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Grant Details

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Grant Purpose and Target
  • Core objective: To stimulate the maturing and the transition to security certified (common criteria) of compact and efficient European components and systems for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum secure networks, making them ready for integration into telecom networks and compliant with security requirements.
  • Target recipient type and size: Primarily targets Digital SMEs.
  • Designation: SECTOR-SPECIFIC
  • Geographic scope: Focus on fostering a European industrial ecosystem.
  • Key filtering criteria: Organizations working on QKD technologies and quantum secure networks, aiming for security certification, and contributing to the European industrial ecosystem, specifically Digital SMEs.
  • Grant context: A specific call (DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01) within the broader EU Secure Connectivity Programme (2023-2027) under the Digital Europe Programme, contributing to EuroQCI.

Financial Structure

Financial Structure
  • Total budget for Digital SME Support Actions (DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01) under this call is 30,000,000 EUR.
  • Minimum contribution per project: Not specified (indicated as 0 in budget overview).
  • Maximum contribution per project: Not specified (indicated as 0 in budget overview).
  • Currency: EUR.
  • Funding type: Action Grant, Budget-Based (DIGITAL-AG).
  • Eligible and ineligible costs: Detailed information is available in section 10 of the call document, covering the legal and financial set-up of the grants.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements Organization Type
  • Eligible applicants are Digital SMEs.
Geographic Location
  • Organizations must be located in EU Member States (assumed for EU programs, though not explicitly listed in provided snippet).
Technical Capacity
  • Must have existing capabilities or projects related to Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technologies and quantum secure networks.
  • Must be working on components (e.g., photonic integrated circuits, QRNGs, single-photon detectors) or complete QKD systems (e.g., with software-defined networking controllers, key management).
  • Projects should aim for Small Form Factor (SFF) and cost-effective designs with a relevant manufacturing readiness level.
Compliance & Certification Readiness
  • Projects must target security certification (common criteria) and compliance with EuroQCI security requirements and relevant security profiles.
  • Willingness to collaborate closely with Certification Bodies.
  • Willingness to engage with and provide devices as test vehicles to the EuroQCI testing and evaluation infrastructure.

Application Process

Application Practical Information Application Submission
  • Application system opens: 2025-07-15.
  • Application deadline: 2025-10-16 00:00:00+0000 (UTC).
  • Submission procedure: single-stage.
  • Submission platform: Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Required Documentation
  • Standard application form (a call-specific application form is available in the Submission System).
  • Part B of the Application Form: Page limit and layout are described in section 5 of the call document.
  • Detailed budget table: Available in the Submission System.
Application Support
  • Assistance is available via the contact information provided on the Funding & Tenders Portal (contact us HERE).
  • An IT Helpdesk is available for technical questions, such as forgotten passwords, access rights, and technical aspects of proposal submission.
  • The Online Manual provides a step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes.
Evaluation & Award Timeline
  • The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in section 4 of the call document.
  • The submission and evaluation processes are described in section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Criteria Project Maturity & Deployment Readiness
  • The extent to which proposed QKD components and systems are mature, compact, efficient, integrable, and security certified.
  • Demonstrated readiness for deployment in telecom networks and achievement of a relevant manufacturing readiness level.
Contribution to European Ecosystem
  • The project's contribution to a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem.
  • The potential to foster a thriving SME sector within this ecosystem.
Technical Excellence & Innovation
  • Novelty and effectiveness of developed hardware and software elements (e.g., photonic integrated circuits, advanced detectors, SDN controllers, AI-based tools).
  • Quality of integration of components into end-to-end systems and achievement of market-ready, high performance solutions.
  • Effectiveness of multiplexing and switching techniques for QKD coexistence with conventional communications traffic.
Security & Vulnerability Mitigation
  • Comprehensiveness of the multi-layered approach for securing trusted nodes (e.g., protection against side-channel and optical attacks, physical security, cybersecurity measures).
  • Incorporation of protocols designed to eliminate classes of vulnerabilities.
  • Preparedness for compliance with EuroQCI security requirements and security certification.
Collaboration & Engagement
  • Quality and commitment of planned collaboration with Certification Bodies.
  • Commitment to engaging with and providing QKD devices to the EuroQCI testing and evaluation infrastructure for testing and validation.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Compliance and Special Requirements Regulatory & Security Compliance
  • Project outputs must aim for security certification (specifically common criteria).
  • Compliance with EuroQCI security requirements and specific protection profiles is mandatory.
  • Development of a comprehensive multi-layered approach for securing trusted nodes is required, including protection against side-channel and optical attacks, physical security, and cybersecurity measures for control systems.
Collaboration Requirements
  • Close collaboration with Certification Bodies is expected for preparing compliance and security certification.
  • Engagement and provision of QKD devices as test vehicles to the EuroQCI testing and evaluation infrastructure for testing and validation is expected.
Technical Specifications
  • Preference for Small Form Factor (SFF) and cost-effective designs.
  • Projects are expected to achieve a relevant manufacturing readiness level.
Cross-Cutting Themes
  • A key aspect is contributing to a European industrial quantum communication ecosystem, including fostering a thriving SME sector.
IP Policy
  • Intellectual property policies: Not specified in the provided information; applicants should refer to the full call document (section 10) for details on the legal and financial set-up of grants.

Grant Details

quantum key distribution qkd quantum communication security certified cybersecurity photonics telecommunications sme support industrial ecosystem euroqci iris2 data security emerging industries new value chains system architecture fiber optics encryption cryptography sme digital
Maturing of a European industrial ecosystem for security-certified terrestrial QKD technologies and systems
48939226TOPICSen
EU secure connectivity programme (2023-2027)
SME
AT BE BG HR CY CZ DK EE FI FR DE GR HU IE IT LV LT LU MT NL PL PT RO SK SI ES SE
TECHNOLOGY ENERGY OTHER
DEVELOPMENT EARLY_MARKET
OTHER
SDG9
FUNDING RESEARCH_DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION_COMMERCIALIZATION
30000000.00
None
None
EUR
None
Oct. 16, 2025, midnight
None