Coherent Corp., a global leader in photonics, and quantum technology innovator Quside have jointly achieved a significant advancement in hardware-based security by demonstrating a mass manufacturable quantum entropy source that can be embedded at scale, laying the foundation for next-generation secure digital systems and architectures. The breakthrough integrates Coherent’s vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), manufactured at scale on 6-inch wafers, with Quside’s quantum random number generation technology to deliver fast, verifiable quantum entropy suitable for cryptographic key generation, secure communication and emerging quantum-safe and crypto-agile systems, moving quantum-grade security primitives from niche applications into mainstream processors, secure elements and hardware roots of trust. “VCSEL technology has already demonstrated its reliability and scalability across datacenters, sensing, and high-volume optical systems,” said Dr. Giovanni Barbarossa, Chief Strategy Officer at Coherent Corp. “This collaboration shows how mature photonic manufacturing platforms can enable entirely new security functions while meeting the cost, reliability, and scale requirements needed for broad market adoption.” “Security systems are only as strong as the randomness they rely on,” said Dr. Carlos Abellán, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Quside. “What makes this milestone unique is not only that the entropy is generated through quantum processes, but that it is fast, verifiable, and mass manufacturable by relying on volume proven 6” VCSEL production. This moves locally verified quantum entropy technology into practical, deployable infrastructure.” This advancement, slated for live demonstration with development kits at Photonics West 2026 in San Francisco, highlights how the solution can be integrated from silicon to system level to meet growing demands in entropy generation and verification and positions the technology for high-volume commercial deployment in real-world, large-scale secure infrastructures by leveraging manufacturing-ready components and established production processes.
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Key Impact and Industry Implications
The partnership between Coherent and Quside not only demonstrates the capability to seamlessly integrate high-quality randomness at scale but also signifies the transition to applicable quantum entropy development, which is essential for the rising need for quality hardware randomness within the context of an increasingly quantum-safe secured future.