Prof. Marcin Pawłowski's invention – a unique device on the global scale – a self-testing quantum random numbers generator won the 3rd prize in the 10th edition of 'Eureka! DGP – discovering Polish inventions' contest in the category of discoveries. Dr hab. Artur Sikorski, prof. UG, and mgr MałgorzataRybczyńska, scientists from the Department of Physical Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemistry UG, were also among the nominees (read here).
The 10th edition of 'Eureka! DGP – discovering Polish Inventions' prize gala took place in Warsaw on June 27. The contest received patronage from the Ministry of Education and Science, The National Centre for Research and Development, The Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, and the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS).
The quantum random numbers generator was among the discoveries appreciated by the jury from Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. The device was the effect of the cooperation of dr hab. Marcin Pawłowski from our university and prof. Gustavo Limo from the Universidad de Concepción (Chile). UG's laureate is the Quantum Cybersecurity and Communication Group leader in the International Centre for Theory Of Quantum Technologies UG.
Self-testing random number generators are used when the trust in the actual randomness of the generated numbers is crucial, as in the case of communication encryption. High quality of randomness translates directly into the time necessary for breaking the cryptographic key or generated password.
'What makes our device stand out is the possibility of testing generated numbers. It is more interesting as it was proven impossible without using quantum mechanics. That is why our device proves that produced data is safe and uses processes inexplicable on the grounds of classical Physics,' says prof. UG Marcin Pawłowski.
Works on protecting the invention, scaling it, and adjusting it to everyday use devices were funded by – among others – 'Innovation Incubator 4.0' programme funds. Technology Transfer Office UG coordinates the realisation of the programme. The invention, protected by an international patent, became a subject of interest of SEQURE SPA. After intense negotiations, the license agreement was signed with the company.
'We sincerely congratulate awarded scientists, and we are happy to support them in their actions regarding legal protection and commercialisation of their invention,' says Katarzyna Gronowska, Director of Technology Transfer Office UG. 'Thanks to these actions, linking business and new quantum technologies field in cybersecurity becomes real,' she adds.
Protection and legal assistance for the inventions are provided by the Technology Transfer Office UG, which actively supports the University of Gdańsk's research groups in bringing their innovative technologies to the market.
Interviews with the scientist can be found under following links: Fotonem w hakerów. and on the Science Portal UG : Kryptografia kwantowa, czyli szyfry nie do złamania. Jak dzięki nauce niemożliwe uczynić możliwym
Among this year's finalists, there were also dr hab. Artur Sikorski, prof. UG, and mgr Małgorzata Rybczyńska, Ph.D. candidate. They were appreciated for a method of obtaining the new forms of Nmesulid (painkiller) that significantly increase its solubility.
The previous edition of the contest was won by a team of scientists from the University of Gdańsk (dr inż. Wojciech Śledź and prof. dr hab. Ewa Łojkowska) and Wrocław University of Science and Technology (dr Agata Motyka-Pomagruk).
EUREKA! The DGP contest is meant for Polish universities, research institutes, and the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS) research units. Inventions nominated for the prize are presented in DGP Magazine until June. The PLN 30 000 award for the winning team is funded by the pharmaceutical company Polpharma, a partner of Polish Science. The winners also receive a PLN 50 000 worth marketing campaign for their institution in the media owned by INFOR PL SA (the editor of Dziennik Gazeta Prawna), funded by the organiser.
