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KiviPQC-DSA

Post-Quantum Digital Signature IP Core

Minimal logic utilization

PQC IP cores designed and optimized for area-constrained devices.

Cost-efficient licensing model

Low license fees based on one-time fee and free evaluation licenses make IP cores accessible even for projects with limited budgets.

Fast availability and direct support

Evaluation packages and documentation are available via download, with rapid responsive web support to keep your project moving.

Easy integration

AXI4-Lite interface, platform-agnostic C source code HAL, API and software driver and clear documentation enable fast integration into hardware–software co-design flows.

European technology

Developed in Germany, with predictable availability giving design teams transparency, control, and long-term planning security.

Experienced IP core providers

KiviCore’s employees bring more than 20 years of experience in IP core design and licensing of IP cores.

KiviPQC-DSA Overview

The KiviPQC-DSA is an IP core implementing the ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-based Digital Signature Algorithm) a post-quantum cryptographic standard defined by NIST FIPS 204. Designed to withstand both classical and quantum computer attacks, ML-DSA ensures the authenticity and integrity of signed  data far into the future.

Supporting all ML-DSA parameter sets, the KiviPQC-DSA enables:

  • Generate private/public key pair to create signatures and verify signed data
  • Generate digital signatures to verify data integrity and detect any unauthorized modifications of signed data 
  • Ensure authenticity by proving that a digital signature was created by the stated signer (non-repudiation)

The IP core offers dedicated hardware acceleration for the most computationally intensive operations, achieving high throughput and low latency while maintaining a compact logic footprint.

The KiviPQC-DSA IP Core delivers complete protection against time-based side-channel attacks (SCA). Engineered as a self-contained hardware/software co-design, the core integrates all ML-DSA functions and comes ready for seamless deployment. It includes AMBA® hardware interface for straightforward system integration and a generic software API for flexible control from the host processor.

Whether securing firmware updates, authenticating communication, or protecting critical infrastructure, the KiviPQC-DSA offers future-proof signature security for FPGA designs.

 Product Variants

 

Variant Description
KiviPQC-DSA-Tiny

Optimized for minimal logic resource usage, thanks to a sequential architecture. Ideal when FPGA resources or power budgets are tight.

KiviPQC-DSA-Fast

Optimized for fast processing. For designs that desire higher performance while maintaining efficient resource utilization. 

Option

The IP core for verification of digital signatures only.  This can be  used for devices which only need to verify signed data as utilized for secure boot, secure update, data and message authentication, access control and licensing, verification of signed control commands or signed configuration or policy updates etc.

 

Key Features

  • Platform agnostic design for any FPGA and ASIC
  • NIST FIPS 204 compliant
  • Supports ML-DSA 44/65/87 parameter sets
  • Supports ML-DSA.KeyGen, ML-DSA.Sign, ML-DSA.Verify functions
  • Supports pre-hash ML-DSA functions HashML-DSA.Sign and HashML-DSA.Verify
  • Supports hedged and deterministic signing
  • Supports context string
  • Self-contained engine with a minimal attack surface
  • Hardware offloading and acceleration for ML-DSA operations
  • Protection against timing-based side channel attacks

Easy integration

  • AMBA® AXI4 lite Interface
  • Platform agnostic C source code HAL, API and software driver
  • Software examples included
  • Software user guide
  • Integration examples
  • Comprehensive documentation

Applications

  • Software and firmware validation
  • Data and message authentication
  • Access control & licensing
  • Digital content and media
  • Configuration or policy validation
  • Control command validation
  • Critical infrastructures

Technical documentation & evaluation package

Register for the Evaluation Portal to access evaluation packages, technical documentation and integration resources.

 Register for the KiviCore Evaluation Portal to access the evaluation package, technical documentation and integration resources. 

Licensing

Licensing & Deliverables

License type Purpose Scope Fee Deliverables
Product License Manufacture of products intended for commercial distribution. Valid for single-instance implementation/synthesis into one device (e.g., one type of SoC, or FPGA) for a specific project or product definition. Multiple instantiations refer to the physical realization of one IP core multiple times in one device. One-time fee 
  • System Verilog RTL Source Code or Netlist format
  • Testbenches
  • Integration examples
  • Simulation and synthesis scripts
  • Software HAL & driver source code
  • Software example source code
  • Documentation
Evaluation License Usability and evaluation for upcoming design  Valid for single-instance implementation/synthesis into one device (SoC, or FPGA) for a specific upcoming design project. Free, no license fee
  • Netlist format, time-bombed
  • Testbenches
  • Integration examples
  • Software HAL & driver source code
  • Software example source code
  • Documentation
Support and Maintenance
  • Maintenance and updates of IP core included

  • Rapid bug fix cycles
  • Documentation and integration examples included
  • Web based support with response times of 8 hours (Mo to Fri)

 

FPGA Implementation Results

Altera Implementation Results

KiviPQC-DSA-Tiny KiviPQC-DSA-Fast
Device

ALM

Frequency (MHz)

ALM

Frequency (MHz)

Stratix 10

3059

154.7

10537 139.2

Agilex 7

2881

215.6

11295 213.3

Arria 10

2652

192.8

10437 192.3

Cyclone 10 GX

2639

192.0

10440 185.9

 

AMD (Xilinx) Implementation Results

KiviPQC-DSA-Tiny KiviPQC-DSA-Fast
Device
LUTs

Frequency (MHz)

LUTs

Frequency (MHz)

Spartan 7

3725 84.0 12174 75.4

Kintex 7

3755 128.6 12184 127.1

Zynq US+ MPSoC

3666 195.4 12165 194.0

Versal AI Cores Series

5456 187.1 14595 208.3

 

Microchip Implementation Results

KiviPQC-DSA-Tiny KiviPQC-DSA-Fast
Device
LUT4

Frequency (MHz)

LUT4

Frequency (MHz)

PolarFire SoC 5999 65.0 19202 65.3
PolarFire 5999 65.0 19202 65.3
Igloo2 5958 50.2 18449 49.1
RTG4 7590 43.7 20166 41.5
SmartFusion 2 5958 50.2 18449 49.1

 

Efinix Implementation Results
KiviPQC-DSA-Tiny KiviPQC-DSA-Fast
Device
XLR

Frequency (MHz)

XLR

Frequency (MHz)

Titanium

6291 148.6 16694 143.7