GRNET’s HellasQCI Wins Top Prize for Quantum Network Idea

Greece is being recognized for its advances in secure communications as the HellasQCI project, coordinated by GRNET, received the first prize in the category at the Digital Governance Awards on September 8, 2026. The project is the national component of the pan-European EuroQCI initiative, aiming to establish a secure, continent-wide quantum communications infrastructure. “The development of HellasQCI is an important step toward strengthening the country’s digital security and technological sovereignty,” stated Konstantinos Karantzalos, Secretary General for Telecommunications and Post. This distinction highlights Greece’s growing role in quantum technologies and its commitment to protecting critical infrastructure. GRNET’s HellasQCI Wins Digital Governance Award for Quantum Network The award acknowledges digital transformation initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Digital Governance and its agencies, specifically recognizing GRNET’s coordination of Greece’s national quantum communications infrastructure. This distinction highlights a proactive approach to securing digital infrastructure before widespread quantum computing threats materialize, rather than reacting to them after the fact. GRNET S.A. coordinates HellasQCI, positioning the organization as central to Greece’s quantum infrastructure development and demonstrating a clear national lead in the field. The project spans research institutions including NKUA, ICCS, FORTH, AUTH, and NCSR Demokritos, alongside observatory operators and both the digital governance and defence ministries, creating a broad collaborative network. Ilias Papastamatiou, Senior Project Manager at GRNET S.A. Beyond the broader EuroQCI goals of secure data transmission and critical infrastructure resilience, HellasQCI has already demonstrated practical application in a hospital environment. This deployment, an unusually concrete step for a national quantum communication infrastructure at this stage, suggests a focus on immediate, real-world impact alongside long-term security goals. According to the project documentation, HellasQCI envisions accelerating research and innovation by developing the quantum internet. The development of HellasQCI is an important step toward strengthening the country’s digital security and technological sovereignty. Konstantinos Karantzalos, Secretary General for Telecommunications and Post at the Ministry of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence HellasQCI Integrates QKD Systems Linking Greek Observatories & Networks GRNET coordinated the initiative, which envisions a nationwide quantum communication infrastructure, and the award was presented to representatives from GRNET, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and the General Secretariat for Telecommunications & Post by Deputy Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence, Christos Dermetzopoulos. Beyond acknowledging the project’s conceptual innovation, the award recognizes a tangible network taking shape across Greece. HellasQCI physically links three observatories, Helmos, Holomontas, and Skinakas, with metropolitan networks in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Heraklion, upgrading them into Optical Ground Stations equipped with quantum key distribution capabilities. The consortium’s composition, spanning universities, research institutions, and even the energy company Motor Oil Hellas, underscores the multi-sectoral approach to establishing a resilient quantum communication system. “I would like to congratulate the GRNET project team and all HellasQCI partners, who through their expertise, perseverance, and meaningful collaboration, have transformed an ambitious vision into a national infrastructure,” stated I. The project’s near completion, coupled with these broader European engagements, signals a commitment to both domestic security and international collaboration in the rapidly evolving field of quantum communications, and a future where secure data transmission is paramount. The recognition of GRNET’s contribution through the HellasQCI project, demonstrates the importance of investing in innovative technologies that strengthen the security and resilience of critical infrastructures while shaping the future of secure quantum communications. Dimitris Katsianis, Deputy Chairman GRNET and Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Source: https://hellasqci.eu/hellasqci-receives-best-new-idea-1st-prize/ More like thisQuantum SecurityFalqon Systems builds infrastructure for quantum secure networksQuantum CryptographyKETS chip-based QKD now works with Cisco’s network routersQuantum NetworksResearchers Achieve Optimal Telecloning Using Bell MeasurementsQuantum NetworksGÉANT and Quantum Internet Alliance team up to build Europe’s quantum networksStay currentSee today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals. Tags: