In this exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Mattia Montagna—CEO and co-founder of Quantum Bridge—shares his vision at the intersection of quantum technology and cybersecurity. Drawing on a distinguished background in economics, applied mathematics, and international financial stability, Mattia leads Quantum Bridge in pioneering next-generation solutions that combine classical security protocols with quantum-safe technology. His expertise and forward-thinking approach are shaping a safer future for Canadian businesses and innovators preparing for the realities of the quantum era.
Mattia Montagna is CEO and co-founder at Quantum Bridge. Mattia is an entrepreneur, academic author, inventor, and researcher in the fields of monetary and financial economics. Mattia earned two Masters in Physics, a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, and a post-doc fellowship at the University of Toronto. Before moving to Canada to work on Quantum Bridge, Mattia worked at the European Central Bank as Principal Financial Stability Expert, where he was leading a group of quantitative researchers.
Quantum Bridge Technologies integrates classical cryptography with quantum-safe solutions. How does your Distributed Symmetric Key Establishment (DSKE) technology work in this regard, and what advantages does it provide over traditional methods?
Traditional key distribution methods such as RSA and ECC rely on public-private key technologies built on mathematical hardness assumptions. These assumptions become vulnerable in the presence of quantum computers.
Quantum Bridge’s Distributed Symmetric Key Establishment (DSKE) technology takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of relying on computational difficulty, DSKE takes a logistics-based approach, which provides information-theoretic security — meaning communications remain secure even against quantum adversaries.
Key advantages of DSKE include:
- Unconditional Security – DSKE ensures resilience against both classical and quantum attacks.
- Robust and Scalable Delivery – It enables efficient distribution of symmetric keys across networks of any size, from small deployments to large-scale infrastructures.
- Lightweight Implementation – Its low computational requirements make it well-suited for constrained environments such as IoT devices.
In addition, DSKE simplifies the long-standing challenge of symmetric key management. Traditionally, pre-shared keys require repeated manual distribution, and reliance on a central authority for key generation. This creates single points of trust and makes large-scale deployment costly and operationally fragile. DSKE overcomes this by requiring physical delivery of pre-shared random numbers only once during setup, after which the protocol handles ongoing establishment automatically and in a distributed manner.
As quantum computing advances, what are its most significant threats to current cybersecurity measures? How is Quantum Bridge positioning itself to address these challenges?
Quantum computing is exciting because of its potential, but it also poses one of the biggest risks to today’s cybersecurity. The key distribution methods we rely on—whether for online banking, e-commerce, or secure communications—are based on mathematical problems that quantum computers will be able to solve much faster than classical machines. This means data considered safe today could be vulnerable tomorrow. What makes this even more urgent is the “store now, decrypt later” risk, where sensitive information can be captured today and unlocked once quantum capabilities mature.
At Quantum Bridge, we’re tackling this challenge head-on by developing communication security technologies that are secure in a post-quantum world. Our Symmetric-key Distribution System (SDS) is designed to deliver long-term security that stands strong in a quantum future. What makes SDS unique is that it doesn’t require organizations to overhaul their current infrastructure. Instead, it integrates seamlessly with existing networks, supports interoperability across different systems, and is scalable and straightforward to adopt. Importantly, it provides cryptographic agility: on top of DSKE, SDS adopters also have access to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) as well as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) compatibility.
Your recent partnership with Juniper Networks highlights the importance of collaboration in developing quantum-safe networking solutions. Can you share insights into how this partnership enhances your offerings and impacts the cybersecurity landscape?
Collaboration is essential in preparing for the quantum era, because no single company can tackle this challenge alone. Our partnership with Juniper Networks combines their global leadership in networking infrastructure with our expertise in quantum-safe key distribution. Together, we’re making it possible to integrate our Symmetric-key Distribution System (SDS) directly into real-world network environments.
This partnership with Juniper goes well beyond funding—it’s a strategic collaboration aimed at bringing quantum-safe solutions directly to end customers. By working closely together, we’re also gaining valuable insights into customer needs and emerging product trends. This feedback loop ensures that we stay ahead of the curve, shaping our products to meet real-world requirements as they evolve. Ultimately, the partnership allows us to deliver scalable, interoperable, and future-proof security while keeping customer adoption straightforward and impactful. With our partnership, we aim to ensure that as quantum computing drives innovation, businesses of all sizes can continue to operate with confidence that their data and communication is protected.
With the development of quantum repeaters and other technologies, what innovations do you foresee as game-changers in the realm of quantum communications? How do these advancements contribute to building a secure quantum internet?
One of the biggest challenges in quantum communications is distance. Today’s quantum signals weaken quickly, making it difficult to extend security over large networks. Quantum repeaters are set to change that by enabling the distribution of quantum information across much longer distances, laying the foundation for large-scale quantum networks. Once matured, they will allow secure quantum links to connect cities, countries, and eventually continents.
Beyond repeaters, advances in integrated photonics, satellite-based quantum links, and hybrid approaches that combine quantum and classical technologies will also play a major role. These innovations will make quantum communication systems more practical, cost-effective, and ready for widespread adoption.
Together, these technologies move us closer to the vision of a secure quantum internet—a global network where sensitive data can be exchanged with unparalleled protection against both classical and quantum attacks. At Quantum Bridge, we’re not just watching these advancements—we’re building them. In partnership with the National Research Council of Canada, our quantum team is developing repeater technology based on generating photonic graph states. By combining fusion gates with deterministic resource state generation via quantum dots, we’re working on an approach that balances experimental feasibility with resource efficiency. In practical terms, this means creating the foundation for secure, long-distance quantum communications that today’s systems simply can’t achieve. This work has the potential to unlock entirely new possibilities, from continent-spanning secure networks to the building blocks of a future quantum internet.
As a final thought, what advice would you give to small and medium-sized businesses looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture in light of emerging quantum threats? What steps should they take to future-proof their data security strategies?
To prepare the whole industry for quantum threats, awareness is the first step. SMEs may not always have the resources to cover every angle, but there are concrete actions they can take today. Start by talking with your IT providers and vendors about post-quantum readiness and make sure the solutions you rely on have a clear path to quantum-safe upgrades. Also, seek out partners and technologies built with quantum resilience in mind—this ensures your investments remain secure as the landscape changes.
At Quantum Bridge, we believe education is key. That’s why we’re happy to support SMEs with awareness sessions and practical guidance on how to strengthen security now, while preparing for the quantum era ahead. Migration to quantum-safety is inevitable, and SMEs can rely on companies like Quantum Bridge to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
