QDNL Convenes Benelux-QCI Partners to Advance EuroQCI QKD Priorities
Key Takeaways
Priority Framework: Partners identified four priorities covering QKD competencies, end-user engagement, role demonstration and European standards.
Regional Collaboration: The October 22, 2026 event in Utrecht united Dutch, Belgian, Luxembourg and Greek stakeholders under EuroQCI.
Infrastructure Focus: Discussions addressed fiber-optic backbone deployment and open-source key management for cross-border quantum key distribution.
On October 22, 2026, QDNL hosted the Benelux-QCI event at SURF in Utrecht to advance secure quantum communications across the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. Partners from the Benelux region and Greece discussed integrating quantum key distribution (QKD) into practical infrastructure as part of the EuroQCI initiative. The dialogue emphasized early end-user involvement and produced four priorities for the years ahead focused on maturity, adoption, demonstration and standards.
Technical Priorities for QKD Maturity
The session reviewed the current status and future prospects of the BeneluxQCI project, which aims to deploy a fiber-optic backbone connecting key locations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg for secure exchange of QKD traffic. David Maier of SURF presented an open-source cross-border Key Management System designed to support interoperability between national QKD networks.
Panelists from TNO, Belnet and GRNET addressed competencies needed for QKD maturity and the development of standards for a European framework. The work builds on earlier national efforts including BeQCI in Belgium and prior cross-border measurement-device-independent QKD links using Q*Bird Falqon technology spanning 132 kilometers between Belgium and Luxembourg.
Commercial Pathways and Ecosystem Growth
Commercial discussions centered on bringing end users into the community and demonstrating the role of QKD in secure communications for governments, research institutions and critical sectors. Giacomo Carrara from UGent-IMEC-WAVES outlined value propositions for stakeholders.
The project, partially funded by the European Union, aligns with EuroQCI goals to protect sensitive data against future quantum threats and strengthen European digital sovereignty. Collaboration among national research and education networks, SURF, Belnet and Restena, together with research partners such as imec and KU Leuven COSIC supports scaling from pilots to operational transnational systems. Related efforts like SEEWQCI extend quantum interconnections via satellite and fiber involving Greece and additional EU partners.
Bottom Line
The Benelux-QCI event established shared priorities for practical cross-border QKD deployment under EuroQCI.
Find out more here.
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