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D1.3 Ethics and Gender Aspects

PQ-REACT Consortium

Published Sep 8, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

PQ-REACT focuses on novel developments in cryptography and cybersecurity, the project aims to fortify the European Union's position in this critical domain. With the advent of quantum computing, the security of current public key cryptography is under threat. The PQ-REACT project's primary objective is to design, develop, and validate a framework that facilitates a swift transition from classical to post-quantum cryptography. This transition is a complex endeavor, complicated by the diversity and scale of existing computer systems serving our society. PQ-REACT addresses several challenges, including the assessment of existing technology infrastructures, cryptographic agility, validation of new post-quantum algorithms, coexistence of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography, and the legal aspects of post-quantum mitigation. PQ-REACT's ambition is to create a secure and seamless post-quantum future for digital communication and critical applications, where innovative cryptographic solutions thrive and safeguard our interconnected world.

DOI
10.5281/zenodo.22661794

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PQ-REACT focuses on novel developments in cryptography and cybersecurity, the project aims to fortify the European Union's position in this critical domain. With the advent of quantum computing, the security of current public key cryptography is under threat. The PQ-REACT project's primary objective is to design, develop, and validate a framework that facilitates a swift transition from classical to post-quantum cryptography. This transition is a complex endeavor, complicated by the diversity and scale of existing computer systems serving our society. PQ-REACT addresses several challenges, including the assessment of existing technology infrastructures, cryptographic agility, validation of new post-quantum algorithms, coexistence of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography, and the legal aspects of post-quantum mitigation. PQ-REACT's ambition is to create a secure and seamless post-quantum future for digital communication and critical applications, where innovative cryptographic solutions thrive and safeguard our interconnected world.
Public key cryptography is nowadays a crucial component of global communications which are critical to our economy, security and way of life. The quantum computers are expected to be a threat and the widely used RSA, ECDSA, ECDH, and DSA cryptosystems will need to be replaced by quantum safe cryptography. The main objective of the HORIZON Europe PQ-REACT project is to design, develop and validate a framework for a faster and smoother transition from classical to quantum safe cryptography for a wide variety of contexts and usage domains that could have a potential interest for defence purposes. This framework will include Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) migration paths and cryptographic agility methods and will develop a portfolio of tools for validation of post quantum cryptographic systems using Quantum Computing. A variety of real-world pilots using PQC and Quantum Cryptography, i.e., Smart Grids, 5G and Ledgers will be deployed to validate the defined framework.
The imminent emergence of quantum computers poses unprecedented challenges to the current cryptographic standards that secure vital digital communications and data worldwide. This paper addresses the vulnerabilities of existing cryptographic systems susceptible to quantum-based attacks and emphasizes a dedicated transition plan to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). We first examine the current state of cryptographic practices, highlight the quantum threat, and present the framework and need for PQC. In addition, a comprehensive strategy is presented that encompasses the identification, protection, detection, response, and recovery phases and integrates PQC into existing security infrastructures, specifically the Cybersecurity Framework Version 2.0 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Methods and technologies discussed include the development of robust PQC algorithms, tools for their large-scale implementation, and hybrid cryptographic systems that combine traditional and quantum-resistant techniques. Practical implementations on various hardware and software platforms are also presented in case studies that provide real-world insight into the challenges and innovations in using PQC. We conclude with a discussion of hybrid approaches, regulatory considerations, and recommendations derived from early adopters to guide future efforts to create a quantum-resilient digital landscape.
The rapid development of quantum computing is one of the most transformative technological developments of the twenty-first century with profound implications for cybersecurity, digital governance and the future of secure communication systems. Traditional cryptographic infrastructures have fundamentally underpinned digital trust in banking, healthcare, defense, cloud computing, and global communication networks, but the advent of quantum computational power has led to increasing concern about the future of existing standards for encryption. This qualitative study critically examines the changing relationship between quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography through an analysis of the technological, institutional, ethical and governance challenges in the transition to quantum-secure digital systems. The study adopts an interpretivist and exploratory qualitative orientation that aims to understand how governments, cybersecurity experts, technology institutions and policy frameworks are responding to the disruptive potential of quantum technologies. Data were collected using thematic analysis of academic literature, cybersecurity policy documents, archival technological reviews, expert commentaries, institutional reports, and emerging case studies related to the development of quantum-resistant cryptography. The results show that quantum computing presents serious threats to existing public-key cryptographic systems, especially in terms of theoretical abilities of Shor’s algorithm and future quantum decryption models. Meanwhile, the paper outlines post-quantum cryptography as a vital avenue for safeguarding digital privacy, institutional credibility, and cybersecurity robustness in an ever more networked society. The analysis also points to ongoing challenges around technological readiness, regulatory uncertainty, global standardization, resource inequality and ethical issues around surveillance, privacy and digital sovereignty. Yet, the research points to the potential for secure digital transformation, resilient cybersecurity governance, and the re-inventing of future communication infrastructure through post-quantum innovation. The research finds that the transition to quantum-secure systems is not just a technological challenge, but a multidimensional governance and policy challenge requiring international cooperation, ethical foresight and proactive institutional change.
The rapid advancement of quantum computing threatens classical cryptographic systems, necessitating a transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to ensure secure digital infrastructures. This research investigates the role of PQC-enhanced blockchain solutions in securing critical applications such as network slicing, authentication, and service-level agreement (SLA) monitoring. As part of the PQ-REACT project, quantum-resistant ledgers are employed to maintain tamper-proof records, ensuring data integrity and compliance in multi-domain environments. The study further demonstrates how context-aware cryptographic selection enables efficient resource allocation, mitigating the computational costs associated with PQC.
The rapid advancements in quantum computing pose significant threats to traditional cryptographic systems, which are foundational to securing modern digital infrastructure. Cryptosystems like RSA and ECC, currently relied upon for secure communications, are vulnerable to quantum attacks, necessitating the development of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The proposed methodology in this paper focuses on safeguarding critical infrastructure from quantum-based cyberattacks by leveraging PQC. The framework integrates several key strategies: hybrid cryptography, which combines classical and post-quantum algorithms to ensure security even as quantum threats evolve; quantum key distribution (QKD), ensuring secure communication by detecting any interception attempts; and post-quantum algorithms designed to resist quantum computing capabilities. The methodology also includes a robust security layer with incident response and threat monitoring systems to detect anomalies and initiate rapid responses to potential attacks. This holistic approach secures vital sectors like healthcare, energy, and telecommunications by future-proofing cryptographic measures against quantum threats.