Ayesa Digital prepares the industrial sector for the transition to post-quantum cryptography

Validating quantum-resistant technologies to protect critical data and ensure operational continuity in real-world environments.

Ayesa Digital has launched the BAQURA project, an initiative designed to help industrial sector companies protect their critical data through post-quantum cybersecurity. The objective is to research and validate mechanisms that facilitate the transition from traditional cryptography to solutions resilient against the future threats posed by quantum computing.

The technical work focuses on critical industrial environments—including 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. At the same time, it ensures compatibility with existing systems and enables a gradual, secure migration process.

Led by Ayesa Digital, BAQURA is funded by the Basque Government through the Grupo SPRI (Basque Business Development Agency) under the HAZITEK Programme – Business R&D Support Programme. The project also includes the participation of ITS Security, Multiverse Computing, Dorlet, LKS, Ibernova, Cegasa, and Cybertix. Together, they form a value chain encompassing research in post-quantum cryptography (PQC), quantum and high-security virtual communications, integration into industrial protocols and architectures, and demonstration through real-world use cases.

“This multidisciplinary collaboration will enable us to define the requirements and architecture of the BAQURA platform, select and adapt algorithms for resource-constrained devices, and assess their integration into widely used industrial protocols and networks,” states Itziar Cuenca, R&D Director at Ayesa Digital.

The project’s overarching objectives include the design and validation of a comprehensive platform to support the transition to post-quantum cryptography, the hybridization of PQC technologies with QKD and VQKD, and the development of migration methodologies and standards to facilitate adoption in production environments without disrupting operations. Plans also include defining dynamic over-the-air (OTA) deployment strategies and measuring key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor progress and assess the impact of the solutions in real industrial scenarios.

Ayesa Digital’s Role

Within the consortium framework, 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 PQC adoption in OT environments.

It also leads the adaptation and implementation of hybrid security protocols—such as TLS, IPSec, and SSH—integrating post-quantum algorithms to ensure interoperability with existing infrastructures and enhance resilience against emerging threats. Furthermore, Ayesa Digital and ITS contribute to the planning of secure deployments and the evaluation of migration and adoption standards, accelerating the transfer of project outcomes to the industry.

According to the R&D Director, “BAQURA represents a strategic commitment to anticipating the new paradigm of industrial cybersecurity: we are promoting a responsible transition toward post-quantum technologies, fully compatible with current systems and focused on protecting critical assets in sectors such as energy and security.”