Paper accepted at AfricaCrypt 2026

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The paper “The Best of Both Worlds: Hybrid Authenticated Key Exchange for QKD(N) without Signatures” was authored by Sebastian Clermont (TU Darmstadt) and UCS researcher Johanna Henrich.

The publication proposes a hybrid authenticated key exchange that completely removes the need for digital signature schemes in order to reduce the cryptographic attack surface and improve crypto-agility. Instead, the protocol combines Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and QKD-based key agreement while leveraging PQC Key Encapsulation Mechanisms (KEMs) for both authentication and key exchange.

In addition, the paper provides a fully modular security analysis and the practical feasibility is demonstrated through benchmark implementations using ML-KEM, FrodoKEM, and Classic McEliece.

The work was carried out in collaboration with TU Darmstadt as part of the ATHENE research project SATURN.

The acceptance at AfricaCrypt 2026 highlights the ongoing research activities of the UCS group in the fields of quantum-secure communication, applied Cryptography and crypto-agility.

PQC Update 2026

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Johanna Henrich participated in the PQC Update 2026 organized by Fraunhofer AISEC. The event brought together experts from academia, industry, and public institutions to discuss the current state of PQC, migration challenges, and practical deployment strategies.

The meeting covered recent developments in standardization activities, migration planning for cryptographic infrastructures, and experiences from ongoing PQC transition projects. In addition, the event provided valuable opportunities for networking and exchange with researchers and practitioners working on quantum-safe security technologies.

Participation in the event supports the ongoing activities within the SATURN project, particularly regarding secure communication infrastructures and the transition towards quantum-resistant cryptographic mechanisms.

Cryptography | UCS

Paper accepted at AfricaCrypt 2026

PQC Update 2026