Rotterdam builds on world-first: fieldlab makes quantum-secure communication operational for critical infrastructure
Founding partners INSPIR8ION, Eurofiber, Q*Bird, Cisco and CGI launch Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam on 18 June at RDM Next.
The new fieldlab becomes the place where organisations operating critical infrastructure, such as ports, energy grids and government services, can test quantum-secure communication in practice before actually putting it to use. This matters because of the so-called ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ risk: sensitive data intercepted and stored today could still become vulnerable in the future, once quantum computers are able to break parts of today’s encryption.
Digital connections that need to keep working
For industrial and public organisations, this directly affects the reliability of digital connections. Think of communication between systems in the port, data traffic around energy infrastructure, or the exchange of sensitive information within public services. It’s precisely in these kinds of processes that confidentiality, availability and continuity need to remain guaranteed in the long term.
Quantum-secure communication helps organisations prepare for that. One important technology within this field is Quantum Key Distribution, or QKD. It exchanges digital keys based on quantum-mechanical principles. An attempt to intercept such a key undetected becomes, in principle, detectable. That creates an additional layer of security for communication that needs to remain confidential in the future too.
The fieldlab therefore builds on what has already been demonstrated. In 2024, a consortium including the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Q*Bird, Cisco, Eurofiber, Portbase, Intermax and InnovationQuarter realised what was presented as the world’s first scalable quantum internet connection in a port environment. This pilot showed that quantum-secure communication can be applied in a complex operational environment such as the Port of Rotterdam.
QUEST lays down the infrastructure. QCFR brings the application closer.
QCFR also connects to the QUEST project, for which Eurofiber and Q*Bird received €1 million in support in 2025. Within QUEST, Quantum Key Distribution is being enabled between two of Eurofiber’s main datacentres in the Randstad. This work is building operational quantum-secure infrastructure as well as QKD services that customers can purchase, lease or use as a managed service.
Where QUEST focuses on rolling out quantum-secure infrastructure and commercial QKD services, QCFR offers a broader environment for application and adoption. Within the Fieldlab, technology partners, infrastructure providers and potential users come together to learn what is needed to make quantum-secure communication work reliably within existing infrastructure.
In doing so, QCFR contributes to practical knowledge-building around applicability, interoperability and scaling up. These insights are needed to make quantum-secure communication testable, reliable and deployable at greater scale within vital sectors in the Netherlands over time.
“With the QCFR fieldlab, our partners in Rotterdam and across Zuid-Holland are taking the next step in quantum-secure communication. Secure communication is a key issue not only for the vital operations in Europe’s busiest port, but also for critical infrastructure and government organisations in our greater region. By rolling up their sleeves in collaboration, the QCFR consortium captures a great economic opportunity and is set to make an important contribution to Europe’s security.”
— Meindert Stolk, Regional Minister for Economy & Innovation of the Province of Zuid-Holland
“The pilot in the port of Rotterdam showed that quantum-secure communication works. The next step is making sure that knowledge doesn’t stay confined to a single project, but gets a permanent place where businesses and organisations operating critical infrastructure can keep building on it together. That’s exactly what QCFR does for the ecosystem.”
— Jacqueline Schardijn, Senior Business Developer, InnovationQuarter
Five partners, one consortium
QCFR is a collaboration between five companies, each with their own role:
- Eurofiber: the Netherlands’ largest provider of digital infrastructure for business customers, with an extensive fibre-optic network across Zuid-Holland.
- Q*Bird: a quantum-tech scale-up from Delft, specialised in quantum-secure communication.
- Cisco: a global expert in telecom technology for governments and large enterprises.
- CGI: sets up the technical infrastructure.
- INSPIR8ION: connects the consortium with government bodies and other partners, and acts as Fieldlab manager.
The Province of Zuid-Holland, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and regional development agency InnovationQuarter are also involved as strategic partners.
Bring in your own use case
Organisations operating critical infrastructure can use QCFR to explore what quantum-secure communication means for their own practice. For example, when they work with sensitive data flows, communication between locations, links with supply-chain partners, or systems that are essential for continuity and safety.
The fieldlab invites businesses and public organisations to bring forward such use cases. Together with QCFR’s partners, they can explore which technology fits, what needs to be tested or validated, and what conditions are required to reliably apply quantum-secure communication within existing infrastructure later on.
More information about participation, intake and contact options will follow via qcfr.eu.
Get in touch with Jacqueline
