Tokyo – April 6, 2021 – Toppan Printing (Toppan) (TYO: 7911), a global leader in communication, security, packaging, décor materials, and electronics solutions, and ISARA Corporation (ISARA), are launching a partnership for the joint development of smart cards equipped with post-quantum public key cryptography.
The public key cryptosystems widely used today will be vulnerable to attacks from large-scale quantum computers, which are expected to come into practical use around 2030. Toppan and ISARA aim to equip smart cards with public key cryptosystems that are secure against attacks from quantum computers to ensure secure verification of access authentication. In collaboration with Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), further assessment is planned of the feasibility of smart cards equipped with post-quantum public key cryptography on H-LINCOS,1 a testbed of quantum secure cloud technology.2 These activities aim to promote the use of quantum secure cloud technology and to provide services and solutions for secure backup and communication of highly sensitive digital information.
Background
As the digital society accelerates, smart cards, which are used for various access authentication applications, are growing in importance. Smart cards are equipped with public key cryptosystems such as RSA for authentication, but with the anticipated practical application of quantum computing technology within the next 10 years, there is a risk that existing public key cryptography could be decrypted. This has given rise to a need for public key cryptosystems that are secure against quantum computing attacks.
Details of the collaboration
Toppan and ISARA are leveraging expertise in smart card security and authentication technology in a pioneering attempt to equip smart cards with post-quantum public key cryptography. Access authentication using such smart cards is a groundbreaking technology with the potential to revolutionize economies and societies around the world. Early development and rollout will contribute to creating and maintaining infrastructure for safe and secure information communication. Success in establishing the technology will have a significant impact on every environment in which smart cards are used, helping to ensure secure access authentication and enhancing security for society in the future.
Specifically, the project aims to develop a program for smart cards to implement post-quantum algorithms that generate and verify digital signatures and to verify the functionality and applicability to smart cards. Toppan and ISARA will also investigate the feasibility of adapting this smart card technology for use in quantum secure cloud technology. The two companies intend to begin the integration of post-quantum public key cryptography into smart cards and perform the technical verification of authentication systems in 2022, targeting limited practical application in 2025 and the launch of services in 2030.
Roles of each organization
Toppan
Through the development and manufacture of smart cards, Toppan has accumulated a range of smart card security technologies, including encryption, authentication, and unauthorized access prevention. Leveraging this expertise, Toppan will work to contribute to the establishment of a safe and secure society in the age of quantum computing through support for the application of post-quantum public key cryptography to smart cards and the expanded use of quantum secure cloud technology, as well as the provision of services and solutions such as secure backup and data distribution for highly sensitive information. Through joint development with ISARA, Toppan hopes to equip smart cards with post-quantum public key cryptography and introduce smart card-based access authentication to quantum secure cloud technology.
For more information about Toppan, visit https://www.toppan.com/en/ or follow Toppan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppan-printing/.
ISARA
ISARA, with its knowledge and experience in cybersecurity over the years, is a global leader in crypto-agile technologies and quantum-safe security solutions that can continue to protect current computing ecosystems into the quantum age. Capitalizing on its know-how, ISARA will target the development of authentication technology using quantum-safe public key cryptosystems that can be incorporated into smart cards.
For more information, visit www.isara.com or follow @ISARACorp on Twitter.
QUANTUM COMPUTING EXPO TOKYO [Spring]
Toppan will exhibit at the first QUANTUM COMPUTING EXPO TOKYO [Spring], which will be held at the Tokyo Big Sight exhibition center from April 7 to 9, 2021. The Toppan booth (6-12) will present details of the collaboration with ISARA as well as Toppan’s other efforts related to quantum computing.
For more information, visit https://www.qc-expo.jp/en-gb.html.
A long-term secure data storage and exchange system for healthcare that uses secret sharing and secure communication technologies to enable backup and mutual use by medical institutions of digital medical record data with high levels of security and availability. A related press release from the NICT can be viewed at https://www.nict.go.jp/en/press/2019/12/12-1.html.
2. Quantum secure cloud
A cloud technology that fuses quantum cryptography and secret sharing technologies to facilitate secure data communication, storage, and use. A related press release from Toppan can be viewed at https://www.toppan.com/en/news/2020/10/newsrelease201019e.html.
Contacts
Public Relations Division, Toppan Printing
E-mail: GlobalPR@toppan.co.jp
ISARA Corporation
E-mail: mediarelations@isara.com
