The 2020-2022 PQC Finland project had altogether nine partners from academia (3) and industry (6) with three stakeholder partners from government organisations. There were also other stakeholders that had interest in the project, but did not directly participate in the research and development activities or in the steering group. These stakeholders were engaged through different dissemination activities such as seminars and PQC policy brief (published in 2022).
The project was divided between core contributors (agreement signed parties) and supporting partners. Contributors were active players at least in one (1) work package but many worked in several packages as well. Supporting partners followed the project proceedings and gave feedback and suggestions to contributors regarding the work in progress.
The project was divided into Work Packages with leading organisation. The work was carried out within the work packages and shared among other work packages regularly. Work packet 1 (WP1) was general project management and communications, work packet 7 (WP7) for result gathering and dissemination.
Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC)
Lead org: Helsinki university
Research of PQC
security of PQC candidates including side-channel attacks.
Mitigations to these studied and proposed whenever possible.
Quantum Computing (QC)
Lead org: Aalto university
Overview of most likely scenarios of QC development and implications of those (research, education, critical computing, access to key materials, opportunities for Finnish companies). Recommendations paper to be used as guideline for future development of QC.
Requirements and limitations for PQC in PKI
Lead org: Insta Oy
Study of PQC algorithm implementation and performance on Hardware Security Modules (HSM), smart cards and FPGA and IoT devices.
PKI related management protocols (e.g. CMP, EST, ACME) with PQC algorithms.
Implementing PQC
Lead org: SSH Oyj
PQC implementation to various products, test it thoroughly and analyze the gaps and effects for successful implementation into national use.
Future directions and certification of PQC and QC
Lead org: VTT Oy
Create vision and strategy for national digital security by utilizing cryptographic methods.
Set PQC criteria and certification parameters for nationally approved solutions ranging from TL IV to TL II.
Visa Vallivaara (project manager)
Senior Scientist, M. Sc. (Math.)
Applied Cryptography
Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy
Jorma Mellin (steering group chairman)
SSH Communications Security Oyj
WP2 - Post Quantum Cryptography: Niemi, P Valtteri <valtteri.niemi[at]helsinki.fi>
WP3 - Quantum Computing: Ilkka Tittonen <ilkka.tittonen[at]aalto.fi>
WP4 - Requirements and limitations for PQC in PKI: Lamminmäki Janne <janne.lamminmaki[at]insta.fi>
WP5 - Implementing PQC: Jaakko Sormunen <jaakko.sormunen[at]ssh.com>
WP6 - Future directions and certification of PQC and QC: Latvala Outi-Marja <Outi-Marja.Latvala[at]vtt.fi>