🚀 Attention QKD enthusiasts! 🎉 We have shipped QKD devices again! 🚛 They’re still so big they’re taking up part of our car park 🚗 but don’t worry – KEEQuant is working hard to reduce this technology from rack size to a format that fits in a briefcase. 💼🔒 Stay tuned, the future of quantum communication is compact and mobile!
Philip, what brought you to KEEQuant?
After several years of studying in Karlsruhe, I was looking for something new: a change of location and an environment where I could continue to grow both professionally as well as personally. At the time, I was almost at the end of my Master’s studies and wanted to gain practical experience within a research-related internship in the field of quantum technologies before starting my thesis. I wanted to build a strong foundation before starting it.
KEEQuant combined everything I was looking for: a new city, new people, growth potential, practical experience, quantum technologies and above all (which I realised during the job interview) excellent support with a high degree of knowledge transfer.
So you decided to join a start-up…
Yes, I was motivated by the fact that it was a start-up. I was aware that one can learn a lot here. There is an almost inexhaustible number of tasks coupled with creative freedom. I was really surprised to find that there are really well thought-out structures in the background that provide a good framework – despite all the freedom. A good foundation on which I can continue to grow.
What does growth mean to you?
In addition to a huge amount of technological knowledge, I have learnt how to work efficiently and purposefully in my day-to-day work. Reflecting on the work process and questioning the sense of certain tasks is always at the forefront – as opposed to “lets just do stuff and see what happens”. Keeping an overview is not so easy, especially in the daily routine. At KEEQuant, working in a structured and efficient way with a sense of purpose and constant reflection are skills that are firmly burnt into the brain, so to say.
I often stumbled or got stuck on a task for a long time and asked myself: why. Many tasks that used to take me weeks now take me just a day. It’s a great feeling to go through this learning process and realise that I’ve made great professional progress.
It’s not just that I’m constantly growing. In the almost one and a half years that I’ve been here, I’ve seen the company and its internal structures evolve and become more refined and detailed as well. It’s really exciting to experience this!
So was it worth coming to KEEQuant?
Yes! I came here as an intern, just to get a taste of the practical side of things. Whether I would also write my Master’s thesis here was written in the stars for me back then. Now I’m writing my Master’s thesis at KEEQuant, simply because the conditions, the support and the subject matter are hard to beat.
You don’t have to be able to do everything right from the start – but you should be sufficiently motivated and willing to learn and not be afraid to ask questions. Above all, you should be enthusiastic! You don’t just benefit from the other people here – it works the other way too: I can really use my knowledge from university here. It feels like all those years of studying have really borne fruit, and I am now able to reap the rewards. At the same time, in addition to the technical aspects, you can also gain a lot on a personal level: you have a lot of creative freedom and feel like an equal part of the team – as a working student or master’s student as well as a permanent team member (we students also don’t make coffee for others ;-)
“Zeitenwende in der nationalen Sicherheit”
For the first time, KEEQuant took part in the AFCEA symposium as an exhibitor, organised by AFCEA Bonn e.V. – the leading user forum for telecommunications technology, computers, electronics and automation.
Under the annual motto “Turning point in national security – resilience through disruptive solutions”, an intensive discussion took place on innovative technologies in the field of national security.
As the only exhibitor in the field of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), KEEQuant illustrated the importance of secure QKD technology in the defence sector. At a time when secure communication is becoming increasingly important, it is crucial for defence against future threats.
The event took place in the historic location of the old Bundestag – an inspiring venue that emphasised the importance of the technical presentations.
We would like to thank AFCEA Bonn e.V. for this unique opportunity and look forward to the next steps towards a more secure future.
Martin, you are one of our first employees. What makes KEEQuant special for you?
Every day I immerse myself in exciting challenges that go far beyond the boundaries of quantum communications alone. From physics and quantum optics to high-frequency electronics, software and security – with a unique focus on integrated photonics. But it’s not just the technology that fascinates me, it’s also the opportunity to actively shape the company as part of a young start-up. It’s not just about a specific job, it’s about the chance to make entrepreneurial decisions and help shape the future.
We are looking for a new colleague (m/f/d) in the Integrated Photonics department. What are you looking for in a new team member?
Titles are less important to us – we focus more on tangible skills and competencies. You need to be able to grasp complex issues quickly and work independently and efficiently. We all share a passion for scalable quantum technology and a vision to contribute to Europe’s security – integrity and long-term commitment are particularly important to us.
And what does KEEQuant have to offer?
Learning together and personal growth are our top priorities. We offer excellent support and a collaborative environment where technology enthusiasts will have fun. I find this environment energising and motivating, which also has a positive impact on my personal life.
How can an interested person apply?
Check out our current open positions and apply now!
Speaking with the words of our host, we definitely enjoyed the liveliness of the QKD ecosystem at the SQuaD-Workshop@MuQuaNet. We contributed with talks and panel discussions and enjoyed the personal meetings all along the three days in Neubiberg. Looking forward to the next meeting at PTB!
What a great event at an impressive location!
As a participant and exhibitor at the QCI Days Vienna, we had the opportunity to present our technology live and delve deeper into the details in subsequent discussions.
A particular highlight for us was the special atmosphere created by the historic rooms of the House of Industry.
KEEQuant is a proud partner of the doctoral training network “QuNEST – Quantum Enhanced Optical Communication Network Security Doctoral Training”.
QuNEST is a highly interdisciplinary and intersectoral Doctoral Network composed of leading academic and industrial partners. The project offers a total of 11 fully funded PhD Positions, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks.
The focus of the PhD @ KEEQuant will be on photonic integrated quantum/classical transceivers. The PhD enrollment will be with Eindhoven University of Technology, who are also leading the consortium.
More information about our PhD Position can be found at the job posting. The application period extends throughout the first quarter of 2024.
All vacancies and further information about the project are published on the QuNEST website: https://qunest.eu/qunest-vacancies/
Building on our previous engagement with the EuroQCI (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure) project, our participation in the workshop provided further insights into the ongoing efforts to strengthen quantum communication in Europe.
During the workshop, our colleague Ulrich Eismann discussed with experts from various national testbed projects and industry representatives. The focus was on the further development of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology within the EU-27.
Additionally, the overarching scope of the PETRUS project was reiterated, emphasizing collaborative efforts aimed at advancing quantum cryptography in Europe.
As we progress in quantum communication, we are committed to improving data security through innovative technologies. Stay tuned to learn more about our involvement in these initiatives.
As always, the time at the it-sa expo was amazing!
We had the opportunity to engage with visitors and discuss our QKD technology through a live demo, providing insights into quantum key distribution. Even evil Eve came by and was touched by our system, tried to infer the keys in vain.
At the ATHENE Digital Hub Cybersecurity UPitsaAward live pitch event, we presented KEEQuant’s company vision. A huge thanks to Bayern Innovativ GmbH and IT-Sicherheitscluster e. V. for the great and ongoing support.
Once again this year, we exhibited at the LASER World of Quantum Expo in Munich, showcasing our innovative Photonic Integrated Chip (PIC), allowing for 100% integration of KEEQuant’s CV-QKD functionality.
Exhibition Highlights:
