On 5 and 6 February 2026, HellasQCI, coordinated by GRNET, actively contributed to two consecutive workshops on quantum preparedness and secure communications, reinforcing collaboration at national and European level.
Q-PrEP In-Person Workshop at NCSR “Demokritos” – 5 February, 2026
Organised by the Q-PrEP project and held on 5 February at NCSR “Demokritos” in Athens, the Q-PrEP (Quantum Preparedness) In-Person Workshop brought together more than 100 experts and stakeholders from across Europe to address real-world challenges in post-quantum security, quantum preparedness, and quantum-safe communication infrastructures.
The programme combined strategic perspectives, technical insights, and interactive dialogue through keynote speeches and expert talks, thematic presentations, and focus panels addressing cryptographic migration, system-level risks in public IT infrastructures, and the integration of quantum-safe communications in the public domain.
Within this framework, Dr. Ilias Papastamatiou, Senior Project Manager at GRNET and Coordinator of HellasQCI, delivered a keynote speech on strengthening the resilience of critical infrastructure in Greece against cyber threats, highlighting the strategic importance of post-quantum readiness for national and European digital infrastructures. In addition, Dr. Homer Papadopoulos, Senior Science & Development Manager at NCSR “Demokritos” and HellasQCI Communications Leader, presented on Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), highlighting practical pathways towards quantum-safe communications.
Q-PrEP and HellasQCI Community Workshop at GRNET – 6 February
On 6 February, a follow-up focused community workshop entitled “Strengthening Europe’s Quantum Communication Ecosystem: Q-PrEP and HellasQCI” was held at the premises of GRNET, in cooperation with the Q-PrEP project and NCSR “Demokritos”, bringing together around 20 participants from the Greek and European quantum technologies and quantum communications ecosystem.
The workshop featured presentations on the HellasQCI project, updates from the Q-PrEP community and its partners, and an open discussion on collaboration opportunities across research, industry, and infrastructure initiatives in the field of quantum technologies. Participants represented a broad range of academic, industrial, and institutional stakeholders, including Capgemini, NMWP Management, SMALS, Deutsche Bundesbank, as well as partners from the HellasQCI Consortium (GRNET, NKUA, NCSR “Demokritos”, and NTUA).
Within this context, Mathias Schumacher, M.Sc., presented the Q-PrEP project, outlining its objectives, scope, and ongoing activities, and highlighting synergies with national and European quantum initiatives, including HellasQCI.
On behalf of GRNET and the HellasQCI project, Dr. Ilias Papastamatiou, Dr. Alexis Aivaliotis, and Athina Anastasopoulou presented the latest developments of the HellasQCI project, as well as its next phase through the SEEWQCI and TransEuroOGS projects, underlining Greece’s growing role in the European quantum communication landscape.
Furthermore, Dr. Konstantinos Tsimvrakidis (NKUA) delivered a high-level presentation on the technical implementation and use cases of the HellasQCI networks, while Dr. Giannis Giannoulis (NTUA) introduced the spin-off company QRBIT and its experimental activities in space-based QKD.
The workshop concluded with lively discussions on the deployment and operation of QKD and PQC networks, as well as the integration of space-based quantum communications, serving as a productive community-building initiative and fostering dialogue on the future evolution of quantum-safe technologies in Europe.
The workshops highlighted the value of close coordination across national and European initiatives, strengthening HellasQCI’s contribution to the development of resilient, quantum-safe communication infrastructures.
