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Grant Details

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of this grant is to support and accelerate the standardisation of components, systems, and network capabilities essential for the operational European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) with a focus on QKD and quantum cryptography services. - Target recipient type: Organizations involved in quantum technology, telecommunications, and standardization. Specific types are not listed. - Target size: Not specified. - This grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC focusing on Quantum Technologies and Communication. - Geographic scope: European-wide impact, supporting the EuroQCI infrastructure. - Key filtering criteria: Focus on standardisation activities, relevance to the EuroQCI, and expertise in quantum communication. - Grant frequency: This is a specific call instance for 2025, with no explicit indication of annual recurrence for this exact topic.

Financial Structure

  • Total budget allocated for this specific topic ('DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03'): 3,000,000.0 EUR.
  • Expected number of grants for this topic: 1.
  • Minimum grant amount per project: 3,000,000.0 EUR.
  • Maximum grant amount per project: 3,000,000.0 EUR.
  • Currency: EUR.
  • Funding type: DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based.
  • Eligible costs: Not detailed in the provided text. General eligible cost categories for Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs) are typically broad, covering all necessary costs for the project's activities. Specific details are outlined in section 10 of the call document.
  • Matching fund requirements: Not specified. For CSAs, EU funding rates are generally high, often covering up to 100% of eligible costs.
  • Financial reporting and audit requirements: These are as described in section 10 of the call document.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type
  • Organization types: Not explicitly defined in the provided text. The action type is 'DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions' (CSA), which typically includes a broad range of legal entities (e.g., businesses, research organizations, universities, public bodies, NGOs).
  • Legal structure: Applicants must be validated legal entities.
Geographic Location
  • Eligible countries: Not explicitly listed in the provided text. However, as the grant focuses on 'EuroQCI', eligibility typically extends to legal entities established in EU Member States and countries associated with the Digital Europe Programme. This includes: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
Technical and Operational Capacity
  • Financial and operational capacity: Required, with details outlined in section 7 of the call document.
  • Track record: While not explicitly stated as a formal requirement, expertise and experience in quantum communication and standardization processes are expected given the grant's scope.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Exclusion criteria: Applicants must meet the exclusion criteria as described in section 7 of the call document.
Consortium
  • Consortium: While 'allowPartnerSearch' is true, it is highly likely that a consortium of multiple partners is required for a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) of this nature and scope. Applicants should plan to form a consortium.

Application Process

Application Process
  • Submission system: Applications must be submitted via the Electronic Submission Service available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • Submission model: The process is a single-stage submission.
  • Application forms: Applicants will need to complete a standard application form and a call-specific application form, both available in the Submission System.
  • Budget details: A detailed budget table template is provided within the Submission System.
Timeline
  • Submission session opening date: 2025-07-15.
  • Application deadline: 2025-10-16 00:00:00+00:00 (UTC).
  • Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: This timeline is described in section 4 of the call document.
Required Documentation
  • Proposal page limit and layout: Details on page limits and layout are specified in section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form.
  • Legal entity validation: Prior to application, organizations must complete legal entity validation.
  • LEAR (Legal Entity Appointed Representative) appointment: Necessary for managing the organization's information and submissions on the portal.
  • Financial capacity assessment: Required as part of the eligibility checks.
Support and Guidance
  • Support: Assistance related to the call, IT helpdesk for technical issues, and an Online Manual guiding through portal processes are available.
  • Existing draft proposals: Applicants can access and manage their draft proposals from the 'My Proposals' page within the 'My Area' section of the Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • Terms and conditions: All applications are subject to the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions.

Evaluation Criteria

Award Criteria
  • Award criteria: Applications will be evaluated based on the criteria detailed in section 9 of the call document.
Scoring and Thresholds
  • Scoring and thresholds: Specific scoring mechanisms and thresholds for success are described in section 9 of the call document.
Project Quality and Impact
  • Expected outcomes focus: Proposals will be assessed on their clear contribution to achieving the following outcomes:
    • Development of sets of standards for QKD components and systems.
    • Creation of interoperable systems and applications for the operation of entire quantum networks and multiple quantum networks.
    • Definition of specific requirements, benchmarking tests, and metrics for the performance and monitoring of QKD subsystems.
    • Formalization of assessments for the acceptance of QKD protocols.
    • Contribution to the establishment of a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem.
Innovation and Technological Advancement
  • Innovation: Activities that aim to accelerate certification processes and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration between relevant stakeholders (national authorities, accredited evaluation laboratories) are specifically encouraged.
Strategic Relevance
  • Alignment: The proposed activities must demonstrate a strong alignment with the objective of efficiently supporting an operational EuroQCI infrastructure with dedicated QKD and quantum cryptography services.
  • Contribution to industrial base: Proposals should clearly outline how they intensify standardization efforts to build a solid industrial base for quantum technologies and anticipate future work on quantum networks.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance
  • Legal and financial set-up of grants: The specific requirements for the legal and financial setup of grants are detailed in section 10 of the call document.
  • Financial regulations: Projects must comply with the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
Data Protection and Privacy
  • Privacy: Compliance with the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement is mandatory.
Technical Standards and Interoperability
  • Standardization focus: Proposed project activities must directly contribute to the standardization of critical aspects of quantum communication, including:
    • Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) components (e.g., single-photon sources, entanglement-based sources, QKD transmitters/receivers, detectors, ultra-low loss optical fibres).
    • Multiplexing of quantum signals with classical and noise compensation technologies.
    • Software-hardware interfaces and harmonization of interoperable key management system APIs.
    • Systems and applications for the operation of entire networks and multiple networks, covering network capabilities such as routing, control, management, and roaming for cross-border connections.
    • Hybridisation schemes for combined QKD/PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography).
  • Evaluation and certification: Proposals should address the evaluation and certification of QKD protocols, involving formal assessments and accelerating certification work by strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration.
Unique Considerations
  • Strategic objective: This grant is part of a broader effort to build a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem.
  • Key areas of work: Beyond standardisation development, activities should include overviews of current standardisation, defining performance requirements, benchmarking tests, metrics, calibration, and monitoring.
  • Collaboration: The grant encourages strong interdisciplinary collaboration between national authorities, accredited evaluation laboratories, and other relevant initiatives.

Grant Details

standardisation euroqci quantum technologies quantum communication qkd quantum cryptography data security privacy ecosystem building emerging industries interoperability photonics satellite systems system architecture coordination and support action cross border cryptography esa encryption fiber iris2 industrialisation operational euroqci infrastructure qci qkd devices qkd services quantum networks receiver security certified single photon space and terrestrial segments transmitter
Support standardisation for the EuroQCI (CSA)
48939242TOPICSen
European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI)
OTHER
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 OTHER
DEVELOPMENT OTHER
OTHER
SDG9 SDG17
CAPACITY_BUILDING RESEARCH_DEVELOPMENT NETWORKING OTHER
3000000.00
3000000.00
3000000.00
EUR
None
Oct. 16, 2025, midnight
None