principal Investigator at TUM for QUASAR-CREATE, emphasizes: "Post-quantum security in resource constraint devices cannot be achieved by software alone. If we want digital systems to remain trustworthy in the era of quantum computing, security must be anchored directly in the hardware architecture. With QUASAR-CREATE, we are integrating quantum-resistant cryptography into a RISC-V processor with the final target to build a fully open-source chip design using open-source technology. This approach allows us to build a transparent and verifiable foundation for resilient digital infrastructures of the future."
Prof. Gwee Bah Hwee, Principal Investigator on the NTU side, adds: "As quantum technologies move closer to real-world deployment, ensuring trust and security will be essential for their adoption. QUASAR-CREATE allows us to bring together expertise across institutions to address these challenges proactively, supporting Singapore's efforts to harness emerging technologies in a secure and sustainable way."
TUMCREATE was founded in 2010 and is a multidisciplinary research platform of TUM in Singapore that promotes scientific exchange between TUM, other leading universities worldwide, local institutions, public organizations, and industry partners. Its goal is to contribute to the sustainable transformation of societies through science and technology. Funded by the National Research Foundation Singapore, TUMCREATE's diverse research projects cover topics ranging from urban mobility, food science and technology, biomedical engineering and preventive medicine to solutions for the climate-neutral megacity.
