Belden, provider of industrial connectivity products, is partnering with the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), a hub for quantum science and engineering. The partnership is designed to enable Belden to pioneer quantum-safe networking that defends against quantum-era threats.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024 and recommends adoption by 2030.
"Just as Belden has long focused on reliability in secure communications, we now have the opportunity to explore what that entails in the quantum era," said Hiran Bhadra, senior vice president, strategy & technology. "This partnership with CQE demonstrates our interest in emerging technologies, particularly the ones that have the potential to impact critical infrastructure, data and communications."
The CQE is an intellectual hub in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana that advances the science and engineering of quantum information, prepares the quantum workforce and drives the quantum economy in collaboration with universities, national labs and industry partners. It is based at the University of Chicago and anchored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Northwestern University and Purdue University, and it includes more than 50 corporate, international, nonprofit and regional partners.
“By collaborating with the CQE’s leading researchers, technologists and end users, Belden will have an opportunity to gain practical insights about quantum-secure communications, and our community will benefit from their networking expertise,” said David Awschalom, the University of Chicago’s Liew Family professor of molecular engineering and physics and the director of the CQE. “We welcome this opportunity to work together to advance networking security as quantum technologies move toward commercial utility.”
Belden’s connectivity technologies are designed to secure power grids and broadband infrastructure. "From a technology perspective, this partnership positions us perfectly at the intersection of quantum communications and industrial networking," said Dr. Oliver Kleineberg, vice president of technology. “While post-quantum cryptography remains central, we are innovating at the intersection of quantum and classical networks to elevate our customers’ operations, enabling more secure, resilient and high-performance hybrid networking.”
