Next-Generation QKD Systems
Next-Generation QKD Systems · HORIZON-JU-RIA · TRL 4 to 7 · Needs partners
What this call funds
This call funds applied research and development of next generation quantum key distribution systems to make quantum secure communication cheaper, faster and easier to integrate into real networks. It supports building and testing advanced QKD protocols, hybrid QKD plus post quantum cryptography solutions, and demonstrators in real use cases like energy grids, cloud storage and industrial control systems. The goal is to strengthen Europe's independent capability in quantum secure communications and move the technology from lab prototypes closer to deployment.
quantum technologies · cybersecurity · telecom 6g · research excellence
Who wins this
This suits a consortium of research organisations and industry partners with existing quantum communication expertise, likely building on the QSNP partnership, that can develop and demonstrate advanced QKD hardware and software at TRL 7 in real operational settings.
Could you win this call?
Only the website is required.
The call in detail
- Indicative grant size
- €21M to €24M
- Funding model
- Budget-based. Reimbursement of actual eligible costs
- Submission
- Single-stage submission (full proposal at once)
- Type of action
- HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
- Partners
- Required. The call asks for a consortium: a group applying together, typically 3+ organisations from 3+ countries.
- Also required
- Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States or Participating States of the EuroHPC JU, with restrictions on entities controlled by non eligible countries; expected project duration is 3.5 years.
- Eligible countries (45)
- 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, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Israel, Türkiye, Ukraine, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Tunisia, New Zealand
Read the full conditions from the official call ›
General conditions 1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Proposals should have an indicative length of 75 pages. 2. Eligible countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The following exceptions apply: the eligibility conditions are those established in the EuroHPC JU Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173 as last amended by Council Regulation 2026/150. In accordance with Article 22.5 of the HE Regulation, the Governing Board has decided that in order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States or Participating States of the EuroHPC JU [ At the moment of the adoption of the Amendment No 5, the Participating States of EuroHPC JU are Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom (Discover EuroHPC JU - The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU)) ]. In addition, legal entities which are established in associated countries to Horizon Europe that become a participant state to EuroHPC JU before the signature of the grant agreement will also become eligible. For the duly justified and exceptional reasons listed in the paragraph above, in order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by a non-eligible country entity, may not participate in the action unless it can be demonstrated, by means of guarantees approved by the eligible country of establishment, that their participation to the action would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic, assets, interests, autonomy, or security. 3. Other Eligibility Conditions described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the DECISION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE EuroHPC JOINT UNDERTAKING No 22/2026. Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and to achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project. Expected project duration is 3.5 years. The EuroHPC JU estimates that an EU contribution of EUR 24 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.