At the Munich Security Conference today, Siemens and eight partners from industry will sign the first joint charter for greater cybersecurity. Initiated by Siemens, the Charter of Trust calls for binding rules and standards to build trust in cybersecurity and further advance digitalization.
In addition to Siemens and the Munich Security Conference (MSC), the companies Airbus, Allianz, Daimler Group, IBM, NXP, SGS and Deutsche Telekom are signing the Charter. The initiative is further welcomed by Canadian foreign minister and G7 representative Chrystia Freeland as well as witnessed by Elżbieta Bieńkowska, the EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
“Confidence that the security of data and networked systems is guaranteed is a key element of the digital transformation,” said Siemens President and CEO Joe Kaeser. “That’s why we have to make the digital world more secure and more trustworthy. It’s high time we acted – not just individually but jointly with strong partners who are leaders in their markets. We hope more partners will join us to further strengthen our initiative.”
The Charter delineates 10 action areas in cybersecurity where governments and businesses must both become active. It calls for responsibility for cybersecurity to be assumed at the highest levels of government and business, with the introduction of a dedicated ministry in governments and a chief information security officer at companies. It also calls for companies to establish mandatory, independent third-party certification for critical infrastructure and solutions – above all, where dangerous situations can arise, such as with autonomous vehicles or the robots of tomorrow, which will interact directly with humans during production processes. In the future, security and data protection functions are to be preconfigured as a part of technologies, and cybersecurity regulations are to be incorporated into free trade agreements. The Charter’s signatories also call for greater efforts to foster an understanding of cybersecurity through training and continuing education as well as international initiatives.
“Secure digital networks are the critical infrastructure underpinning our interconnected world,” said Canadian foreign minister Chrystia Freeland. “Canada welcomes the efforts of these key industry players to help create a safer cyberspace. Cybersecurity will certainly be a focus of Canada’s G7 presidency year.” The matter is also a top priority for the Munich Security Conference. “Governments must take a leadership role when it comes to the transaction rules in cyberspace,” said Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference. “But the companies that are in the forefront of envisioning and designing the future of cyberspace must develop and implement the standards. That’s why the Charter is so important. Together with our partners, we want to advance the topic and help define its content,” he added.
In a digitalized world, the threats to cybersecurity are steadily growing: According to Gartner, 8.4 billion networked devices were in use in 2017 – a 31-percent increase over 2016. By 2020, the figure is expected to reach 20.4 billion.
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Decrypting the Future: Global Timelines for PostQuantum Cryptography and why they matter
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Post-Quantum Cryptography
Decrypting the Future: Global Timelines for PostQuantum Cryptography and why they matter
The transition to post-quantum cryptography is not a future problem — it is a present one. The threat of adversaries harvesting encrypted data today for decryption once quantum computing matures means that organizations with long-lived data and systems are already exposed. Waiting for cryptographically relevant quantum computers to arrive before acting is not a viable risk management strategy.
Exposure is not uniform across sectors. Financial services, government and defense, operational technology, and healthcare face the sharpest quantum risk, driven by decades-long data retention obligations, slow system replacement cycles, and the societal consequences of cryptographic failure. For these sectors, PQC readiness has moved from best practice to strategic imperative.
Globally, the direction of travel is clear. The United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia have each established structured PQC transition frameworks, with mandatory deadlines converging around the late 2020s and 2030. Organizations operating across jurisdictions should expect compounding compliance requirements and align migration plans accordingly.
At the same time, the geopolitical dimension of PQC standardization is becoming increasingly salient. The emergence of a “splinternet” infrastructure, characterized by regionally fragmented digital ecosystems, suggests that cryptographic standards diverge along political and strategic lines. As a result, organizations must not only manage technical migration but also navigate a politically charged landscape in which interoperability, regulatory alignment, and long-term cryptographic agility become critical strategic considerations.
This paper offers a comparative overview of regional PQC transition frameworks and identifies the business and systemic risks associated with quantum-vulnerable cryptography, providing insights for organizations preparing for the transition to post-quantum cryptography. Overall, PQC migration is a strategic transformation, not a technical patch. Cryptographic inventory, governance structures, crypto-agility, and supply chain engagement are as central to success as algorithm selection — and organizations that treat PQC readiness as an architectural and organizational challenge will be best positioned as quantum risks continue to mature.
Exposure is not uniform across sectors. Financial services, government and defense, operational technology, and healthcare face the sharpest quantum risk, driven by decades-long data retention obligations, slow system replacement cycles, and the societal consequences of cryptographic failure. For these sectors, PQC readiness has moved from best practice to strategic imperative.
Globally, the direction of travel is clear. The United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Singapore, and Australia have each established structured PQC transition frameworks, with mandatory deadlines converging around the late 2020s and 2030. Organizations operating across jurisdictions should expect compounding compliance requirements and align migration plans accordingly.
At the same time, the geopolitical dimension of PQC standardization is becoming increasingly salient. The emergence of a “splinternet” infrastructure, characterized by regionally fragmented digital ecosystems, suggests that cryptographic standards diverge along political and strategic lines. As a result, organizations must not only manage technical migration but also navigate a politically charged landscape in which interoperability, regulatory alignment, and long-term cryptographic agility become critical strategic considerations.
This paper offers a comparative overview of regional PQC transition frameworks and identifies the business and systemic risks associated with quantum-vulnerable cryptography, providing insights for organizations preparing for the transition to post-quantum cryptography. Overall, PQC migration is a strategic transformation, not a technical patch. Cryptographic inventory, governance structures, crypto-agility, and supply chain engagement are as central to success as algorithm selection — and organizations that treat PQC readiness as an architectural and organizational challenge will be best positioned as quantum risks continue to mature.
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April 07, 2026
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Post-Quantum Cryptography
A Quantum Leap for Cybersecurity: The Charter of Trust’s PQC Ambition
The Charter of Trust is taking decisive steps to secure our digital future in the quantum era. As quantum computing advances, the risks to today’s cryptographic systems grow ever more urgent. Our dedicated working group is leading the way in raising awareness, promoting standards-based migration, and fostering collaboration across industries, governments, and academia. Together, we are committed to a proactive, well-coordinated, and risk-driven transition to post-quantum cryptography—ensuring digital trust and resilience for generations to come. Discover our vision and join us as we shape a secure digital world for the quantum age.
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Read the Charter's contribution to the European Commission's public consultation on the Digital Omnibus Package
The rapid expansion of EU digital regulation has strengthened security, privacy, and trust, but it has also created overlapping obligations, inconsistent timelines, and administrative complexity. The Digital Omnibus Package provides a timely opportunity to streamline these rules, ensure greater coherence, and enable businesses to focus resources on resilience and innovation rather than redundant compliance tasks.
The Charter of Trust welcomes the Commission’s initiative to harmonize digital regulations across the EU, aiming to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining high standards of security and privacy. Representing the unified views of its Partners, this paper addresses all key legislation within the scope of the Digital Omnibus and offers comprehensive recommendations. It emphasizes the need for a unified incident reporting system, risk-based notification requirements, and fair compliance processes to minimize regulatory overlap. The Charter calls for clearer liability clauses, global recognition of certifications, and stronger supply chain security.
In data regulation, the Charter advocates ensuring alignment between the rules on data intermediation services under the DGA and B2B data sharing under the Data Act and extending exemptions to mid-cap companies, all while safeguarding trade secrets. For artificial intelligence, the paper recommends a phased approach to new requirements, integrated conformity assessments, harmonized compliance templates, and clear definitions, supported by sector-specific guidance and transparent AI categorization. The Charter also encourages the European Commission to ensure that ePrivacy reform is future-proof, fosters innovation, and reflects the needs of both businesses and consumers. Finally, it recommends robust security standards and cross-border recognition for the EU Business Wallet, with industry involvement in technical standards and integration with data access systems.
Collectively, these measures are designed to foster innovation, resilience, and trust in the EU’s digital landscape, allowing businesses to thrive in a coherent and future-ready regulatory environment.
The Charter of Trust welcomes the Commission’s initiative to harmonize digital regulations across the EU, aiming to reduce administrative burdens while maintaining high standards of security and privacy. Representing the unified views of its Partners, this paper addresses all key legislation within the scope of the Digital Omnibus and offers comprehensive recommendations. It emphasizes the need for a unified incident reporting system, risk-based notification requirements, and fair compliance processes to minimize regulatory overlap. The Charter calls for clearer liability clauses, global recognition of certifications, and stronger supply chain security.
In data regulation, the Charter advocates ensuring alignment between the rules on data intermediation services under the DGA and B2B data sharing under the Data Act and extending exemptions to mid-cap companies, all while safeguarding trade secrets. For artificial intelligence, the paper recommends a phased approach to new requirements, integrated conformity assessments, harmonized compliance templates, and clear definitions, supported by sector-specific guidance and transparent AI categorization. The Charter also encourages the European Commission to ensure that ePrivacy reform is future-proof, fosters innovation, and reflects the needs of both businesses and consumers. Finally, it recommends robust security standards and cross-border recognition for the EU Business Wallet, with industry involvement in technical standards and integration with data access systems.
Collectively, these measures are designed to foster innovation, resilience, and trust in the EU’s digital landscape, allowing businesses to thrive in a coherent and future-ready regulatory environment.
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October 14, 2025
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