The Canadian federal government has awarded three researchers at the University of Windsor with funding to advance quantum science projects, including a project to develop cryptographic algorithms that can protect data from quantum cyberattacks.
UWindsor engineering professor Mitra Mirhassani, who specializes in automobile hardware cybersecurity, has been awarded $755,000 CAD (about $ 527,836) as part of a broader $5 million CAD (about $3,495,525) research project. The funding will allow for the creation of customized solutions for automotive security and IoT, as well as train the professionals and experts in the emerging field of quantum security.
Mirhassani is collaborating with industry partners Ansys Canada Ltd., an engineering simulations software developer, and CMC Microsystems, a Canadian not-for-profit organization that accelerates research and innovation in advanced technologies. Ansys’ in-kind contributions make up the bulk of the research project’s funding.
There are a lot of substantial changes between the current requirements of conventional encryption and those of the post quantum era. Compounding the challenge for automotive is the math cannot be easily translated to the necessary engineering. A server or a cloud computing environment can handle more complex encryption, but automotive requires something leaner and more agile.
While there are a lot of research papers on implementing post quantum computing encryption, deploying it in constrained automotive environments is not an academic exercise. Current research is focused on working within existing frameworks with tried and tested algorithms to make sure unwanted compromises are not being introduced because of these constraints.
Another aspect of the applied research led by Mirhassani is hardware testing in collaboration with industry, including testing security against IBM’s quantum computer. Ansys, meanwhile, is providing simulation and pre-silicon support while CMC Microsystems is helping source faculty from its network to support the research and will also provide any hardware fabrication capabilities.
Time is short if the automotive industry is to be quantum secure, and the industry is already grappling with a great deal of uncertainty.
The funding for Mirhassani’s and other quantum research is part of a national quantum strategy launched by Canada’s federal government in 2021 to amplify the country’s strengths in quantum research, grow its quantum-ready technologies, companies and talent, as well as solidify its global leadership in quantum technologies.
Read the full EE Times article.
Gary Hilson is a freelance writer with a focus on B2B technology, including information technology, cybersecurity, and semiconductors.