Ayesa Digital prepares the industrial sector for the transition to post-quantum cryptography
Validates quantum-resistant technologies to protect critical data and ensure operational continuity in real environments
Ayesa Digital has launched the BAQURA project, which will prepare companies in the industrial sector to protect their critical data with post-quantum cybersecurity. The aim is to research and validate mechanisms that facilitate the transition from traditional cryptography to solutions that are resistant to future threats from quantum computing.
The technical work focuses on critical industrial environments — OT networks, IoT devices and 4G/5G communications — to strengthen data protection and operational continuity in essential areas such as energy, access control and security, while ensuring compatibility with already deployed systems and a gradual and secure migration.
Led by Ayesa Digital, BAQURA is funded by the Basque Government through the SPRI Group (Basque Business Development Agency) as part of the HAZITEK Programme – Business R&D Support Programme, and also involves the participation of ITS Security, Multiverse Computing, Dorlet, LKS, Ibernova, Cegasa and Cybertix. Together, they form a value chain that encompasses research into quantum-resistant cryptography (PQC), high-security quantum and virtual communications, integration into industrial protocols and architectures, and demonstration in real use cases.
‘This multidisciplinary collaboration will enable us to define the requirements and architecture of the BAQURA platform, select and adapt algorithms for devices with limited resources, and evaluate their integration into protocols and networks widely used in the industry,’ says Itziar Cuenca, R&D director at Ayesa Digital.
The overall objectives of the project include the design and validation of a comprehensive platform for the transition to post-quantum cryptography, the hybridisation of PQC technologies with QKD and VQKD, and the creation of migration methodologies and standards that facilitate its adoption in production environments without disrupting operations. The definition of dynamic deployment strategies (OTA) and the measurement of performance indicators (KPIs) are planned to track the progress and impact of the solutions in real industrial scenarios.
The role of Ayesa Digital
Within the consortium, the Ayesa Group, represented by Ayesa Digital and ITS Security, plays a leading role in defining the technological architecture and identifying technical, operational and regulatory barriers to the adoption of PQC in OT environments.
It also leads the adaptation and implementation of hybrid security protocols —such as TLS, IPSec and SSH— with post-quantum algorithms, ensuring interoperability with existing infrastructures and strengthening resilience against emerging threats. Ayesa Digital and ITS’s contribution also extends to planning secure deployments and evaluating migration and adoption standards, accelerating the transfer of results to industry. The R&D director assures that ‘BAQURA is a strategic commitment to anticipate the new paradigm of industrial cybersecurity: we promote a responsible transition to post-quantum technologies, compatible with current systems and focused on protecting critical assets in sectors such as energy and security.’
