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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To coordinate the deployment, industrialisation, dissemination, and alignment of the pan-European EuroQCI initiative, ensuring a coherent system across national and cross-border quantum communication networks.
Explicit identification of target recipient type and size: Organizations with expertise in quantum communication, network deployment, system integration, and project coordination. This typically includes public bodies, research organizations, universities, and companies (including SMEs and enterprises) working in consortia.
MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': SECTOR-SPECIFIC (focused on Quantum Technologies, Data Security, and Satellite Systems).
Geographic scope and any location requirements: Pan-European, specifically involving EU Member States to establish a complete EuroQCI system.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Projects must directly contribute to the coordination and deployment efforts of the EuroQCI, focusing on industrialisation, interoperability, and strategic alignment of quantum communication infrastructure.
Grant frequency and program context: This is part of the 'DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI' call under the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) program. The presence of '2025' in the identifier suggests it's part of an annual or recurring call series.

Financial Structure

Budget range: The total budget allocated for this specific topic (DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-02) is 3,000,000.0 EUR.
Minimum grant amount: 0.0 EUR (as per minContribution in budget overview).
Maximum grant amount: 3,000,000.0 EUR (as there is only 1 expected grant for this topic).
Currency: EUR.
Matching fund requirements: Not explicitly specified in the provided documents.
Co-financing requirements: Not explicitly specified in the provided documents, but Coordination and Support Actions often have high funding rates, potentially up to 100%.
Financial reporting requirements: 'Legal and financial set-up of the grants' is described in section 10 of the call document, which is not provided. However, typically, EC grants require detailed financial reporting and may be subject to audits.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Structure

Eligible organization types: Not explicitly defined as 'SME' or 'Startup', but 'DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions' typically target a broad range of entities including public bodies, research organizations, universities, and companies (enterprises, potentially SMEs) capable of coordinating large-scale, pan-European initiatives.
Partnership or consortium requirements: The nature of 'Coordination and Support Actions' and the objective to coordinate national and cross-border projects strongly imply that a consortium or collaborative partnership is required.

Geographic Requirements

Geographic location requirements: Participants must be from EU Member States, as the initiative aims to establish a pan-European EuroQCI system.

Technical and Experience Requirements

Technical expertise requirements: Proven expertise in quantum technologies (especially quantum key distribution - QKD), secure communication networks, satellite systems, system architecture, data security and privacy, photonics, and interoperability.
Track record and experience requirements: Organizations should have a demonstrated ability to engage in coordination, industrialisation, dissemination, and alignment activities for complex technological initiatives, and to facilitate dialogue among diverse stakeholders.

Application Process

Application Deadlines and Submission

Application deadline: 2025-10-16 00:00:00+00:00.
Submission window: The submission session becomes available from 2025-07-15.
Submission format and platform: Applications must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal's Electronic Submission Service. It is a single-stage submission process.

Required Documentation and Materials

Application procedure and steps: Access the Electronic Submission Service via the submission button next to the relevant action type. You will be linked to the correct entry point after confirming your choice.
Required documentation: 'Call document', 'Application form templates' (standard and call-specific), 'Detailed budget table', and 'EU secure connectivity programme (2023-2027)'.
Supporting materials required: References are made to 'EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509', 'Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment', and the 'Online Manual'.

Support and Assistance

Application assistance availability: Support is available via the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, IT Helpdesk for technical questions, and the Online Manual for process guidance.

Post-Award and Implementation

Project implementation timeline: Not explicitly detailed, but given the Coordination and Support Action nature, it would involve ongoing activities to facilitate EuroQCI deployment.
Reporting schedule and frequency: 'Legal and financial set-up of the grants' covered in section 10 of the call document, which is not provided, but typically includes regular progress and financial reports.

Evaluation Criteria

Project Impact and Relevance

Contribution to an autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem: Proposals will be evaluated on how effectively they foster technological autonomy within the EU's quantum communication sector.
Recommendations for operational and security-compliant pan-European EuroQCI networks: The quality and feasibility of proposed recommendations for future phases of EuroQCI will be key.
Identification of complementary activities: Ability to identify and integrate necessary technology developments to establish a complete EuroQCI system.
Alignment with EuroQCI objectives: The degree to which the proposal ensures a coherent EuroQCI initiative and supports the Commission, ESA, and Member States' goals.

Quality of Coordination and Support Activities

Facilitation of connections and dialogue: Effectiveness in enabling discussion, synergy identification, and best practice sharing among national and cross-border EuroQCI projects.
Support for deployment: Capability to provide practical support to the Commission, Member States, and other stakeholders in EuroQCI deployment.
Consolidated overview and catalogue production: The quality of analysis in producing overviews of deployments and catalogues of approaches/technologies.
Coordination of inputs for strategic efforts: Efficacy in coordinating discussions on future deployment plans for the overall EuroQCI system (space and terrestrial segments).
Coordination of EU QKD ecosystem and industrialisation: The approach and anticipated success in driving the development and industrialisation of QKD devices in the EU.

Dissemination and Outreach

Organisation of outreach events and communication materials: Plans for promoting the EuroQCI initiative and ensuring interaction with other relevant initiatives.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Regulatory compliance requirements: Compliance with 'EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509' is required.
Data protection and privacy regulations: Implied through the focus on 'Data Security and Privacy' in the project scope, requiring adherence to EU data protection standards.

Ethical and Technical Standards

Ethical standards and requirements: Not explicitly detailed but standard for EU grants.
Quality standards and expectations: Proposals should contribute to QKD standardisation efforts.
Security and data protection requirements: Central to the grant's objective, focusing on secure communication and the operational and security-compliant nature of the EuroQCI.

Unique Aspects and Strategic Considerations

Unique aspects: This is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) specifically targeting the strategic development and deployment of the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI). This means the focus is on enabling and facilitating, rather than direct research or commercialisation of new quantum technologies.
Strategic alignment opportunities: Significant opportunity to contribute to the EU's digital sovereignty and security goals, by fostering a robust European quantum communication ecosystem.
Cross-cutting themes: The grant implicitly supports themes of technological autonomy, European collaboration, and critical infrastructure development.
Knowledge sharing expectations: A core component of CSAs, involving discussions, synergy identification, best practice sharing, and dissemination activities among national and cross-border projects.

Grant Details