Technologies quantiques : 5ème appel à projets QuantERA

GRANT PURPOSE AND TARGET

Core Objective

To fund ambitious, transnational research and innovation projects in Quantum Technologies. The call aims to boost cross-border collaboration and accelerate breakthrough research and cutting-edge engineering, contributing to the strategic agenda of the European quantum community.

Funding Organization

The QuantERA III Consortium, coordinated by the National Science Centre (NCN) in Poland, with funding from 34 national/regional organizations across 29 countries and co-funding from the European Commission.

Target Recipients

This call is open to international consortia comprising research teams from universities, public research organizations, and private companies (including SMEs and larger enterprises). Each partner in the consortium applies for funding from their respective national/regional agency.

Sector Focus

SECTOR-SPECIFIC: The call is exclusively focused on Quantum Technologies. Projects must align with one of the two specified thematic areas and one or more of the following sub-fields:
* Quantum communication
* Quantum computing
* Quantum simulation
* Quantum sensing and metrology
* General quantum science

Geographic Scope

Applicants must be from one of the countries participating in the call. The consortium must include partners from at least three different participating countries.

Key Filtering Criteria

• Transnational Consortium: A minimum of 3 partners from 3 different participating countries is mandatory.
• Project Themes: Proposals must address one of two themes:
• Quantum Phenomena and Resources (QPR): Foundational research to establish principles for future quantum technologies.
• Applied Quantum Science (AQS): Translating known quantum effects into technological applications and new products.
• Project Duration: Projects must have a duration of either 24 or 36 months.

FINANCIAL STRUCTURE

Funding Range

• Minimum/Maximum Grant Amount: Not specified at the transnational level. The funding for each project partner is determined by their respective national/regional funding agency according to its own rules and budget.
• Total Call Budget: Approximately €53 Million for the entire call.

Co-financing

• Matching Funds: Co-financing requirements are not specified at the transnational level. They depend entirely on the regulations of each partner's national/regional funding agency.

Eligible Costs

The following cost categories are generally considered, but the final eligibility is determined by national rules:
* Personnel
* Consumables
* Equipment
* Travel
* Subcontracting
* Provisions
* Licensing fees
* Other direct costs

Applicants must justify these costs in the proposal's financial plan section.

Ineligible Costs

Ineligible costs are not defined at the transnational level and are subject to the rules of each national/regional funding agency.

Payment & Reporting

Funding is disbursed to each project partner by their respective national/regional agency. Payment schedules and financial reporting requirements will follow the procedures of those individual agencies.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Formal Criteria

• Consortium Composition: Projects must be submitted by a consortium of at least three partners seeking funding from at least three different countries participating in the QuantERA Call 2025. The list of participating countries and their respective funding agencies is available on the QuantERA website.
• Coordinator: The consortium must designate a Project Coordinator who is responsible for submitting the joint proposal on behalf of the entire group.
• Thematic Alignment: The proposed project must clearly fall within the scope of one of the two call topics: 'Quantum Phenomena and Resources (QPR)' or 'Applied Quantum Science (AQS)'.
• National Eligibility: Each partner within the consortium must meet the specific eligibility criteria of their respective national/regional funding organization.

Organizational Status

The call is open to a wide range of organizations, including:
* Universities and other higher education institutions.
* Public research organizations and institutes.
* Private companies, including startups, SMEs, and large enterprises. Industrial and commercial involvement is encouraged, especially in the AQS topic.

Technical Expertise

The consortium as a whole must demonstrate the necessary scientific and technical expertise to successfully execute the proposed project. The proposal requires a description of each partner's expertise, key personnel, and relevant experience.

Exclusion Criteria

• Proposals submitted by a single applicant.
• Consortia with fewer than three partners from three different participating countries.
• Proposals that do not align with the scientific scope of the call.
• Partners who do not meet the eligibility rules of their national/regional funding agency.

APPLICATION PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Deadlines

• Call Opening: 4 September 2025, 09:00 CEST
• Application Deadline: 5 December 2025, 17:00 CET
• Proposers' Day Webinar: An online webinar for potential applicants will be held on 8 October 2025.

Required Documents

Applicants must prepare and submit two main documents:
1. Project Proposal: A detailed proposal following the official template ('Proposal Form'), submitted as a PDF.
2. Financial Plan: A breakdown of the project budget using the official 'Financial Form' template, submitted as an Excel file.

Application Process

• Submission Stage: The call follows a one-stage submission and evaluation procedure.
• Submission Platform: Proposals must be submitted electronically via the French National Research Agency (ANR) platform, known as the Electronic Submission System (ESS). There are separate submission links for the 'QPR' and 'AQS' topics.
• Coordinator's Role: The Project Coordinator is responsible for creating the proposal in the ESS, adding all partners, and uploading the final documents before the deadline.

Support

• Funding: Direct financial support for eligible project costs.
• Networking: A Partner Search Tool is provided on the QuantERA website to help applicants find potential consortium members.
• Information: A dedicated webinar and a 'Frequently Asked Questions' (FAQ) section are available to assist applicants.

Post-Award Obligations

• Project Duration: Approved projects will run for 24 or 36 months.
• Consortium Agreement: A consortium agreement must be established by the project partners, defining aspects such as IPR management, data management, and partner duties.
• Reporting: Scientific and financial reporting will be required by the respective national/regional funding agencies.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Proposals are evaluated based on three main criteria: 'Excellence', 'Impact', and 'Implementation'.

Scoring Factors

1. Excellence (max. 6 pages in proposal)
* Targeted Breakthrough: The scientific and technological contribution to establishing a solid baseline of knowledge and skills.
* Novelty and Ambition: The extent to which the project advances the state-of-the-art and its foundational nature.
* Concept and Methodology: The soundness of the research approach, main ideas, and models. Appropriateness of the methodology to handle scientific and technological risks.
* Interdisciplinary Nature: Added value from the combination of different research disciplines.
* Gender Dimension and Open Science: How the gender dimension is addressed in the research content and how open science practices are implemented.

2. Impact (max. 3 pages in proposal)
* Expected Impacts: The project's contribution to the impacts described in the call announcement, including its transformational effect on technology and/or society.
* Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication: A clear plan for disseminating and exploiting results (scientifically and economically), including data management and communication measures for various target audiences.

3. Implementation (multiple sections in proposal)
* Work Plan: The overall structure, clarity of intermediate targets, and timing of work packages (e.g., Gantt/Pert charts).
* Management and Risk: The appropriateness of the organizational structure, decision-making processes, defined milestones (SMART), and a thorough risk assessment with mitigation measures.
* Consortium Quality: Complementarity of partners, clear roles, necessary expertise, and adequate resources. Justification for any industrial involvement.
* Financial Plan: Justification of the resources requested by each partner.

Strategic Fit

Projects must demonstrate strong relevance to the chosen topic (QPR or AQS) and one or more of the five specified research areas within Quantum Technologies. The proposal must clearly articulate how it addresses the call's objectives.

Cross-cutting Themes

Proposals are explicitly asked to describe how they address the gender dimension in their research content and implement open science practices, including the sharing and management of research outputs. These aspects are part of the 'Excellence' evaluation criterion.

COMPLIANCE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Regulatory Compliance

• Ethical Issues: Applicants must identify and describe any foreseeable ethical issues in their proposal. A plan for mitigation strategies and a justification of the research methodology with respect to these issues is required.

IP Policy

• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): The management of IPR must be addressed in a consortium agreement established by the project partners. The proposal template requires a description of the principles that will govern IPR.

Unique Aspects

• Transnational Funding Model: This is a key feature. While the project is evaluated as a single entity, funding is not provided by a central body. Instead, each partner is funded by their own national/regional agency. This requires careful coordination and adherence to multiple sets of rules.
• Mandatory Consortium: Single-entity applications are not permitted. A consortium with a minimum of three partners from three different participating countries is a strict requirement.
• Dual Thematic Structure: Applicants must choose between the foundational research track (QPR) and the applied science track (AQS), which have different expectations and may involve different participating funding agencies.

Industry-Specific Rules

There are no specific rules mentioned beyond standard research and innovation practices. However, projects in the 'Applied Quantum Science' (AQS) track are expected to have a stronger focus on translation into technological applications and new products, and may have different evaluation expectations regarding industrial involvement.