QCNC 2026 provides a forum for academic researchers and industry practitioners to present research progresses, exchange new ideas, and identify future directions in the field of Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing.

Scope and Objectives

In recent decades, quantum researchers have made remarkable progress, propelling quantum technology into the spotlight for its potential to revolutionize classical communications, networking, and computing. The inherent advantages of quantum technology, particularly in terms of security, privacy, efficiency and scalability, have opened new frontiers in information technology. Quantum technology has demonstrated its ability to introduce applications with no equivalent in the classical realm, marking a breakthrough towards an unimaginable future. The establishment of connections between the quantum source node and destination node using quantum hardware and devices facilitates qubit transmissions, which in turn enables advancements in quantum computing, artificial intelligence and cryptography and further services and applications. Envisioned as a transformative force, quantum services are anticipated to span the globe, leveraging quantum terrestrial components, satellites, airplanes, ships, and other vehicles. The quantum future holds the promise of nearly unconditional security, super-computing power, large capacity, even at high velocity, and heightened privacy.

Our conference welcomes submissions across diverse research areas related to quantum hardware, communications, networking, computing, cryptography, artificial intelligence, and their associated systems and applications. The topics of interests are covered by the following tracks:

Track 1: Quantum Communications and Networks
Track 2: Quantum Computing and Sensing
Track 3: Quantum Security
Track 4: Quantum Simulations, Prototypes, Testbeds and Applications

Track 1: Quantum communications and networks (Track CFP)

    Entanglement generation, scheduling, and distribution
    Entanglement purification and distillation
    Quantum network coding
    Quantum repeater architectures
    Long-distance quantum communications
    Routing in quantum networks
    Queuing analysis in quantum networks
    Quantum network simulators
    Entanglement network testbeds
    Quantum Internet protocol stacks
    Quantum communication protocols
    Quantum network architectures, protocols, and design principles
    Congestion control and resource allocation for quantum networks
    Quantum network management
    Interoperability between quantum and classical networks
    Local-area quantum networks and quantum cloud
    Quantum network topologies

Track 2: Quantum Computing and Sensing (Track CFP)

    Quantum Algorithms and protocols
    Quantum Circuit Design
    Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) Devices
    Quantum Machine Learning
    Quantum Sensing
    Quantum Information Theory
    Quantum Hardware
    Hybrid Quantum-Classical Systems

Track 3: Quantum Security (Track CFP)

    Quantum Key Distribution Protocols: design of novel protocols, security proofs and proof methods for QKD protocols
    Quantum Key Distribution Realizations: prototypes, products and test-beds
    Side channels in QKD, quantum hacking and countermeasures
    Quantum Key Distribution Network and Deployments, including satellites and satellite networks
    Quantum Key Distribution and Quantum Key Distribution Networks: Standardization and Certification
    Quantum Cryptography beyond QKD
    Post-quantum cryptography (PQC)
    PQC products, standardization and certification
    Side-channel attacks and countermeasures in PQC
    Migration to solutions that are secure against the quantum threat
    Hybridization of different approaches that offer security in the quantum regime
    Use cases for realizing security in the quantum age

Track 4: Quantum Simulations, Prototypes, Testbeds and Applications (Track CFP)

    Development and extension of quantum network simulators
    Design, implementation and evaluation of prototype quantum network devices and testbed
    Simulations of the Physical layer of quantum networks, including hardware components and their manipulation, etc.
    Simulation or demonstration of the Link layer of (first-generation) quantum networks, including entanglement generation, swapping, and purification protocols
    Simulation of quantum error correction in quantum networking
    Simulation or demonstration of applications of quantum networks, including quantum key distribution, distributed quantum computing, distributed quantum sensing, etc.
    Simulation or demonstration of dynamic and multi-user quantum networks
    Simulation of routing in quantum networks