ICTK (CEO Jeong-won Lee) announced on the 28th that it has signed a strategic investment and development agreement worth $15 million with global quantum technology company BTQ Technologies Corp. (hereinafter referred to as BTQ).
This agreement is intended to respond to the increasing security threats resulting from the commercialization of quantum computers. ICTK will combine BTQ's Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) technology with its security chip design and manufacturing capabilities to jointly develop a next-generation quantum security SE (Security Element) chip called 'Quantum Compute in Memory (QCIM).'
The QCIM development project aims to increase technological independence and lead the global quantum security semiconductor market by applying quantum security technology across key industries, including defense, finance, and communications. The two companies signed a development agreement covering the design, verification, tape-out, certification, and commercialization of the QCIM chip, along with a direct equity investment and joint venture agreement for BTQ in ICTK.
Initial performance goals include a five-fold increase in Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) processing speed compared to existing security hardware, real-time authentication processing of approximately 1 million transactions per second, and ultra-low power consumption of less than 1 microjoule per operation, and are designed to be applicable to small devices and embedded systems.
With this agreement, ICTK plans to shift its security chip roadmap to focus on PQC and begin development of its second quantum security chip, following the i511DN (G5N) announced in February 2025. Furthermore, through collaboration with BTQ, ICTK plans to accelerate its entry into overseas markets and promote the commercialization of quantum security semiconductors in the defense, finance, and communications sectors.
Lee Jeong-won, CEO of ICTK, said, “This agreement is an important milestone in responding to the changing security paradigm in the quantum computer era,” and added, “By directly implementing quantum-resistant cryptography technology at the security chip level, we will provide solutions that meet quantum security standards in various industries such as finance, defense, AI, and IoT.”
“Our collaboration with ICTK is a key partnership for the global commercialization of quantum security technology,” said Choi Young-seok, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) of BTQ. “By combining BTQ’s PQC technology and ICTK’s semiconductor design capabilities, we will build a quantum-safe hardware ecosystem in various fields such as defense, finance, and artificial intelligence.”
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