Request for Proposals: Supporting Digital Partnerships in Quantum Technologies

Scope

• Proposals are expected to address quantum technology challenges in the fields of quantum communication, computing, simulation, and sensing, identifying the added value and mutual benefits for both EU and Korean partners. This includes integration across various disciplines such as physics, engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, theory, algorithms, software, manufacturing, control, and infrastructures.
• Relevant technological and societal challenges to address include:
  • Co-design of hardware and software to accelerate quantum computing and simulation applications, ensuring interoperability across platforms and foundational quantum algorithm and architecture theories.
  • Development of secure quantum communication protocols, including quantum key distribution and beyond, with a focus on device-independent protocols, quantum network architecture, and certification of quantum states.
  • Application-specific quantum sensor development, covering areas like device fabrication, characterization for purposes like navigation, imaging, and biomedical applications, and optimizing sensor control and advanced approaches.
  • Proposals are recommended to link to the activities of relevant standards development organisations, e.g. via participation of project beneficiaries in the relevant standards technical committees. The Commission encourages the inclusion of partners with direct experience of participation in relevant standards committees at national, European or international level(s) in project consortia.
  • Proposals should contribute to spreading excellence between the EU and ROK, through the balanced involvement of EU and ROK entities.
  • Proposals should clearly define the benefit of EU-ROK collaboration, aiming to enhance the technology readiness level (TRL) through comprehensive engineering approaches involving public and/or private partners.
  • Proposals should also contribute to spreading excellence across Europe; for example, through the involvement of EU Widening Countries.

Funding Information

• Budget (EUR) – Year 2025: 8 000 000
• Contributions: 2500000 to 2700000

Expected Outcomes

• The overall objective of this call is to support the implementation of the EU-Republic of Korea Digital Partnership by strengthening cooperation with the Republic of Korea (ROK) in quantum technologies, in the areas identified in the Partnership.
• Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
  • Strengthening the European quantum ecosystem, enabling stakeholders to enhance quantum technologies’ applications in academic, industrial, and relevant cases for the EU and ROK.
  • Improving the exchange of information and expertise between EU and ROK to tackle societal challenges utilizing quantum technologies.
  • Sharing best practices in deploying quantum technologies and integrating them with other technologies.
  • Facilitating researcher and engineer exchanges between the EU and ROK for mutual access to quantum infrastructures.
  • Enhancing international cooperation between the EU and ROK quantum communities, with a roadmap for future collaboration in targeted areas.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entities eligible to participate:
  • Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from nonassociated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
  • A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
• To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
• To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
  • the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
    • 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.
  • the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
    • Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
  • countries associated to Horizon Europe;
    • Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

For more information, visit EC.