Next-Generation QKD Systems

HORIZON-JU is an open single-stage Horizon JU Research and Innovation Action under Horizon Europe funding applied R&D to develop and demonstrate next-generation quantum key distribution (QKD) systems and their integration into secure communication networks. The topic has an indicative budget of €24,000,000, expects to fund one grant with an indicative contribution of €21,000,000 to €24,000,000, and the submission deadline is 17 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Eligible applicants are consortia of legal entities meeting Horizon Europe rules (typically multi-beneficiary from Member States or associated countries) and proposals must progress TRL from about 4 to 7 and demonstrate measurable improvements such as key rate, coverage or protocols beyond QKD, plus at least one live demonstrator and hybrid QKD–PQC use cases. Funding follows standard Horizon JU RIA rules, with 100% reimbursement of eligible costs and indirect costs normally at a 25% flat rate, and proposals must avoid overlap with EuroQCI deployment while contributing to standards and certification activities.

What it funds

Scope and expected results

Research and innovation action to develop and experimentally validate next-generation quantum key distribution (QKD) systems and their integration into secure communication networks. Key goals include large improvements in key rate, extended operational coverage (including >300 km fibre and free-space links), demonstrations of hybrid QKD+post-quantum cryptography frameworks, functions beyond QKD (prepare-and-measure and entanglement-based), interoperable and certifiable hardware/software, cloud-accessible QKD interfaces and at least one live end-user demonstrator. Projects must address at least two SRIA 2030 core roadblocks and progress TRL from about 4 to 7.

Action type and start:HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research and Innovation Action) under the Horizon Europe / EuroHPC JU call; activities expected to start at TRL 4 and reach TRL 7 by project end ¹.

Who can apply

Consortia of legal entities (research organisations, universities, SMEs and industry including telecom/network equipment vendors and national operators). Applicants must meet Horizon Europe eligibility (minimum consortium composition applies where stated) and follow the programme’s general annexes for admissibility, ethics, security and procurement.

Priority activities:Applied R&D and experimental validation of advanced QKD protocols (e.g., CV-QKD, MDI/DI-QKD, TF-QKD), integration with classical/optical networks and SDN/NFV orchestration, hybrid QKD-PQC demonstrators for at least two realistic use cases, development of certifiable interoperable components, standards/certification contributions and at least one live end-user demonstrator with KPIs for availability, key rate and resilience.

1. 1Targets: >1 Mbps key rate over metropolitan distances or >300 km operational fibre coverage, or provable advantage protocols beyond QKD
2. 2Integration: telecom-grade compatibility, key management, SDN/NFV interfaces and cloud-accessible QKD resources
3. 3Supply chain: focus on certifiable, standardised, scalable QKD components and contribution to EU certification/standards

Funding and deadlines

Single-stage submission. Opening 13 August 2026; submission deadline 17 November 2026 (Brussels time). Indicative JU/Horizon budget for the topic ~€24 million and expected to fund one Research & Innovation Action.

Eligibility and evaluation highlights

Proposals must follow Horizon Europe admissibility, eligibility, ethics and security rules. Projects should avoid overlap with EuroQCI deployments, engage industry and national operators, address at least two SRIA 2030 roadblocks (including scalability of advanced QKD protocols and QKD–PQC integration), and include measurable KPIs. Evaluation follows standard Horizon award criteria (Excellence, Impact, Implementation) and thresholds.

1. 1Eligible applicants: legal entities from Member States and Associated Countries (see Horizon Europe General Annexes for specifics and exceptional funding rules)
2. 2Action type: HORIZON-JU-RIA (budget-based grant)
3. 3TRL expectation: start ~TRL 4 and reach TRL 7 by project end

Footnotes

1. 1Full topic text, submission portal and documents are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: EU Funding & Tenders Portal - Next-Generation QKD Systems.

One-line summary

Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-RIA) call to develop and demonstrate next-generation quantum key distribution (QKD) systems and their integration into secure communication networks, including hybrid QKD - post-quantum cryptography frameworks, advanced QKD protocols and certifiable hardware/software components. This topic is managed on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with a single-stage submission and an indicative overall contribution of €21 000 000 to €24 000 000 and an indicative call budget of €24 000 000 for 2026. Deadline: 17 November 2026 17:00 Brussels time. Proposals must start at TRL 4 and target TRL 7 by project end.

Administrative facts

Call identifier:HORIZON-JU. Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research and Innovation Action). Type of model grant agreement: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Opening date: 13 August 2026. Deadline date: 17 November 2026 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage. Indicative number of grants: 1. Indicative contribution to the topic: €21 000 000 to €24 000 000 (budget year 2026 contribution shown €24 000 000). Submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Topic page and details: the portal topic page contains full topic description, conditions and templates ¹.

Deadline (local time):17 November 2026 17:00:00 Brussels time

Indicative budget:€21 000 000 to €24 000 000 (call-level contribution shown for 2026: €24 000 000). Indicative number of grants: 1.

What this topic aims to achieve (Expected outcomes)

This action aims to strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in quantum-secure communications by advancing core QKD technologies and integration capabilities and by validating operational QKD use cases beyond EuroQCI deployments. Expected measurable outcomes include development and demonstration of next-generation QKD systems with specific improvements in at least one of: key rate, operational coverage, or protocols beyond QKD, and implementation and testing of hybrid QKD-PQC frameworks in real-world, demanding use cases.

1. 1Demonstration of next-generation QKD systems focused on cost-effectiveness and integration with measurable improvements in at least one metric: (i) key rate > 1 Mbps over metropolitan distances, (ii) regional-scale operational coverage > 300 km for fibre-based QKD (including twin-field approaches) and free-space links for non-wired segments and redundancy, or (iii) advanced quantum cryptographic protocols beyond QKD with provable advantages over classical cryptography.
2. 2Implementation and demonstration of hybrid quantum-classical cryptographic frameworks combining QKD and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in at least two realistic and demanding real-world use cases, with demonstrable benefits compared to classical-only solutions.
3. 3Integration of quantum communication components into classical and optical networking infrastructure and orchestration systems (e.g., SDN/NFV), including secure enterprise-grade key management, compatibility with routers/switches, and cloud-accessible interfaces to QKD resources for remote experimentation and integration testing.
4. 4Validation of QKD-based security in high-priority use cases beyond EuroQCI: critical infrastructure monitoring (energy grid telemetry), long-term secure cloud storage, industrial control systems (transport, manufacturing), and secure multi-site enterprise communications.
5. 5Development of interoperable, scalable and certifiable QKD hardware and software components (quantum RNGs, integrated photonic QKD components, single-photon detectors, network controllers), supporting certification activities and contributing to strengthened European supply chain and standards.
6. 6At least one live demonstrator involving end-users with KPIs for availability, key rate and network resilience; contribution to standards and certification efforts and engagement with industry and national network operators to ensure telecom-grade compatibility and avoid duplication with EuroQCI deployment.

Scope and technical requirements (what must be in proposals)

Proposals must support applied R&D and experimental validation of advanced QKD systems and their integration into secure communication networks, avoiding overlap with EuroQCI deployment efforts. Projects must address at least two core technical roadblocks identified by the SRIA 2030 (for quantum-secure communication), such as scalability of next-generation QKD protocols and integration of QKD with PQC, and are encouraged to include functionalities beyond QKD in both prepare-and-measure and entanglement-based scenarios.

• Development and experimental validation of advanced QKD protocols and systems including continuous-variable QKD (CV-QKD), measurement-device-independent QKD (MDI-QKD) and device-independent QKD (DI-QKD), and twin-field QKD (TF-QKD).
• Design and implementation of QKD integration into classical and optical networking infrastructure: compatibility with existing network equipment (routers, switches), interface development for SDN/NFV orchestration platforms, and enterprise-grade key management.
• Demonstration of hybrid QKD-PQC frameworks, tested and benchmarked in at least two demanding realistic use cases with quantitative comparison to classical/PQC-only solutions.
• Research and first demonstrations on novel quantum communication protocols beyond QKD, including early experimental validation of quantum primitives for security and trust in distributed and decentralized settings and analysis of hardware/architectural implications.
• Validation of security performance through well-defined benchmarks and verification methods compatible with EU quantum certification activities.
• Development of interoperable, scalable and certifiable hardware and software components and provision of cloud-accessible interfaces to QKD resources for remote experimentation and integration testing.
• Establishment of at least one live operational demonstrator involving end-users with defined KPIs (availability, key rate, resilience) under different network conditions and contribution to standards and certification.
• Engagement with industry and national network operators to ensure telecom-grade compatibility and supply-chain strengthening; coordination with EU programmes (e.g., EuroQCI) and QSNP Framework Partnership Agreement to avoid duplication.

Technical KPIs and TRL targets

Technology Readiness Levels:projects are expected to start at TRL 4 and reach TRL 7 by project end. Measurable technical KPIs include at least one of the following: key rate >1 Mbps over metropolitan distances; operational fibre coverage >300 km including twin-field and free-space links; demonstration of advanced quantum cryptographic protocol(s) beyond QKD with provable advantage. Additionally KPIs for demonstrators must include availability, key generation rate, resilience under network stress and interoperability metrics for hardware/software.

Eligible applicant types and consortium structure

Eligible applicants and participants must be legal entities as defined in the Horizon/JU rules. Expected participant types include universities, research institutes, large enterprises, SMEs, vendors of photonic and detector technology, standards organisations, certification bodies, national network operators, system integrators, cloud providers, end-user organisations (energy, transport, manufacturing, enterprises), non-profit research organisations and international European research organisations. International participants from third countries may participate subject to General Annex B conditions and any specific call restrictions. Affiliated entities and associated partners are allowed as per Horizon/JU rules. Eligible beneficiaries must be established in EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, or other countries identified in the work programme/general annexes; specific country eligibility follows Annex B of the Work Programme.

Consortium requirement:Single-stage submission. Unless the topic specifies otherwise, usual Horizon/JU RIA eligibility requires a multi-beneficiary consortium (typically at least three independent legal entities from different eligible countries). Proposers must consult the topic page and General Annexes for precise minimum composition and country eligibility.

Funding modality and amount

Type of funding:grant (Horizon JU Research and Innovation Action; Action Grant Budget-Based). The Topic shows an indicative call contribution of €24 000 000 (2026) and an expected grant contribution of €21 000 000 to €24 000 000 for one grant. Funding rate and grant calculation follow Horizon/JU rules for RIA actions (consult General Annex G and the funding & tenders portal call page for the exact funding rate applicable to HORIZON-JU-RIA actions).

Admissibility, eligibility, evaluation and submission

Proposals must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in the submission session for the topic. Admissibility and page limits follow Horizon Europe General Annex A and the Submission System templates. Use the application form available in the Submission System (do not use portal templates as final). Standard evaluation criteria apply (Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of the implementation). The topic uses single-stage submission. Evaluation, award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in General Annexes D-F. Applicants must complete ethics self-assessment, comply with security and research integrity rules and provide exploitation and dissemination plan. Proposals must avoid overlap with EuroQCI deployment efforts and must address at least two SRIA 2030 core roadblocks.

• Submission system: Funding & Tenders Portal (electronic only).
• Proposal templates: use the online Application Form in the Submission System (Part A and Part B PDF uploaded).
• Page limits: follow Part B limits in the Submission System; standard full application limit usually 45 pages (exceptions available per specific action type).
• Evaluation: standard Horizon/JU evaluation panels and external experts; scoring 0-5 per criterion, thresholds per General Annex D.

Eligibility, legal and administrative conditions

General Horizon Europe and Horizon JU conditions apply:legal entity validation (PIC), financial and operational capacity checks (Annex C), exclusion checks, ethics and security compliance, gender equality plan obligations where applicable, data protection obligations and obligations to register in the Participant Register and to use the Submission System. The topic refers to General Annexes A-G for admissibility, eligibility, evaluations, legal and financial set up and to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and Online Manual for procedural details.

Key technical details applicants must include

1. 1Clearly identify which of the measurable improvements the proposal targets (key rate >1 Mbps, >300 km operational fibre coverage including twin-field and free-space links, or advanced quantum cryptographic protocol(s) beyond QKD).
2. 2Address at least two SRIA 2030 technical roadblocks (for example scalability of next-generation QKD protocols such as MDI-QKD, DI-QKD and the integration of QKD with PQC).
3. 3Include development, experimental validation and demonstration plans for QKD protocols and systems (CV-QKD, MDI/DI-QKD, TF-QKD) and for integration into classical/optical networks and orchestration platforms (SDN/NFV).
4. 4Demonstrate hybrid QKD-PQC frameworks applied to at least two realistic demanding use cases with performance comparison to classical-only solutions and defined KPIs.
5. 5Provide a plan for interoperable, scalable and certifiable QKD hardware/software components and coordination with EU certification activities; include IPR and standardisation contributions.
6. 6Plan at least one live operational demonstrator with end-users and defined KPIs for availability, key rate and resilience under different network conditions.
7. 7Provide risk analysis, security assessment and verification methods supporting outcomes from EU quantum certification projects, and procedures for secure handling of sensitive/classified information if applicable.
8. 8Provide a supply-chain strengthening plan, including manufacturing and certification pathways and engagement with telecom operators and industry partners to ensure telecom-grade compatibility.
9. 9Include cloud-accessible interfaces to QKD resources for remote experimentation and integration testing and a plan for remote testing and reproducible benchmarking.
10. 10Demonstrate alignment with SRIA 2030, EuroQCI and QSNP Framework Partnership Agreement and show clear differentiation/added value and non-overlap with EuroQCI deployment activities.

Evaluation and award process, timeline

The single-stage evaluation uses independent external experts and standard Horizon/JU award criteria (Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of the implementation). Thresholds, weighting and the submission and evaluation processes are set out in the General Annexes. Indicative timeline: information on outcome around 5 months after the deadline; grant preparation and signature often expected around 8 months from the deadline, subject to legal and financial checks. Applicants should consult the Portal topic page for the specific indicative timeline and updates.

Co-funding and financial rules

This is a budget-based grant under the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based MGA. Funding rates, eligible costs, cost categories and rules (including for subcontracts, purchases, personnel, unit costs, flat rates and lump sums if applicable) follow Horizon/JU General Annexes and the applicable model grant agreement. MS projects normally reimburse eligible costs at rates defined by the programme (RIA funding rules apply). Co-funding from beneficiaries is not normally required beyond the eligible costs they incur and declare. The granting authority will apply standard Horizon financial controls, prefinancing, interim and final reporting and recovery rules.

Application templates and forms

Applicants must use the application form in the electronic Submission System (Part A:online administrative data; Part B: downloadable form to complete, convert to PDF and upload). The Submission System contains the exact Part B page limits, structure and mandatory annexes. Standard evaluation form templates that evaluators use (RIA/IA style) are published as reference documents on the Portal. If required by the topic, specific templates for budgets, ethics, security declarations or data management plans may be published on the topic page.

Success probability and numbers

This topic has an indicative number of grants = 1 and an indicative contribution range €21-€24 million. Given the very small number of grants available, competition is expected to be strong and the ex-ante probability of success is low. Applicants should prepare exceptionally strong consortia and proposals that clearly address the specified KPIs, demonstrate high TRL progression (4 to 7), large EU added value and non-overlap with EuroQCI.

Security, ethics and sensitive information

Projects dealing with quantum communications may raise confidentiality, dual-use, critical infrastructure protection or security concerns. Applicants must complete the ethics self-assessment and indicate any expected classified or sensitive information handling. If classified information is involved, specific security approval procedures and facility/personnel security clearances may apply. The General Annexes describe rules on EU classified information, facility security clearance requirements and constraints regarding subcontracting or dissemination.

Key contacts and help

Guidance and support resources:Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, National Contact Points (NCPs), Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks for standards, and Partner Search on the Portal. Use the Topic Q&A on the Portal for clarifications. The Submission System contains the application forms, templates and Part B page limits.

Where to apply:All submissions must be made electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page / Submission System for HORIZON-JU ¹.

Checklist for proposal preparation (high-level)

1. 1Confirm applicant legal eligibility and country eligibility per General Annex B and topic-specific conditions.
2. 2Assemble a consortium with the required competences, ensuring end-user involvement and telecom/operator engagement; check minimum beneficiary number requirements if any.
3. 3Define which measurable improvement(s) the project will achieve (key rate, coverage, or protocol advancement) and how you will measure them (KPIs).
4. 4Address at least two SRIA 2030 core roadblocks (e.g., scalability of MDI-QKD/DI-QKD and QKD-PQC integration).
5. 5Design experimental validation plans, integration with SDN/NFV, orchestration and cloud-accessible interfaces and at least one live end-user demonstrator with KPIs.
6. 6Include hybrid QKD-PQC demonstrations in at least two demanding use cases and show quantitative benefits vs classical-only solutions.
7. 7Plan hardware/software development aligned with certification, standards and EuroQCI coordination; identify supply-chain strengthening activities.
8. 8Complete ethics self-assessment, security plan and data management plan; identify any classified information and required clearances.
9. 9Prepare Part B according to Submission System page limits, include exploitation and dissemination plan, risk analysis, budget and resource allocation and commitment letters from operators and end-users.
10. 10Register all participants in the Participant Register (PIC), validate legal entity status, and submit electronically via the Submission System before the deadline.

Quick reference: topic keywords and technical list

• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), CV-QKD, TF-QKD, MDI-QKD, DI-QKD, entanglement-based QKD, prepare-and-measure
• Hybrid QKD — Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) integration
• Twin-field QKD, free-space QKD links, redundancy and non-wired segments
• Key management, secure enterprise-grade services, cloud-accessible QKD interfaces
• Integration with network equipment, SDN/NFV orchestration, telecom-grade compatibility
• Quantum Random Number Generators, integrated photonic QKD components, single-photon detectors, network controllers
• Benchmarks, verification, EU certification and standards, SRIA 2030 alignment, EuroQCI coordination
• Use cases: energy grid telemetry, long-term secure cloud storage, industrial control systems, secure multi-site enterprise communications
• Demonstrators with end-users, KPIs for availability, key rate, resilience
• TRL 4 start to TRL 7 target

Important references and documents

Applicants must consult the Horizon Europe General Annexes (A to G), the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the topic page on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The model grant agreement, application forms and evaluation templates are available as reference documents on the Portal.

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic and submission page for Next-Generation QKD Systems: EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic HORIZON-JU. Access the topic page and submission system through the Funding & Tenders Portal at ec.europa.eu

This is an open, single-stage Horizon JU Research and Innovation Action under Horizon Europe, focused on advancing next-generation quantum key distribution systems and their integration into future secure communication networks.[2] The topic opens on 13 August 2026 and closes on 17 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.[2]

What the funding is about

The call is designed to strengthen Europes strategic autonomy in quantum secure communications by advancing core QKD technologies, system integration capabilities, and practical deployment pathways.[2] It explicitly targets cost effective next generation systems, hybrid quantum classical security architectures, certifiable components, and validation in realistic use cases beyond EuroQCI deployment efforts.[2]

• Development and experimental validation of advanced QKD protocols and systems, including CV QKD, MDI QKD, DI QKD, and TF QKD.[2]
• Measurable performance improvements in at least one target area, such as key rates above 1 Mbps over metropolitan distances, regional coverage above 300 km for fibre based QKD, or advanced quantum cryptographic protocols beyond QKD with provable security advantage.[2]
• Integration of quantum communication components with classical and optical networking infrastructure, including routers, switches, SDN and NFV orchestration, and secure key management for enterprise services.[2]
• Demonstration of hybrid QKD PQC frameworks in at least two realistic and demanding use cases, with clear benefit over classical only solutions.[2]
• At least one live demonstrator involving end users, with KPIs for availability, key rate, and resilience under different network conditions.[2]
• Development of interoperable, scalable, and certifiable hardware and software components, plus contributions to standards and certification activities.[2]
• Optional early research and first demonstration work on quantum communication primitives beyond QKD for security and trust in distributed and decentralized settings.[2]

Who can apply

The topic follows the standard Horizon Europe eligibility framework, with applications assessed under the general annexes referenced on the portal. In practice, applicants should expect a consortium based on legal entities that are eligible under Horizon Europe rules, with any topic specific or security related limitations checked carefully before submission.

• The standard Horizon Europe consortium rule normally applies unless the topic states otherwise, meaning at least three independent legal entities from three different countries, with at least one from an EU Member State and the others from different Member States or associated countries.
• Universities, research organisations, companies, public bodies, and other legal entities can typically participate if they meet the general eligibility rules.
• The consortium should combine quantum hardware expertise, telecom and network integration, cybersecurity and cryptography, standards and certification know how, and end user validation capacity.
• Applicants should check the general annexes for country eligibility, exclusion rules, financial and operational capacity, and any security related restrictions relevant to communication network technologies.

Funding and grant conditions

Under standard Horizon Europe rules for a Research and Innovation Action, the funding rate is 100 percent of eligible costs. The grant is budget based and actual cost based, with indirect costs normally reimbursed at a 25 percent flat rate on eligible direct costs, and the grant may not generate a profit. The topic page does not specify a fixed project duration, so the duration will be set in the grant agreement.

Evaluation and timing

What successful proposals should show

1. 1A clear technical leap beyond the state of the art, with a quantified target such as key rate, distance, coverage, or protocol security advantage.
2. 2A credible path from TRL 4 validation to TRL 7 system prototype demonstration in an operational environment.
3. 3A strong integration story showing compatibility with real networking equipment and orchestration environments.
4. 4At least two demanding real world hybrid QKD PQC use cases with measurable benefits over classical only approaches.
5. 5A live demonstrator with end users and practical KPIs for availability, resilience, and key performance.
6. 6A plan for certification, interoperability, standards contribution, and scalable European supply chain development.
7. 7A consortium that brings together research, industry, network operators, and application end users without duplicating EuroQCI deployment work.

Strategic fit

Best fit proposals will be those that clearly build on the QSNP partnership results, align with the SRIA 2030, the Quantum Europe Strategy, and EuroQCI, and advance the technology readiness of next generation QKD rather than duplicating deployment activities.[2]