QARC is organized into 6 Work Packages (WP). WP1 coordinates and manages the project. WP2 is devoted to the cryptographic protocol design and analysis. WP3 aims at secure implementations of quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms and explores their security against physical attacks. WP4 utilizes outcomes from WP2 and WP3 and integrates them into pilots and real-world scenarios. WP5 activities aim at national and societal post-quantum transition in and outside the QARC project and on fostering a collaborative environment between national authorities and key stakeholders. WP6 communicates and disseminates project results to relevant stakeholders while maximizing the opportunities for exploitation and standardization.
Academia
Cryptographic Design
Industry
Secure Implementation
Society & Community
Government
Practical Evaluation & Piloting
Governance, National & Social Aspect
Work Package 1 (WP1) – Project Management
WP1 is responsible for the management of the QARC project, including operational, technical, financial, contractual, administrative, innovation, data and risk management. The main objective is to establish a lightweight but effective management structure, keep it updated and functional during the whole project lifetime and respond to challenges and feedback collected from the European Commission, market, scientific community, external partners and key stakeholders.
Work Package 2 (WP2) – Cryptographic Aspects
WP2 is responsible for work on the cryptographic protocol design and analysis level. The main objective is to provide quantum-safe cryptographic protocols suitable for pilots in WP4, along with the needed tools for protocol design and analysis, integrating the implementation approaches proposed in WP3.
Work Package 3 (WP3) – Implementation Aspects
WP3 aims to implement, evaluate and integrate PQC cryptographic schemes with a dual focus on security and performance across various platforms. This includes identifying potential threats and applying specific algorithm implementations, as well as integrating these primitives into broader protocols like Kerberos. The goal is to enhance resistance against physical attacks (e.g. SCA, FI). Leveraging community-tested implementations and theoretical designs from WP2, WP3 will ensure robustness and reliability. The results are to be integrated into pilot projects in WP4 for real-world validation.
Work Package 4 (WP4) – Pilots
The objective of the WP is to take the post-quantum cryptographic protocols developed in WP2 and integrate them into pilot case studies, building on secure implementation approaches proposed in WP3. WP4 is going to work on 3 technical pilots and on 1 process-oriented pilot. These pilots utilize outcomes of WP2 and WP3, test them in real-world scenarios and establish good practices for PQC transition. Their results will be leverage in WP5, to support national authorities and their activities towards PQC deployment. WP4 is led by CYB and co-lead by TET.
Work Package 5 (WP5) – National and Societal Post-Quantum Transition
As the transition to quantum-secure solutions will require leadership, guidance, and resources from national authorities, the primary objective of WP5 is to facilitate the development of national strategies and roadmaps for the participating countries in the project. The focus of the work package will be on understanding and mapping the current legal, strategic, regulatory, and technological aspects and challenges, identifying gaps, and developing solutions that will enable national authorities to execute the transition to quantum-secure solutions.
Work Package 6 (WP6) – Standardization, Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation
WP6 is responsible for standardization, communication, dissemination and exploitation of the QARC results. The main objective of WP6 is to raise the awareness of the PQC transition for the main target audiences of QARC (national cybersecurity authorities, public administration, cybersecurity community, critical digital infrastructure operators), as well as prepare PQC transition recommendations and roadmap for further implementation of QARC results within the involved countries (Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine) and in other EU countries via WP6 activities. WP6 activities will ensure communication, dissemination and exploitation support for results created under WP2, WP3, WP4 and WP5, thus helping to reach the overall project objectives. WP6 will be led by TET and co-led by MUNI.