PQShield

An Oxford University spin-out that builds cryptography designed to stay secure against future quantum computers. It has worked with international standards bodies.

About PQShield

PQShield works on post-quantum cryptography: security that will still protect data when powerful quantum computers exist. Today's encryption could eventually be broken by such machines, so PQShield builds replacement technology for chips, software and the cloud. It focuses on protecting against quantum computers rather than building them. Its product lines include PQCryptoLib (a compact software library that can run in under 15KB of memory, suitable for small internet-connected devices) and PQPlatform, plus hardware designs for firewalls and data centres, and protection against physical attacks on devices such as bank cards and smart chips.

The company was officially born in May 2018, after the idea took shape in 2017. Its founder and chief executive is Dr Ali El Kaafarani, a mathematician turned cryptographer with a PhD in cryptography who researched at the University of Oxford and HP Labs; he spotted the commercial potential of post-quantum cryptography while working in Oxford's Mathematics Department. PQShield describes itself as the biggest spin-out from Oxford University's Mathematical Institute and credits Oxford University Innovation and Oxford Sciences Innovation for support, plus Innovate UK. A job-board listing gives its headquarters as Summertown, Oxford, and says it works remote-first.

Its mission, in its own framing, is to protect the future from the misuse of quantum computers. Dr El Kaafarani describes the goal as to "future-proof the world's digital foundations", and a job-board profile says it aims to set global standards and build core technologies that secure major organisations' systems.

PQShield says it contributed heavily to the NIST (the US standards body) post-quantum standardisation process, with its team co-authoring several of the selected schemes, and that it also takes part in standards work with the IETF and ETSI. It reports a team of just under 90 people across 10 countries in an electronicspecifier.com article. Its site shows UK security certifications such as Cyber Essentials Plus.

For young people, PQShield is a strong example of a UK deep-tech start-up built on university maths. A job-board listing shows a Product Internship aimed at master's or graduate level, lasting six months, with the work involving C and C++, in London and Paris or remote from the UK and several EU countries (that listing is now closed and pay was not stated). The company advertises benefits such as a home-working allowance, pension contributions, private health cover and part-reimbursed gym membership, which are its own claims. Check its careers page for current openings, as most roles ask for specialist skills.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Compact software library for quantum-safe encryption.', 'title': 'PQCryptoLib'}
• {'desc': 'Quantum-safe security building blocks for chips and devices.', 'title': 'PQPlatform'}
• {'desc': 'Contributing to NIST, IETF and ETSI standards.', 'title': 'Standards work'}
• {'desc': 'NCSC-assured consultancy (per site links).', 'title': 'Consultancy'}

Key facts

• Founded: officially May 2018, as a spin-out of the University of Oxford
• Founder and CEO: Dr Ali El Kaafarani
• Headquarters: Summertown, Oxford (job-board profile)
• Team of just under 90 across 10 countries (electronicspecifier.com article)
• Product Internship listed (master's/graduate level, 6 months; now closed)

Website: pqshield.com