Standards for Quantum Technologies

HORIZON-JU is a single-stage Horizon Europe/EuroHPC Joint Undertaking Coordination and Support Action (CSA) funding one 36-month project with a lump-sum EU contribution of €900,000–€1,000,000 to develop and promote European and international pre-normative standards for quantum technologies (computing, communication, sensing, control). The action requires drafting technical specifications, performance and benchmarking methodologies, stakeholder workshops, and the development of training materials and guidance to increase interoperability and uptake. European standardisation organisations are encouraged to lead or be key partners and eligible participants must be legal entities established in EU Member States, Norway, Iceland or countries associated to Horizon Europe. Submission is via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with a deadline of 30 September 2026, 17:00 CEST.

What the call funds

Scope in one line

A single Coordination and Support Action (CSA) to coordinate and accelerate development and adoption of European and international standards for quantum technologies (computing, communication, sensing and control). Activities include drafting pre-normative standards and specifications, promoting SME/start-up participation in standardisation bodies (ISO/IEC, ITU-T, ETSI, CEN‑CENELEC), interoperability protocols, benchmarking methods, training materials, workshops and stakeholder engagement.

Funding instrument:Horizon Europe — Type of action: HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Action (Lump-sum grant). The action is expected to run about 36 months and uses the Horizon lump‑sum model ¹.

1. 1Single proposal expected (one project to be funded)
2. 2Target outputs: pre-normative standards, technical specs, benchmarking, guidelines and training
3. 3European standardisation organisations (ESOs) encouraged to lead or be key partners

Who can apply / eligibility highlights

Lead applicant and consortium members must be legal entities established in EU Member States, Norway, Iceland or countries associated to Horizon Europe. Participation from standardisation bodies, research organisations, SMEs, start‑ups and industry is expected; ESOs encouraged to lead or be key partners. Proposals including entities from non‑eligible countries will be ineligible.

Budget and duration (indicative)

Proposals must present a clear stakeholder engagement plan, deliverables, and detailed budget justification including person‑days and daily rates. The call expects one grant and restricts participation to eligible countries to protect strategic interests.

How to apply

Apply through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the single‑stage submission for topic HORIZON-JU. Follow the 25-page limit and the Part B proposal layout in the Portal. European standardisation organisations should consider leading or being major partners.

Footnotes

1. 1Guidance on Horizon lump sums and templates is available on the Funding & Tenders Portal: Horizon Lump Sum Guidance

Call summary and purpose

This is a Horizon Europe / EuroHPC Joint Undertaking Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-JU-CSA) titled Standards for Quantum Technologies. Deadline: 30 September 2026. Expected duration: 36 months. A single proposal is expected to be submitted; a single-stage submission model applies. The action will coordinate and support standardisation activities for quantum technologies across quantum computing, communication, sensing and control, with the objective to accelerate delivery and uptake of European and international standards, strengthen European leadership in quantum standardisation, enable interoperability and benchmarking, and produce practical support materials (guidelines, training modules, best practices). European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) are encouraged to lead or be key partners.

Key outcomes sought

Expected outcomes specified by the topic include delivery of concrete EU-relevant pre-normative standards and technical specifications across quantum computing, communication and sensing; substantial European stakeholder contributions (particularly SMEs and start-ups) to international standardisation bodies (ISO/IEC, ITU-T, ETSI, CEN-CENELEC); promotion of cross-sectoral interoperability through standardised interfaces, control protocols, reliability approaches and benchmarking methodologies; creation of practical support tools such as user guidelines, training modules and best practices; organisation of workshops and stakeholder consultations to ensure inclusivity and consensus building; coordination with existing ESOs and international standardisation bodies to avoid duplication.

Scope and activities required:Proposals must build on roadmaps of ESOs, standardise results from Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and EuroHPC JU projects where relevant, foster active industrial standardisation communities, enable stakeholder participation in ISO/IEC, ITU-T, ETSI and CEN-CENELEC, support interoperability through interface/protocol/benchmark standardisation, draft concrete standards/technical specifications (examples: hardware-software interfaces, quantum sensing protocols and metrology, control electronics and device modularity, performance and benchmarking methodologies), and produce explanatory documentation, training material and best practice. The proposal must present a clear plan for stakeholder engagement, deliverables and budget justification including person-days per task and daily rates.

Administrative, financial and procedural details

Action type:HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). Model Grant Agreement: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS). Submission: single-stage electronic submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Page limit for full proposal: 25 pages for Part B. Application template: use the Application Form in the Submission System (Part A and Part B); evaluation forms and templates are provided in the Reference Documents on the Portal. The submission session for this topic is open.

Available budget and project scale:The budget overview for the topic lists a single expected grant. Minimum contribution indicated at call level is €900,000 and maximum contribution at call level is €1,000,000. Project duration is expected to be 36 months. The grant takes the form of a lump sum unit grant (lump sum contributions as per the Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under Horizon Europe).

1. 1Expected grants: 1 project under HORIZON-JU
2. 2Budget range for topic: €900,000 – €1,000,000 (call-level planned budget shown as €1,000,000)
3. 3Project duration expected: 36 months
4. 4Submission model: single-stage through the Funding & Tenders Portal

Eligibility and participation rules

This topic is implemented under the EuroHPC JU Council Regulation and the Horizon Europe rules. Participation is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States, Norway and Iceland and countries associated to Horizon Europe. Proposals including entities established in countries outside this scope will be ineligible. Entities from third countries not automatically eligible may exceptionally be funded only when explicitly allowed and justified. Entities established in eligible countries but directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country may be excluded unless guarantees are provided. European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) are encouraged to lead or be key consortium partners. A single proposal is expected for the topic; the granting authority can fund a maximum of one project.

Eligible applicant types include:research organisations, universities, ESOs, national standardisation bodies, SMEs and startups, industry players including large enterprises, non-profit organisations, NGOs, and public bodies, provided they are established in an eligible country and meet national legal entity requirements. Participation of associated partners from non-eligible countries is subject to the General Annex B rules and must be explicitly justified where funding is requested.

Geographic and national specifics

Beneficiary scope:Member States of the EU, Norway and Iceland and countries associated to Horizon Europe. The topic text explicitly cites alignment with EU industrial strategies and safeguarding the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy and security. It also references integration of results from Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and EuroHPC JU projects and coordination with ESOs and international standard bodies (ISO/IEC, ITU-T, ETSI, CEN-CENELEC).

Restrictions / security-related eligibility notes:Due to the strategic nature of standards and safeguards for strategic assets, participation is limited to entities established in eligible countries. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may be excluded unless guarantees are provided by the country of establishment. Legal entities established in specified non-associated third countries that are not automatically eligible for Horizon Europe funding may only participate as associated partners and generally not receive EU funding, except in exceptional, justified cases.

Applicant and consortium requirements

A single proposal is expected. The topic encourages a consortium led by ESOs or consortia where ESOs are key partners. Proposals should bring together: standardisation expertise, technical quantum technology expertise (computing/communication/sensing/control), industrial stakeholders including SMEs and startups, research organisations with project results to be standardised, and experience in international standards bodies (ISO/IEC, ITU-T, ETSI, CEN-CENELEC). The consortium must present a clear stakeholder engagement plan, deliverable schedule, quality assurance and risk management, and detailed lump sum budget justification (person-days and daily rates).

1. 1Consortium lead: ESOs encouraged to lead or be key partners
2. 2Core partners: ESOs, national standardisation bodies, universities/research institutes, quantum SMEs/startups and larger industry players
3. 3Skills needed: standards drafting and pre-normative expertise; technical quantum R&D across computing, sensing, communication, control; metrology and benchmarking expertise; training and communication development; stakeholder engagement and workshop facilitation
4. 4Proposal must include person-day estimates and daily rates per task for the lump sum assessment

The proposal must demonstrate the capacity to engage and represent European industrial and research priorities in international standards bodies, show a plan to bring SMEs and startups into international standardisation activities, and coordinate with existing European and international standardisation work to avoid duplication.

Funding modalities and financial rules

Form of funding:HORIZON Lump Sum Grant (unit/lump sum model). Eligible costs: the topic indicates eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum contribution as defined in the Horizon Lump Sum Decision. The action is a Coordination and Support Action paid as a lump sum. Some topics under the related EuroHPC/Horizon calls use specific funding rates or lump sum ceilings; for this topic the expected grant amount range is €900,000–1,000,000. The grant agreement will follow the HORIZON-AG-LS Model Grant Agreement (Lump Sum).

Co-funding and financial contribution:Co-funding: while lump sum grants simplify cost reporting, proposers must justify the effort (person-days) and daily rates per task in the application. Beneficiaries are expected to secure any additional co-funding required for full implementation beyond the EU lump sum amount, where necessary. The topic notes national and programme synergies (Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, EuroHPC JU) and encourages alignment and complementary funding, e.g. national contributions, ESOs in-kind contributions or partner cash/in-kind where needed.

Application, evaluation and templates

Submission:proposals must be prepared and submitted in the Funding & Tenders Portal using the online Submission Service. Application form structure follows Part A and Part B templates available in the Submission System. Page limit for Part B is 25 pages. Evaluation is by the standard Horizon evaluation forms for CSA actions; evaluation scoring is 0-5 with thresholds specified in the HE evaluation forms and the Call-specific guidance. The Evaluation forms for CSA, RIA and other action types are published in the Reference Documents on the Portal and will be used with adaptations where necessary.

1. 1Application template: use the Application Form in the Submission System (Part A and Part B); Part B limit = 25 pages
2. 2Evaluation templates: Standard evaluation form (HE CSA) and related IER/CR templates published in Reference Documents
3. 3Budget justification: detailed lump sum justification required — person-days per task and daily rates; evaluators will assess the reasonableness of the estimation

Evaluation stages, scoring and success parameters

Submission model:single-stage. Evaluation criteria: Excellence (quality and pertinence of objectives, quality of coordination/support measures, soundness of methodology), Impact (pathways to expected outcomes, dissemination and exploitation measures including communication), Quality and efficiency of implementation (work plan, risk assessment, capacity of participants, appropriateness of effort). Scores 0–5 with thresholds (individual criterion threshold typically 3 for CSAs; consult standard HE CSA evaluation form in Reference Documents for exact thresholds and weighting).

Application stages:1 (single-stage). Success rate: not specified in the call documents; success rates vary by call and competition level and are not published for this specific topic. Applicants should assume high competition and prepare strong, well-justified proposals addressing all evaluation aspects.

Co-funding and financial commitment details

The topic requires a detailed lump sum budget justification including person-days per task and daily rates. Even for lump sum grants, evaluators will assess the cost estimations and may request amendments in the evaluation report. Beneficiaries should be prepared to provide evidence of the reasonableness of person-day estimates and daily rates, and to mobilise complementary co-funding if the project ambition requires resources beyond the lump sum. The EU contribution is capped by the call minimum/maximum (€900K–€1,000K).

Templates and application form structure

Applicants must use the online Application Form available in the Submission System. Part A collects administrative data; Part B contains the technical proposal (25 page limit). The proposal layout is defined in Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System. Reference Documents include examples of standard application forms, detailed budget table for lump sums, evaluation forms (HE CSA), guidance on lump sum budgets and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

1. 1Application structure: Part A (administrative) + Part B (technical, 25 pages)
2. 2Part B should cover: excellence (objectives, methodology), impact (pathways to outcomes, dissemination/exploitation), implementation (workplan, Gantt, risk, roles, person-days and daily rates for lump sum), stakeholder engagement and standardisation strategy
3. 3Mandatory supporting documents and templates: use Portal Reference Documents (HE Programme Guide, Lump Sums guidance, Detailed Lump Sum Budget template, Evaluation forms)

Evaluation tips and strong application features

Strong proposals typically demonstrate clear alignment with EU industrial and quantum roadmaps, show direct engagement and letters of support from ESOs and international standard bodies, have detailed stakeholder engagement plans that include SMEs/startups, supply clear pre-normative standardisation work packages with testbeds or use-cases, provide realistic person-day and daily rate estimates for lump sum assessment, include concrete deliverables (standards drafts, technical specifications, benchmark methods), show a dissemination and uptake plan linking to ISO/IEC/ETSI/ITU-T/CEN-CENELEC activities, and demonstrate mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability and coordination with other EU projects (Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, EuroHPC).

Eligible applicant types (detailed)

1. 1European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) and national standardisation bodies (encouraged as leads or key partners)
2. 2Universities and other higher education institutions
3. 3Research performing organisations and research institutes (specialised quantum research centres)
4. 4SMEs and startups in quantum technologies and supporting domains (benchmarking, metrology, control systems, software vendors)
5. 5Large enterprises and industrial partners with quantum R&I and standardisation interests
6. 6Nonprofits, NGOs and industry associations (including technology transfer and innovation organisations)
7. 7Public bodies and governmental agencies involved in standards or quantum strategies
8. 8Training providers and professional bodies able to deliver training modules and upskilling

Target sectors, technologies and innovation areas

Target sectors:quantum computing, quantum communication (including QKD and quantum networks), quantum sensing and metrology, quantum control systems, hardware-software interfaces, cryogenic and control electronics, benchmarking services, metrology and standards labs, interoperability platforms and middleware. Cross-cutting areas: cybersecurity and research security considerations, trustworthy system design, performance and benchmarking methodologies, open standards for interfaces and APIs, data formats for benchmarking data, digital twins for quantum systems, training and certification frameworks, and support tools (guidelines, test suites, training modules). Proposals should address cross-sector interoperability (e.g., integration of quantum accelerators into HPC/EuroHPC ecosystems, hardware-software stacks and standardised interfaces).

Mentioned countries and regions in the topic text

Explicitly mentioned:European Union Member States, Norway and Iceland; countries associated to Horizon Europe. Also references to international standardisation bodies (ISO/IEC, ITU-T, ETSI) and European standards organisations (CEN-CENELEC). The call text also references Horizon Europe, Digital Europe Programme and EuroHPC JU as relevant EU programmes. Ukraine appears in cross-cutting contexts across the Work Programme; China is noted in general annexes in relation to participation restrictions for some research topics (see General Annex B). The topic restricts participation to entities established in Member States, Norway, Iceland and associated countries; entities established in other countries will be ineligible under EuroHPC-specific eligibility exceptions.

Project maturity and expected project stage

Project stage expected:from pre-normative research translation through standard drafting and validation (development, validation and demonstration phases). The CSA is suited to pre-normative work and coordination activities, drafting technical specifications, coordinating stakeholder contributions to standards bodies, preparing cross-sector benchmarking methodologies and training materials. Projects should be capable of translating research outputs from recent Horizon/EuroHPC/Digital Europe projects into standardisation inputs and technical specifications.

Nature of support and payment modalities

Nature of support:monetary funding to the coordinator/beneficiaries in the form of a lump sum grant to deliver the described coordination and support activities and deliverables. The grant is not a procurement or prize; it is a unit/lump sum action. Payments: as per the Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement selected for the call (HORIZON-AG-LS). The Grant Agreement will follow Horizon lump sum rules and relevant General Annexes. The call documentation indicates lump sum eligible costs and that evaluators will assess lump sum cost estimations.

Application stages and success process

Application stages:single-stage submission and single-stage evaluation. Applicants must pass all evaluation thresholds in Excellence, Impact and Implementation to be eligible for funding. The evaluation will be carried out using the standard HE CSA evaluation form and templates. The call uses standard scoring 0-5 with half marks possible, thresholds as set in HE CSA templates (typically 3 per criterion and overall 10/15 for single-stage CSAs unless otherwise specified).

Success rates and competitiveness

No specific historical success rate is published for this topic. Applicants should assume high competition and prepare high-quality, well-justified proposals aligned with the topic expected outcomes. The call coordinator will select the best-ranked eligible proposals within available budget.

Co-funding requirement

The topic uses lump sum funding. There is no mandatory percentage co-funding specified in the topic text; however applicants must justify person-days and daily rates that underpin the lump sum. Beneficiaries are expected to provide any additional resources or co-funding in case project ambition exceeds the EU lump sum. For specific sub-actions or follow-on national activities, co-funding or national contributions may be necessary and are encouraged to ensure sustainability and commitment from national/regional stakeholders. Some Horizon actions expect an 80% funding rate for RIA lump sums or 50% for COFUND in other contexts; applicants must respect the specific funding rules of the selected MGA indicated in the Submission System.

Templates and practical guidance references

Required templates and guidelines (available in the Portal Reference Documents) include:Application Form Part A and Part B, HE Programme Guide, Lump Sums guidance and Decision documents, Detailed Lump Sum Budget template (for justifying person-days and daily rates), HE CSA evaluation form (V5.0 and later versions), HE Online Manual and Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ. Applicants must use the Submission System Application Form and follow the Part B layout. Evaluation criteria and scoring grids are available in the HE evaluation form templates for CSAs (Reference Documents).

1. 1Application form: use the online Submission System and the application form provided there (Part A + Part B)
2. 2Page limit: Part B = 25 pages
3. 3Budget justification for lump sum: required to show person-days and daily rates per task
4. 4Evaluation templates: HE CSA evaluation form (use latest Reference Document version)
5. 5Guidance: HE Programme Guide; Lump Sums - what do I need to know?; Decision authorising lump sum use

Technology and science details to reproduce in proposals

Proposals should reproduce and detail the following technical domains and deliverables where applicable: hardware-software interfaces in quantum computing (APIs, control stacks, abstraction layers), quantum sensing protocols and metrology methods (standards for measurement procedures, calibration, uncertainty quantification), control electronics and device modularity (interfaces and mechanical/electrical/electronic modularity standards), performance and benchmarking methodologies (benchmarks, testbeds, reproducible measurement procedures, datasets), standardised interfaces for cross-sector interoperability (control protocols, communication interfaces, data formats), reliability in operating conditions (specifying environmental and operational test conditions and reliability metrics), and benchmarking methodologies (reference workloads, standard test suites, metrics and reporting formats). Proposals should also plan drafting of concrete standards/technical specifications in cooperation with relevant standardisation bodies, and lay out development of support materials such as user guides, training modules and best practices, and the organisation of workshops and consultations with stakeholders including SMEs and start-ups.

How to explain this opportunity concisely

Standards for Quantum Technologies is a EuroHPC/Horizon Europe lump sum Coordination and Support Action that funds one 36-month project to coordinate and accelerate the development and adoption of EU-relevant pre-normative standards and technical specifications for quantum computing, communication, sensing and control. The action must deliver draft standards and technical specifications, enable European stakeholder participation in international standards bodies, promote cross-sector interoperability via standardised interfaces and benchmarking methodologies, and produce practical support material and training to drive uptake. Applicants should form consortia led or strongly supported by European standardisation organisations and include industry (notably SMEs and start-ups), research organizations, and parties with direct routes to standardisation bodies. The call budget is approximately €900K–€1,000Kand uses the Horizon lump sum grant model; applicants must justify person-days and daily rates for tasks in the lump-sum budget. Proposals are evaluated as single-stage CSAs using the standard Horizon CSA criteria. The topic restricts participation to entities established in EU Member States, Norway, Iceland and associated countries and requires attention to research security and safeguarding of strategic assets.

Key Facts at a Glance

Strategic Objective and Expected Outcomes

This action aims to accelerate the development and adoption of European and international standards for quantum technologies, enhancing interoperability, reliability assurance, and trust in quantum systems. It seeks to strengthen Europe's leadership in the global quantum standardisation landscape and ensure European industrial and research priorities are integrated into emerging standards ².

Primary Expected Outcomes:Delivery of concrete, EU-relevant pre-normative standards and technical specifications across quantum computing, communication, and sensing ³.

Substantial contribution of European stakeholders, notably SMEs and start-ups, to international standardisation bodies (e.g., ISO/IEC, ITU-T, ETSI) aligned with EU industrial strategies.

Promotion of cross-sectoral interoperability through standardised interfaces, control protocols, and benchmarking methodologies to reduce market fragmentation.

Creation of practical support tools such as user guidelines, training modules, and best practices to accelerate the uptake of quantum standards.

Scope and Required Activities

Proposals must coordinate and support standardisation activities for quantum computing, communication, sensing, and control. Key activities include building on European standardisation roadmaps, fostering an industrial standardisation community, and enabling broad stakeholder participation in international bodies ⁴.

1. 1Drafting concrete standards or technical specifications for hardware-software interfaces in quantum computing.
2. 2Developing quantum sensing protocols and metrology methods.
3. 3Defining control electronics and device modularity for quantum systems.
4. 4Establishing performance and benchmarking methodologies.
5. 5Supporting stakeholder participation in CEN-CENELEC, ETSI, ISO/IEC, and ITU-T.
6. 6Organising workshops and consultations with SMEs, start-ups, and large industry for consensus building.
7. 7Developing user guides, training modules, and best practices for the developed standards.

Who Should Apply and Consortium Requirements

A single proposal is expected for this call. European standardisation organisations (ESOs) are strongly encouraged to lead or be key partners in the consortium. The consortium should include a mix of research organisations, industry players, SMEs, and start-ups to ensure inclusivity and effective uptake ⁵.

Eligibility Criteria:Participation is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, and countries associated with Horizon Europe. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries are generally ineligible unless specific guarantees are provided to safeguard Union strategic assets ⁶.

Budget and Financial Details

The indicative EU contribution ranges from €900,000 to €1,000,000. The grant is awarded as a lump sum, meaning no detailed financial reporting of actual costs is required post-award, but a detailed lump sum budget justification (person-days per task and daily rates) must be submitted with the proposal ⁷.

Evaluation Criteria and Thresholds

Proposals will be evaluated based on three criteria:Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of implementation. Each criterion has a threshold of 3/5, and the overall threshold is 10/15 points. The evaluation focuses on the clarity of objectives, credibility of pathways to impact, and the effectiveness of the work plan ⁸.

How to Submit

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants must register in the Participant Register and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before submission. The proposal must include a clear plan for stakeholder engagement, deliverables, and budget justification ⁹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official deadline confirmed on EuroHPC JU website: 30 September 2026, 17:00 CEST EuroHPC JU Standards Call.
2. 2Strategic objective detailed in the official Call Description: Strengthening Europe's leadership in global quantum standardisation EU Funding Portal.
3. 3Expected outcomes listed in the official topic description: Delivery of pre-normative standards across computing, communication, and sensing Euro Access Call Page.
4. 4Scope details including standardisation of interfaces and protocols from the official Call Text French Horizon Europe Page.
5. 5Consortium requirements encouraging ESO leadership and SME inclusion from the official Call Description Euro Access Call Page.
6. 6Eligibility restrictions based on EuroHPC JU Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173 and strategic asset protection EU Funding Portal.
7. 7Budget range €900K-€1M and Lump Sum model confirmed in official documents Funds for NGOs Call Page.
8. 8Evaluation thresholds (3/5 per criterion, 10/15 total) defined in the HE CSA Evaluation Form EU Grants Evaluation Form HE CSA.
9. 9Submission instructions and PIC requirement from the official Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding Portal.