{
  "id": 2109928,
  "title": "ICTK Wins Gold Prize, Santa Clara Mayor’s Award",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/ictk-wins-gold-prize-santa-clara-mayors-award",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-20T10:02:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BusinessKorea",
    "slug": "businesskorea",
    "url": "https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=275193"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ICTK, a quantum security fabless company, has been honored with two prestigious accolades at the 2026 Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF 2026) held in California. The company received the Gold Prize and the Santa Clara mayor’s special award, \"Best International Innovator,\" for its innovative technology \"Method and Device for Generating a Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) by Modifying a Photomask in a Semiconductor Process.\"\n\nThis groundbreaking technology serves as the foundation for VIA PUF™, which creates a unique value for each chip by utilizing minute physical deviations created during the semiconductor manufacturing process. VIA PUF™ enhances security by regenerating the security root key in the chip on demand, eliminating the need for memory storage and providing protection against quantum computer attacks through the integration of post-quantum cryptography (PQC).\n\nICTK's CEO, Lee Jung-won, emphasized the significance of the company's technology being acknowledged for both its technological prowess and commercialization potential in Silicon Valley. He stressed that quantum security cannot solely rely on post-quantum cryptography algorithms; a hardware root of trust is equally vital for safeguarding these systems.\n\nLooking ahead, ICTK plans to broaden the applications of its VIA PUF™-based hardware ID technology in the battery security sector, addressing product authentication, anti-counterfeiting, anti-tampering measures, and reliable lifespan and history data. The company aims to expand its security systems by combining VIA PUF™ and PQC across various industries, fostering global business growth through partnerships, licensing, and chip/module supply.",
  "summary": "ICTK, a quantum security fabless company, said on Aug. 20, that it had simultaneously won the Gold Prize and the Santa Clara mayor’s special award, “Best International Innovator,” at the “2026 Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF 2026)” held in the United States.SVIIF 2026 was held",
  "key_points": [
    "ICTK wins Gold Prize and Santa Clara mayor’s award at 2026 SVIIF",
    "VIA PUF™ generates unique chip value via semiconductor process",
    "ICTK CEO stresses hardware root of trust importance for quantum security"
  ],
  "editors_take": "ICTK's dual win at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival validates its VIA PUF technology as a significant advancement in quantum security, enhancing its potential for commercialization and global partnerships.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}