TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's quantum security chip startup Jmem Technology Co. (Jmem Tek) has been selected to join Silicon Catalyst, the largest semiconductor accelerator in the US, becoming the first Taiwanese team accepted into the program.
An accelerator helps startups by providing funding, expert advice, and other resources to accelerate growth. Silicon Catalyst holds an acceptance rate of less than 10%, exclusively focused on supporting global semiconductor startups, per Silicon Catalyst.
Jmem Tek has developed a chip that includes post-quantum cryptography, offering the world's first quantum-safe solution integrated into a chip. By combining software and hardware security it ensures protection against future quantum computer threats by using invisible keys and robust authentication, per CNA.
Cryptography is the practice of encoding information to ensure only the intended recipient can read it. This method remains crucial for modern security in areas like banking, passwords, and e-commerce, according to Fortinet.
Encryption systems today rely on complex math problems, like breaking down large numbers and solving certain equations. These are tough for classical computers to solve, but quantum computers are particularly good at solving these problems because the answers follow periodic patterns, according to Academia Sinica.
Once these patterns are identified, quantum computers can solve the problems easily, unlike classical computers, which struggle with large numbers. In 1994, computer scientist Peter Shor developed an algorithm that can find these patterns, potentially breaking most current encryption systems.
Quantum technology, still in development, will soon be able to solve complex problems faster than supercomputers. By applying quantum physics, quantum computers could complete tasks that would take traditional computers thousands of years in just minutes, per IBM.
As quantum computing advances, it will pose a major threat to privacy. Many current public encryption systems, like Rivest-Shamir-Adleman and elliptic curve cryptography, will no longer be secure.
Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is a field of cryptography focused on developing systems that can resist attacks from quantum computers.
Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg said in a podcast aired Jan. 3 that although he is not an expert in quantum computing, he believes the technology is still years away from becoming practical. Zuckerberg added that many experts think it will take more than a decade for quantum computing to reach its full potential, per CTEE.
At the US Consumer Electronics Show, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said that bringing practical quantum computers to market could take 15 to 30 years, a view Jmem Tek CEO John Chang (張振豐) agrees with. Chang noted that the internet also took time to evolve, requiring constant updates along the way.
However, Chang pointed out that quantum technology is shifting from “whether it will happen” to “when it will happen,” and the need to develop and apply this technology is becoming more urgent. While some believe quantum computers are still years away, many hackers are already collecting information to decrypt once the technology becomes available, Chang said.
Chang emphasized that businesses and organizations must be prepared to defend against quantum computer attacks to secure their data. Currently, Jmem Tek's technology is being used in national defense and financial technology sectors.
Jmem Tek, which recently participated in CES, saw strong interest from companies in the US, Japan, and South Korea. The company has established a presence in Silicon Valley and is exploring collaboration and expansion opportunities.
Other Taiwanese quantum tech startups at CES included Taiwan Quantum Technology Co., which provides components for quantum computers, and amPICQ, which specializes in quantum communication.