HWiQ 2025

2025 NSF Workshop of Hardware Security in the Era of Quantum Computing & Post-Quantum Cryptography. Alexandria, VA, March 3-4, 2025.

Organizers (Co-Chairs)

Executive Summary

With the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standardization process advancing and quantum computing development accelerating, there is an urgent need to explore hardware-centric security concerns and solutions to ensure PQC and quantum computers are safe and efficient. This NSF Workshop on Hardware Security in the Era of Quantum Computing & Post-Quantum Cryptography (HWiQ) addresses critical challenges and opportunities in hardware security as we transition into the quantum computing era.

Key outcomes of the 1.5-day workshop:

Workshop Agenda & Structure

Keynotes

  1. Hardware security in the quantum world — Dr. Sanjay (Jay) Rekhi (NIST)
  2. Quantum computer cybersecurity — Dr. Jakub Szefer (Northwestern University)

Speaker sessions (lightning talks)

  1. Novel implementation for PQC (3 speakers)
  2. Side-channel and related issues for PQC (4 speakers)
  3. Quantum computing and PQC security (4 speakers)

Slides and recordings: Google Drive

Key Discussions and Outcomes

Below is a summary organized according to the workshop program.

(i) Opening keynote — Dr. Sanjay Rekhi (NIST)

Dr. Rekhi presented on hardware security in the quantum world, covering NIST’s PQC standardization process, related research activities, and resources. He highlighted small-business programs supporting hardware security for quantum computing and PQC.

(ii) Speaker Session I — Novel Implementation for PQC

(iii) Panel Discussion I (moderated by Michel Kinsy)

Topics included:

(iv) Speaker Session II — Side-Channel and Related for PQC

(v) Panel Discussion II

Main focus areas:

(vi) Keynote II — Dr. Jakub Szefer (Northwestern University)

Dr. Szefer discussed quantum computer cybersecurity, covering recent work and future directions, with emphasis on cloud-based operation scenarios, information leakage, side-channel attacks, and defenses.

(vii) Speaker Session III — Quantum Computing and PQC Security

(viii) Panel Discussion III (moderated by Michel Kinsy)

Topics included:

(ix) Closing remark — Dr. Qiaoyan Yu (NSF)

Dr. Yu emphasized the workshop goals, highlighted key discussions, and encouraged cultivating a strong U.S. research community, continuing the workshop in future years, strengthening infrastructure and education, and facilitating sharing among peers.

Summary of Key Discussion Points

  1. PQC standardization process and updates
  2. PQC hardware implementation (agility, algorithmic innovation, architecture)
  3. Side-channel attacks and countermeasures for PQC (EDA tools, circuit-level innovation, sensitivity analysis)
  4. Cybersecurity threats to quantum computing and defenses
  5. Privacy-preserving techniques for quantum computing
  6. Future research on hardware security for PQC and quantum computing

Summary of Key Outcomes

  1. All the invited speakers, panelists, and attendees emphasized the importance of hardware security for PQC and quantum computing.
  2. Promising research directions were identified across keynote talks, sessions, and panels.
  3. New research ideas and potential collaborations were initiated among academia and industry.
  4. Participants urged continued development of the workshop and community-building efforts.

Recommendations & Future Research Directions

  1. Novel hardware implementations for PQC: agility, algorithmic optimization, new architectures, and lightweight PQC development.
  2. Expanded research into side-channel analysis for hardware PQC: classical countermeasures, threat modeling, ML-assisted side-channel work, and EDA tool development for secure design.
  3. Cybersecurity for quantum computing: error correction, secure attack/defense methods, privacy-preserving circuit design, and anomaly detection for quantum systems.

Also recommended: public outreach and education about PQC and quantum computing security.

Long-term perspective: maintain the workshop to grow the research community across academia, industry, and government. Concerns noted included a limited PQC implementation research community in the U.S., insufficient hardware security work for quantum computing, and the need for increased investment and talent development.

Participant Demographics

Acknowledgments

This workshop was funded by NSF grant 2453511 — Conference: Workshop Proposal for Hardware Security in the Era of Quantum Computing & Post-Quantum Cryptography.

Appendices

Guest / Speaker List

Speakers

Guests

Co-Chairs