Open-Source Silicon Distribution Develops Post-Quantum Cryptography Designs

A new open-source silicon ecosystem called Pavona is emerging to address a critical vulnerability in hardware security as the threat of quantum computing grows. While quantum-resistant encryption has made progress in software applications like internet search and secure messaging, specialized hardware remains particularly susceptible to future attacks. Hosted by GlobalPlatform, Pavona unites industry leaders and institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy, to accelerate the development of secure-by-design silicon using reusable building blocks and production-ready foundations. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy contributed to three leading post-quantum cryptographic schemes, Kyber, Dilithium, and SPHINCS+, and now aim to integrate these standards into hardware solutions. “Our collaboration on post-quantum cryptography for Pavona demonstrates what the open-source silicon model uniquely enables: peer-reviewed research with a direct path to commercial-grade integration,” said Peter Schwabe, Scientific Director at the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy.

Pavona Ecosystem Accelerates Post-Quantum Silicon Development

The vulnerability of specialized hardware to future quantum attacks presents a significant challenge despite advancements in software-based quantum-resistant encryption. Internet search and secure messaging benefit from these new standards, but dedicated hardware lags in adopting comparable protections. This initiative unites industry leaders and academic institutions to bridge the gap between research and practical application in hardware security. A recent collaborative project with ZeroRISC, Fraunhofer AISEC, and Academia Sinica yielded substantial performance gains for the ML-KEM and ML-DSA algorithms on embedded silicon, demonstrating processing speeds six to nine times faster and a 36, 75% increase in maximum operating frequency, all without significantly increasing area costs. These improvements highlight the potential for optimized hardware implementations of post-quantum cryptography. Pavona’s ecosystem, complete with source code, continuous integration results, and documentation, aims to foster a community-driven approach to building secure and trustworthy hardware solutions for a post-quantum world.

Kyber & Dilithium Performance Gains on Embedded Silicon

While software-based quantum-resistant encryption gains traction in applications like search and messaging, specialized hardware presents a distinct and increasingly vulnerable attack surface. The inherent complexity of conventional silicon designs often hinders rapid adoption of new cryptographic standards. Recognizing this gap, researchers have focused on optimizing post-quantum algorithms for embedded systems, yielding notable performance improvements. These gains were achieved without sacrificing efficiency; the team also reported 36, 75% increases in maximum operating frequency while maintaining a negligible impact on silicon area. This is crucial for resource-constrained devices where space and power consumption are paramount. The initiative is supported by Pavona, a new open-source silicon ecosystem hosted by GlobalPlatform, designed to accelerate secure-by-design hardware through reusable building blocks and collaborative development. Pavona’s open-source approach aims to lower the barrier to entry for implementing quantum-resistant hardware, fostering wider adoption and bolstering security against future threats. The availability of source code, CI results, and documentation on the Pavona website further supports this goal, enabling broader community involvement and accelerating the development of trustworthy hardware solutions.