Unpredictability is usually perceived with a sense of uneasiness and discomfort. However, when it comes to secure our data, information, posts, pictures and whatever flows to (or from) the internet about us, protection relies on unpredictability. The impossibility for an eavesdropper or a hacker to break the walls protecting our digital life depends on secret keys, protocols and ciphering algorithms, namely the art & science of cryptography. Keys, essential to lock&unlock the doors, must be randomly generated. And true randomness implies unpredictability.

Random Power harnesses the quantum properties of semiconductors to generate a virtually endless stream of random bits feeding cyber-security systems. The principle is embodied in a Silicon device and benefits from micro-electronics advances; the source of randomness is endogenous and this is a genuine paradigm shift with respect to existing devices, providing simplification and robustness of the system; quantum properties of matter make unpredictability irreducibly unbreakable.

The principle at the base of RaP! was embodied in a platform of devices, including a custom Application Specific Integrated Circuit. The quality of the randomness resulting by the devices was proven relying on the highest ranked procedures and independent tests. The architectures were designed and implemented according to the prescription by the U.S. National Institute of Standard and Technology and the first step towards certification completed.

The Intellectual Property is protected by a patent already granted in Europe, U.S., China and Japan. A spin-off company was established for the exploitation of the project results and, beside the support by the European Commission, the start-up recently closed a seed round by a pool of international investors.

The colloqium will cover the principle, the applications, the state of play and notably the history behind this genuine act of serendipity, from photon sensitive devices for fundamental research to the company establishment and development.

We invite you to attend the presentations in person at the DESY Auditorium in building 5. We will also offer a webcast for this colloquium.

Connection details:
Zoom link: https://desy.zoom.us/j/99616528733

Meeting ID: 996 1652 8733

Meeting Password: 733220

Poster (1018KB)

Invitation poster for this colloquium