Infineon - Ji'an Quantum, Building the Digital Transformation of Quantum Security

Infineon Technologies, a global leader in security chips, announced on April 19 that it has partnered with Chelpis Quantum Tech (Chelpis Quantum), a Taiwan-based cryptography startup, to launch the OPTIGA™ TPM SLB 9672, Infineon's TPM 2.0-compliant hardware-based high level security chip. The Edge-to-Cloud solution, built with Chelpis Quantum's software cryptography technology, gives endpoint devices the ability to distribute security functions across multiple layers from the hardware layer to the cloud application layer.

According to the company's website, the solution uses Zero Trust Architecture to provide product chassis credentials and authorization authentication, and introduces multiple security management mechanisms for firmware updates, including support for Post-Quantum Cryptography, which blocks quantum computing attacks, and End-to-End Encryption (E2EE). End-to-End Encryption (E2EE), Secure Device Pro-visioning, and more.

The solution provides protection against a wide range of network threats, such as preventing tampering with device software platforms, illegal updates to software and firmware, and blocking foreign virus intrusion.

Today, digital transformation has become an important strategy for enterprises to maintain competitiveness. In manufacturing-related industries, the development of technologies such as industrial networks, artificial intelligence and big data has made companies realize that the interconnection of IT/OT can bring unprecedented efficiency and profits. However, IT/OT convergence is a process that needs to be implemented gradually and requires more careful and detailed consideration.

The newly launched security solution combines Infineon's TPM 2.0 technology in hardware and Chian Quantum's soft power in protection to address manufacturing-related security issues, e.g. OT systems often fail to keep pace with the evolution of attacks and are therefore vulnerable to various cyber attacks, such as malware, ransomware, etc.

Infineon TPM chip

In addition, many OT systems lack encryption and are also vulnerable to the risk of data leakage and unauthorized access, while some of the actions of employees who have access to OT systems may also cause damage to the security of these systems. On the other hand, after the introduction of IT, how to ensure high availability of products, keep the original functions unaffected and prevent the high cost of changes are all pain points of digital transformation in the manufacturing industry.

Chian Quantum uses Infineon's OPTIGA TPM chip as the Root of Trust to build its information security enhancement solution, which prevents unauthorized access and tampering through a zero-trust architecture, and secondly, through multiple protection mechanisms such as product key encryption, product credentials, and product seal, it enables products to have a security design with identity authentication at the time of production. The product key encryption, product credentials, product seal and other multi-protection mechanisms allow the product to have the security design of identity authentication at the time of production, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the data while adding an additional layer of protection for product endpoint authentication.

TPM establishes a trustworthy endpoint environment with a zero-trust architecture to enhance network connectivity and access security

The Edge-to-Cloud solution is expected to be introduced to the MS Smart Control PC of leading automation equipment manufacturer Allied, and will be deployed in multiple real-world locations to provide strong protection for Allied and its customers. Through this solution, in addition to upgrading the security, all the MS injection molding machines produced by Allied are equipped with unique ID cards for traceability and prevention of device data tampering or theft, realizing the secure access to Allied's iEC in the cloud of intelligent devices and making the products more competitive in the era of Industry 4.0 (IIoT). In addition, Chian Quantum's anti-quantum cryptography technology can help automated devices to resist future quantum computing attacks and prepare for the information security protection of enterprise digital transformation.

The number of connected devices in the enterprise continues to increase, and the trend is for all-round security solutions in hardware and software," said Pei-hao Tian, Associate Director of Infineon's Security and Connectivity Division (Greater China). In addition, quantum-resistant cryptography will also become an important part of future information security solutions. We are excited to work with Chian Quantum to combine Infineon's hardware security chips with Chian Quantum's expertise in algorithms and anti-quantum cryptography to create a secure and reliable digital transformation experience for enterprises together."

Ming-Yang Chi, General Manager of Chian Quantum, said, "The solution developed by Infineon in collaboration with Chian Quantum addresses the information security issues that will be faced by remote work, cloud-based services and enterprise digital transformation brought about by the post-epidemic era. It is applicable not only to smart manufacturing but also to industries such as the Internet of Vehicles, Internet of Things, smart cities and the financial industry, for example, by providing a secure operational foundation for enterprises through data protection and encryption."

This is not the first time Infineon has laid out quantum technology, specifically, Infineon's quantum research can be traced back to 2016 ......

Since 2017, Infineon has been a pioneer in quantum-resistant cryptography, contributing to the development and standardization of quantum-secure cryptographic methods; starting in 2021, Infineon is collaborating with several research institutes in Germany, Austria and Canada to build quantum processors using a range of different technologies from ion traps to superconducting quantum bits, and is attempting to industrialize them.

However, the development of quantum computing is not only about more and better quantum bits for computing, but also requires a holistic approach: in addition to hardware, peripherals, software and applications need to be considered.

Infineon is contributing its experience in scaling and manufacturing in various different areas and is involved in several projects: In 2020, in the PIEDMONS project, Infineon is developing ion trap quantum processor chips together with experimental physicists from the University of Innsbruck and also with the QUASAR project for a silicon-based quantum processor.

In February 2021, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research funded the €14.5 million GeQCoS (German Quantum Computer based on Superconducting Quantum Bits) project, which aims to have a prototype chip within the next four years. Infineon will develop a scalable manufacturing process for it.

In March 2021, 25 partners, including Infineon, formed the ATIQ (Applied Trap Ion Quantum Computer) project to develop an ion trap-based quantum computer demonstrator, which is planned to be available to users within three years. Infineon is contributing to the ion trap project as well as expertise in control electronics and cryo-electronics.

In June 2021, ten German companies, including Infineon, joined forces to form the Quantum Technology and Applications Consortium (QUTAC) with the vision to build and advance the quantum computing ecosystem in support of the German government's ambitious goals and various research programs. And to further develop the existing foundation of quantum computing into usable industrial applications: applications for the chemical and pharmaceutical, insurance and automotive industries and to advance market maturity.

In October 2021, six partner organizations, including Infineon, joined the QuMIC (Quantum Bit Control for Microwave Integrated Circuits) project to work on the miniaturization of RF and control electronics needed to develop quantum computers based on ion traps or superconducting quantum bits. Infineon is coordinating this project and is focused on researching highly integrated computer chips in the RF range and their integration in quantum electronics.

Launched in November 2021, QVOL (Quantum Sensors for Mass Production of Silicon Carbide Based Magnetic Field Sensors) is the first quantum sensor project in which Infineon is involved and leads a research consortium of six partners. Infineon's main task is to develop quantum sensor structures based on silicon carbide technology for high-volume production.

In January 2022, Infineon provided specific application examples from the global supply chain for the QuaST (Quantum Support Services and Tools) project, which is developing software tools that will greatly simplify user access to quantum computers and simplify previously highly specialized programming methods. In the same month, Infineon contributed application scenarios from the supply chain to the QuBRA (Quantum Methods and Benchmarks for Resource Allocation) project. quBRA is developing algorithms and benchmark tests to determine the practical and feasible advantages of quantum computers compared to classical methods such as machine learning.

Also in January 2022, Infineon launched the MuniQC-SC (Munich Quantum Computer based on Superconductors) project in collaboration with ten research partners to jointly develop a superconductor-based quantum computer demonstrator, including laboratory, low-volume and industrial-scale manufacturing.

In February 2022, Infineon launched the OPTIGA™ TPM SLB 9672, the first TPM security chip with post-quantum cryptography for firmware updates, using the latest anti-quantum digital signature algorithm XMSS to further enhance system security, making it the first commercial chip with this digital signature algorithm built into the hardware The first commercial chip to have this digital signature algorithm functionality built into hardware.

On June 10, 2022, Infineon's Austrian Quantum Test Lab was officially inaugurated. The lab tests industrially manufactured quantum chips for projects of Infineon, the University of Innsbruck and Joanneum Research (working on 3D lithography with integrated optics). Just three days later, the research lab announced that it had reduced the time needed to test quantum processors from weeks to one day.

A month later (July 6), Infineon announced a partnership with Oxford Ionics to build a high-performance, fully integrated ion trap quantum processor (QPU).

Oxford Ionics designed and Infineon manufactured ion trap wafers

Infineon sees quantum technology as a major opportunity for them in the global competition, "We are still a long way from deciding which technology path will make the fastest progress and which applications quantum computers will successfully handle. Therefore, Infineon is conducting research on various approaches.

"By participating in new projects, we will expand our footprint across the entire quantum technology value chain: from hardware and software to industrial production and even applications. The close cooperation of these projects will accelerate the pace of development and lay the foundation for a successful future."

Reference links:

[1]https://www.chelpis.com/post/%E8%8B%B1%E9%A3%9B%E5%87%8C%E6%94%9C%E6%89%8B%E6%B1%A0%E5%AE%89%E9%87%8F%E5%AD%90%E5%85%B1%E5%90% 8C%E9%96%8B%E7%99%BC%E6%8A%97%E9%87%8F%E5%AD%90%E6%94%BB%E6%93%8A%E7%9A%84%E8%B3%87%E5%AE%89%E8%A7%A3%E6%B1%BA%E6%96%B9%E6%A1%88% EF%BC%8C%E7%82%BA%E4%BC%81%E6%A5%AD%E7%9A%84%E6%95%B8%E4%BD%8D%E8%BD%89%E5%9E%8B%E5%81%9A%E5%A5%BD%E8%B3%87%E5%AE%89%E9%98%B2%E8% AD%B7%E6%BA%96%E5%82%99

[2]https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/BxXmMRofxfTRg8NbfS5uCQ

[3]https://www.chelpis.com/

[4]https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/roll/2023-04-24/doc-imyrnkpp4736709.shtml