Support standardisation for the EuroQCI (CSA)

This grant opportunity is part of the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL), specifically targeting the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure, known as EuroQCI. The call, designated DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI, focuses on the support of standardization activities essential for establishing an operational EuroQCI infrastructure, particularly emphasizing Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum cryptography services.

Eligible applicants include legal entities based in EU member states and associated countries. This may encompass research institutes, industry consortia, standardization organizations, and academic institutions, particularly highlighting opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01 topic.

The funding type for this grant is a monetary grant, with a total budget of €3,000,000 allocated specifically for this call, which is expected to result in one awarded grant. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a submission deadline set for October 16, 2025.

The project aims to perform various standardization activities, including:

- Reviewing current QKD standardization initiatives.
- Standardizing components such as single-photon sources, QKD systems (transmitters and receivers), detectors, and ultra-low loss optical fibers.
- Establishing requirements for performance metrics, benchmarks, and operational monitoring.
- Creating software-hardware interface standards and harmonizing key management system APIs for interoperability.
- Ensuring effective operation across networks via routing, management, and SDN (Software Defined Network) system integration.
- Developing hybridization strategies that incorporate both QKD and post-quantum cryptography.
- Formally evaluating and certifying QKD protocols to enhance security through collaboration among relevant authorities.

Expected outcomes include sets of established standards, interoperable systems, benchmark tests for QKD components, formal assessments for extending QKD protocols, and contributions towards a self-sufficient European quantum communication ecosystem.

Applicants must comply with specific admissibility conditions as outlined in the call document, which also details eligible countries and other submission requirements. With an anticipated low success rate due to high competition and limited grants available, the call encourages diverse and collaborative proposals aimed at advancing standardization in quantum technologies across Europe.

This is a call for proposals under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) focusing on the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI). The call, designated DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI, specifically targets DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) with the topic DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03, titled "Support standardisation for the EuroQCI (CSA)". It is a single-stage submission process with a planned opening date of 15 July 2025 and a deadline of 16 October 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the DIGITAL-CSA actions is 3,000,000 EUR, and it is expected that one grant will be awarded.

The objective of this call is to implement necessary standardisation activities to support an operational EuroQCI infrastructure with dedicated Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum cryptography services. The scope includes activities such as:

Overview of current QKD standardization activities.

Standardization of QKD components, including single-photon sources, entanglement-based sources, QKD transmitters/receivers and detectors, and ultra-low loss optical fibres. This includes defining performance requirements, benchmarking tests, metrics, calibration in operational environments, and monitoring system behavior over its lifetime.

Standardization of multiplexing of quantum signals with third-party classical and noise compensation technology.

Standardization of software-hardware interfaces and harmonization of interoperable key management system APIs.

Standardization of systems and applications for network operation, covering routing, control, management, interoperability between different SDN systems, and roaming for cross-border connections.

Standardization of hybridisation schemes for combined QKD/PQC (Post-Quantum Cryptography).

Evaluation and certification of QKD protocols, including formalizing assessments of implementation constraints in security proofs and strengthening collaboration between national authorities, evaluation laboratories, and other initiatives.

The expected outcomes and deliverables include:

Sets of standards for QKD components and systems.

Interoperable systems and applications for network operation.

Specific requirements, benchmarking tests, and metrics for QKD subsystems.

Formalized assessments for QKD protocols.

Contribution to a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem.

Conditions for application include:

Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout as described in section 5 of the call document and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible Countries: Described in section 6 of the call document.

Other Eligible Conditions: Described in section 6 of the call document.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: Described in section 7 of the call document.

Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes described in section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.

Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds described in section 9 of the call document.

Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in section 4 of the call document.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants described in section 10 of the call document.

Applicants can find the call document and application form templates, including a standard application form and a detailed budget table, in the Submission System. Additional documents include the EU secure connectivity programme (2023-2027), EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The call also lists two other related topics: DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01 - DIGITAL-SME Digital SME Support Actions with a budget of 30,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 5 grants, and DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-02 - DIGITAL-CSA DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of 3,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 1 grant. Both share the same opening and deadline dates as DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03.

This funding opportunity aims to bolster the EuroQCI by standardizing various aspects of quantum communication, from the components themselves to the protocols and network management systems. It seeks to create a more robust and interoperable quantum communication infrastructure across Europe, fostering a technologically independent ecosystem. The call encourages proposals that address standardization at multiple levels, including hardware, software, and protocols, to ensure the secure and efficient integration of quantum technologies into existing and future networks. The emphasis on standardization is intended to facilitate the widespread adoption of QKD and related technologies, contributing to enhanced cybersecurity and data protection across the EU.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the focus on standardization and the involvement of national authorities and accredited evaluation laboratories, it can be inferred that eligible applicants may include research institutes, universities, standardization organizations, industry consortia, national authorities, and accredited evaluation laboratories. The call DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01 specifically mentions Digital SME Support Actions, indicating that SMEs are also eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based [DIGITAL-AG]. The call is a DIGITAL Coordination and Support Action (DIGITAL-CSA).

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, the nature of standardization activities and the need for interoperability suggest that consortia may be preferred, especially those involving diverse stakeholders such as industry, research, and national authorities. The partner search announcements also indicate that collaboration is encouraged.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly mentioned, but since it is a Digital Europe Programme call, it is highly likely that the eligibility extends to EU member states and potentially associated countries. Section 6 of the call document, which is not provided, likely contains the specific details on eligible countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is quantum technology, specifically focusing on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum communication infrastructure (EuroQCI). This includes standardization of QKD components, systems, and applications, as well as hybridisation schemes for combined QKD/Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. The focus is on the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI), implying a European regional scope.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on standardization, evaluation, and certification. This suggests that the technology is at the development, validation, and demonstration stages, moving towards commercialization. The call aims to support the implementation of an operational EuroQCI infrastructure, indicating a move from research to deployment.

Funding Amount: The budget overview provides specific funding amounts for different topics:
DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01: EUR 30,000,000
DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-02: EUR 3,000,000
DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03: EUR 3,000,000

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support their standardization and coordination activities.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants provides some insight into potential success rates. For DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01, there are 5 indicative grants for a budget of EUR 30,000,000. For DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-02 and DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03, there is 1 indicative grant each for a budget of EUR 3,000,000. The actual success rates will depend on the number of applications received.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. This information is likely detailed in the call document.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL), specifically targeting the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI). The call aims to support standardization activities necessary for an operational EuroQCI, focusing on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and related quantum cryptography services. The call is structured into three topics: DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01, which focuses on Digital SME Support Actions with a budget of EUR 30,000,000 and an indicative number of 5 grants; and DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-02 and DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03, both focusing on DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of EUR 3,000,000 each and an indicative number of 1 grant each.

The scope of the call includes a wide range of standardization activities, from QKD components and systems to network capabilities and protocols. It encourages proposals that cover the standardization of single-photon sources, entanglement-based sources, QKD transmitters/receivers, detectors, ultra-low loss optical fibres, multiplexing of quantum signals, software-hardware interfaces, key management system APIs, hybridisation schemes for combined QKD/PQC, and evaluation/certification of QKD protocols.

Eligible applicants are likely to include research institutes, universities, standardization organizations, industry consortia, national authorities, and accredited evaluation laboratories, with a specific emphasis on SMEs for the DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01 topic. The funding type is a DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based, and the application process is a single-stage open call. The geographic eligibility is likely to be EU member states and associated countries.

The expected outcomes of the call include sets of standards for QKD components and systems, interoperable systems and applications for network operation, specific requirements and benchmarking tests for QKD subsystems, formalized assessments for QKD protocols, and a contribution to a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem.

In essence, this call is a strategic effort to bolster the development and deployment of a secure European quantum communication infrastructure by fostering standardization and interoperability in the field of quantum key distribution and quantum cryptography. It aims to bring together key stakeholders from research, industry, and government to create a robust and standardized ecosystem for quantum communication technologies in Europe.