Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies

Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies HORIZON-JU is a EuroHPC JU Research and Innovation Action (budget-based HORIZON-AG) single-stage call opening 13 August 2026 with a submission deadline of 17 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time and an indicative budget of €19–€20 millionfor one selected grant. The call funds the scale-up of a full-stack trapped-ion quantum computing platform to more than 1,000 physical qubits, integration with HPC and cloud access, demonstration of error correction and at least two application use cases, and requires TRL progression from about TRL 4 to TRL 7. Proposals must address at least two major SRIA 2030 roadblocks (for example modular scalability and photonic integration) and demonstrate system-level readiness, standards alignment, open access and supply‑chain considerations. Participation is restricted to legal entities established in EuroHPC Member States or Participating States with additional strategic eligibility safeguards applied by the JU.

What it funds

Scope in one line

Large-scale RIA to develop a full-stack trapped-ion quantum computing platform (hardware and software) that advances scalability, modularity, integrated photonics and error correction, demonstrates >1000 physical qubits and integration with HPC/cloud access for industrial and scientific use.

Action type:HORIZON-JU-RIA (EuroHPC Joint Undertaking Research & Innovation Action); single-stage submission.

Deadline:17 November 2026 17:00 Brussels time ¹

Who can apply

Legal entities established in EU Member States and EuroHPC Participating/Associated States as defined in the EuroHPC / Horizon Europe rules. Eligible lead applicants are research organisations, industry vendors, RTOs and consortia including SMEs and end‑users; participation may be restricted for strategic/security reasons under EuroHPC rules (see topic). Projects must start around TRL 4 and aim to reach TRL 7.

How much (indicative)

Total topic budget ~€20 000 000 for one grant. The estimated EU contribution for the selected project is in the range €19 000 000 to €20 000 000 (single grant expected).

1. 1Minimum expected outcomes: full-stack trapped-ion system >1 000 qubits, HPC/cloud integration, standards and open access
2. 2Applicants must address at least two major SRIA 2030 roadblocks (scalability, photonic integration, modularity, error correction)
3. 3Project duration and budgets to be set in proposal; TRL 4 to TRL 7 progression expected

Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and follow the EuroHPC call instructions, Annexes and eligibility conditions (page limits, admissibility, documentation and specific national/participant restrictions).

Footnotes

1. 1Topic details and submission entry are on the Funding & Tenders Portal: Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies topic.

Source and call identifiers

Call title:Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies. Call identifier: HORIZON-JU. Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA (EuroHPC JU Research and Innovation Actions). Type of grant agreement: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. Deadline for submissions: 17 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Opening: 13 August 2026. Single-stage submission. Indicative EU contribution for this topic: €19 000 000 to €20 000 000; the topic is expected to fund one grant. Application system: EU Funding & Tenders Portal (submission session available). Full topic text and documents are published on the Portal topic page and reference documents, with templates for application and evaluation forms available via the Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic Page.

Scientific and technical scope

Objective:Support scale-up of European trapped-ion quantum computing platforms to technological maturity usable for industrial and scientific applications and to achieve TRL progression from TRL 4 at project start to TRL 7 at project end. Expected system-level outcomes: development of a full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer with more than 1 000 physical qubits integrated into HPC systems and accessible via cloud; demonstration of quantum advantage on selected real-world applications; advanced error correction and fault-tolerant techniques; modular interoperable architectures; integration of photonic components (for laser delivery and integrated waveguides); reduced system footprint with standardised interfaces; hybrid quantum-classical workflows and HPC integration; open cloud-based access, documentation and training; contribution to a resilient European supply chain for lasers, ion traps, control electronics and packaging.

Technical expectations and mandatory elements to be addressed in proposals:1) Address at least two major technical roadblocks from the SRIA 2030 for trapped-ion quantum computing, including limited scalability of ion trap architectures (need for modular designs and inter-chain coupling) and integration of photonic components for laser delivery enabling compact and fault-tolerant systems. 2) Demonstrate system-level innovation and practical application readiness. 3) Develop initialisation, manipulation and readout fully integrated into the cryogenic setup. 4) Demonstrate scalable error correction and benchmark error correction codes suitable for trapped-ion architectures; error mitigation in noisy environments. 5) Implement at least two practical use cases aligned with industrial or scientific challenges and demonstrate computational advantage over classical simulations where feasible. 6) Establish interface specifications for hardware and software layers and align with European standardisation, benchmarking and certification efforts. 7) Ensure seamless operation alongside HPC resources with remote access and hybrid quantum-classical workflows. 8) Provide cloud-based access, user documentation and training resources to researchers and industry including SMEs. 9) Contribute to the European supply chain independence for core components.

Administrative and eligibility framework

Action funding programme and rules:The topic is implemented under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking within Horizon Europe rules. Applicants must follow the General Annexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 for admissibility (page limits and layout), eligibility, financial and operational capacity checks, exclusion rules, award criteria and the legal and financial setup of grants. Proposals should be prepared using the application form available in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System and follow Part B page limits; the indicative proposal length is 75 pages for this topic and the call uses a single-stage procedure. The standard Horizon Europe evaluation and award rules (General Annexes A to G) apply, as adapted by EuroHPC-specific eligibility restrictions where stated.

Compliance and security restrictions:Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States or Participating States of the EuroHPC JU in accordance with the EuroHPC JU Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173 as last amended by Council Regulation 2026/150. Entities established in countries associated to Horizon Europe that become a EuroHPC Participating State before grant signature will also be eligible. For strategic reasons, entities which are directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible countries may be excluded unless the eligible country of establishment provides guarantees. Actions subject to restrictions for protection of European digital infrastructure and supply chains apply additional eligibility restrictions to safeguard strategic assets (see call conditions).

Eligible countries: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; United Kingdom

Eligibility: applicant types, consortium and geographic scope

This topic follows EuroHPC and Horizon Europe eligibility rules with additional EuroHPC-specific restrictions. The rules in the General Annexes and the EuroHPC Work Programme apply and must be consulted. The call text and topic-specific conditions set additional restrictions regarding the eligible countries and participants (strategic asset protection).

Eligible Applicant Types:University; research institute; public research organisation; SME; large enterprise; start-up; nonprofit; RTO (research and technology organisation); national laboratories; international European research organisations; public bodies (subject to national and call conditions). Participation is limited to legal entities established in EuroHPC Member or Participating States and certain associated countries as specified by the topic; affiliated entities are permitted where compliant with Article 190 rules. The call is targeted at consortia with strong industrial and research partners; start-up-led consortia are encouraged where indicated for related photonic topics elsewhere in the Work Programme.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium-style applications are expected. Topic is single-stage RIA; general Horizon Europe minimum consortium rules apply for multi-beneficiary grants unless topic states otherwise. EuroHPC Work Programme notes that the JU can limit participation to legal entities established in Member States or Participating States. The call is for a single project (JU estimates one grant to be funded).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Entities established in the list of eligible countries above (Member States, Participating States of EuroHPC JU and specified associated countries). EuroHPC Governing Board decisions may restrict participation to safeguard strategic assets; entities directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible countries may be excluded unless guarantees are provided by the country of establishment. Check Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and EuroHPC-specific call conditions for precise eligibility.

Funding information and financial modality

Type of action:HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research and Innovation Action). Type of grant agreement: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Indicative topic contribution: €19 000 000 to €20 000 000. The JU estimates one grant will be funded. Funding rate: subject to EuroHPC JU rules; Horizon Europe general funding rules apply to eligible costs and rates for RIA. The JU has indicated EU funding rate exceptions in the Work Programme; consult General Annex G and the topic's specific conditions in the Portal.

Funding Type:Grant (budget-based action grant under the Horizon/EuroHPC JU implementation).

Nature of support:Monetary grant funding to beneficiaries to cover eligible costs and unit/flat-rate/lump-sum contributions where applicable; beneficiaries also receive non-monetary benefits from ecosystem linkages, access to EuroHPC cloud/HPC/quantum resources, benchmarking and standards activities.

Technology and sector focus

Target sectors and technologies:quantum computing (trapped-ion architectures), photonics integration for laser delivery, quantum error correction and fault tolerance, cryogenic integration, control electronics for ion traps, scalable modular quantum architectures, quantum-classical integration with HPC, cloud-based quantum access, standards and benchmarking for quantum systems, quantum application co-design for industry and academia. Cross-cutting themes include supply chain resilience (lasers, packaging), standardisation, certification and cybersecurity of critical components.

Target Sector:Quantum computing (trapped-ion), photonics, HPC integration, ICT, semiconductors for control electronics, cleantech (energy-efficient cryogenic systems), advanced manufacturing for packaging and photonic components, software stacks for quantum computing, standards and certification.

Mentioned Countries: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; United Kingdom

Project stage, TRL and expectations

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) expectations:Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and reach TRL 7 by project end. This implies demonstration of system prototypes in operational or relevant environments and integration with HPC and cloud systems. Projects should be able to show progression from laboratory validation to demonstrator prototypes validated in conditions approaching end-user environments.

Project Stage:Maturity expected: development, system integration, validation and demonstration (TRL progression 4 to 7); emphasis on demonstration and usability for industrial and scientific applications, and demonstration of early application-level quantum advantage where possible.

Funding amount, application process and timings

Budget overview and call-specific schedule:The topic's indicative budget is €19–€20 millionfor a single-stage call open 13 August 2026 with a submission deadline of 17 November 2026. Indicative number of grants: 1. The Submission System contains the Part B page limits and the application form structure. Proposals should follow Annex A/E guidance in the Horizon Europe General Annexes. A typical schedule: evaluation results communicated ~5 months after deadline; grant signature approximately 8 months after deadline per General Annex F indicative timings, subject to EuroHPC JU adaptation.

Funding Amount:€19 000 000 to €20 000 000 indicative EU contribution for the topic; the JU expects to award one grant. Applicants should propose realistic budgets aligned with the expected scope and the estimated EU contribution. Final grant amounts are subject to evaluation and available budget.

Application Type:Open call (single-stage) via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Applicants must use the application form in the Submission System and adhere to page limits and formatting rules in Part B.

Call process: evaluation, forms, templates and award criteria

Evaluation and award:The topic uses Horizon Europe award criteria and scoring. For RIA (single-stage), evaluators score Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of implementation. Individual criterion thresholds are normally 3/5 and the overall threshold is typically 10/15 (check specific templates). EuroHPC JU adapts General Annex D where required. Applicants must consult the standard evaluation form templates (HE RIA/IA standard/evaluation form versions) and the online Manual. Evaluation forms, guidance and model grant agreement templates are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal reference documents and on the topic page. The submission must include Part A and Part B and the annexes requested. EuroHPC may apply additional security or eligibility checks due to strategic asset protection.

1. 1Use the application form in the Submission System; Part B page limits described in the system (topic indicates ~75 pages for this topic).
2. 2Evaluation criteria: Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of implementation (RIA). Scoring 0–5 with thresholds; consult General Annex D and evaluation form templates for details.
3. 3All required administrative documents, legal entity validation and, if requested, financial capacity documents must be submitted via Participant Register and Portal as part of grant preparation.
4. 4Ethics self-assessment and security requirements must be addressed in the proposal and may trigger ethics or security reviews.
5. 5Model Grant Agreement for HORIZON-AG (budget-based) applies; applicants should read General Annexes and MGA templates.

Key documents and templates:Application form (Part A and Part B in the Submission System), HE General Annexes A to G, HE Programme Guide, Portal Online Manual, Model Grant Agreement for HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Evaluation form templates (HE RIA, IA, CSA, RIA stage 1, etc.) are published and will be used with necessary adaptations in the evaluation. Applicants should consult the EuroHPC Work Programme 2026 amendment and the topic page for all call-specific conditions, budget overview and partner search announcements. The topic page contains links to additional documents and the Model Grant Agreement and Annex templates. The call-specific guidance may include special eligibility rules (EuroHPC security/strategic restrictions).

Templates:The application forms are available in the electronic Submission System. Examples and templates available on the Portal reference documents include: Application form (Part B structure and page limits), Annex templates, Model Grant Agreement HORIZON-AG, Evaluation form templates (HE RIA, IA, CSA, HE RIA/IA Stage 1, EIC evaluation templates where relevant), Guidance on lump sums and unit costs and model grant agreement annotated documents. Applicants must use the Part B form inside the Submission System; the downloadable templates on the Portal are for guidance only.

Application mechanics and assessment

Admissibility and page limits:The Submission System enforces Part A and Part B structure; Part B page limits are enforced automatically (topic indicates an indicative length of 75 pages). Admissibility checks include eligibility of participants, completeness and submission before the call deadline. Evaluation will follow General Annex D and adapted evaluation forms for a HORIZON-JU-RIA action. The award decision and grant preparation follow General Annex F and Annexes. Successful applicants will be invited to grant agreement preparation; signature of the grant agreement is subject to legal entity validation, financial capacity checks and other eligibility tests.

Application stages and success rates

Application Stages:Single-stage submission (one stage). Applicants submit full proposals and the evaluation proceeds to selection and ranking; then grant preparation and signature. Administrative checks and possible ethics/security reviews occur in grant preparation before signature.

Success Rates:No fixed success rate is published for the topic. Estimated success depends on budget (€19–€20 millionfor this topic) and the number, quality and budgets requested by proposals. Historically, large-scale EuroHPC and JU research topics are highly competitive; applicants should expect moderate to low selection probability if demand is high. Exact rates are not provided by the call text.

Co-funding and financial arrangements

Co-funding requirement:Standard Horizon/EuroHPC rules apply. The EuroHPC Work Programme notes exceptions: the JU may fund up to 50% for certain JU actions or apply funding rates as specified in specific topic notes. Check the topic-specific conditions and General Annex G for exact funding rates and co-funding needs. Beneficiaries must show financial and operational capacity and comply with exclusion and eligibility checks (General Annex C). The call text states that the JU awards RIA grants and that the EU funding rate used by the JU for this topic is in line with General Annex G with specified exceptions. Co-funding from beneficiary or other sources may be expected for the total project budget.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes: beneficiaries must follow the funding rate and matching requirements defined in the Work Programme General Annex G and call-specific conditions. EuroHPC may use 50% funding rates for JU grants where specified; applicants must confirm and justify matching and co-financing in the budget.

Assessment and evaluation templates (summary)

Evaluator guidance and forms:The Portal publishes evaluation forms used for Horizon Europe grant reviews. For this RIA topic evaluators will use standard RIA evaluation forms assessing Excellence, Impact and Quality and efficiency of implementation with scores 0–5 per criterion. Thresholds are set in the General Annexes (individual criteria threshold 3; overall threshold normally 10/15). Evaluators supply Individual Evaluation Reports (IER), consensus reports and Evaluation Summary Reports. For two-stage calls stage 1 uses the adapted form with only Excellence and Impact assessed. Applicants should consult evaluation form templates available on the Portal for the RIA/IA and the CSA templates for coordination actions. The call text cites the standard templates and Helpline resources.

1. 1Evaluation criteria: Excellence, Impact, Quality & Efficiency of Implementation (RIA).
2. 2Scoring: 0 to 5 with half-points allowed; standard thresholds 3 per criterion, overall 10 (confirm in specific topic conditions).
3. 3Evaluation process: admissibility/eligibility checks, independent external experts, consensus meeting, ranking and selection.
4. 4Evaluation documents to consult: HE RIA evaluation form templates, HE Programme Guide, General Annex D and evaluation-related reference documents on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Templates, forms and document list (applicants must consult)

Essential documents to download and read from the Funding & Tenders Portal and EuroHPC JU pages before preparing the proposal: 1) Topic page (full text, budget overview, partner search notices). 2) Application form in the Submission System (Part A and Part B templates). 3) General Annexes A to G of Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 (admissibility, eligibility, award criteria, legal and financial set-up). 4) Model Grant Agreement HORIZON-AG (budget-based). 5) Evaluation form templates (HE RIA, IA, CSA and RIA stage 1 templates). 6) HE Programme Guide and Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual. 7) EuroHPC Work Programme 2026 and amendments (strategic restrictions, STEP seal, procurement and security rules). 8) Guidance on lump sums, unit costs and budget justification. 9) Any topic Q&A and call updates published on the topic page. Applicants must use the Part B in the Submission System (not the downloadable template) for submission.

Practical proposal preparation guidance and required sections

Proposal structure and mandatory content:Applicants must follow the Submission System Part B structure. Typical required sections (Horizon RIA standard) include: excellence (objectives, state-of-the-art, ambition, methodology, gender dimension, open science), impact (expected outcomes, exploitation and dissemination plan, communication activities, contribution to EuroHPC objectives, market and end-user engagement for application demonstrations), implementation (work plan, work packages, deliverables and milestones, risk management, management structure, participants and roles, resources and detailed budget, detailed budget justification and Annex 2 table as required), ethics self-assessment and security information. For this topic highlight how the proposal addresses SRIA 2030 roadblocks, 1000+ qubit trapped-ion system integration with HPC, error correction demonstration, modularity and photonics integration, cloud access and open ecosystem provision, standards and supply chain resilience.

1. 1Part A: administrative data; Part B: technical narrative uploaded via Submission System.
2. 2Annexes: budget table (Annex 2), CVs or team profiles as required, letters of commitment from partners and end-users, ethics documentation, any security declarations if applicable.
3. 3Proposal page limit: topic indicates indicative length of 75 pages; confirm exact Part B page limits in Submission System.

Success factors and evaluation focus (how to score well)

Reviewers will focus on:1) Technical credibility and ambition to reach TRL 7 and to design, integrate and demonstrate a 1 000+ qubit trapped-ion full-stack system integrated with HPC; 2) Clear and measurable project objectives, milestones and deliverables demonstrating system integration, error correction benchmarking and application co-design; 3) Strong consortium with complementary expertise across trapped-ion hardware, photonics integration, control electronics, cryogenics, quantum software and HPC integration, with industrial end-users and SMEs engaged for applications; 4) Realistic budget and resource allocation, detailed work plan and risk mitigation; 5) Demonstrable plan for cloud-based access, documentation, training and standards contributions; 6) Consideration for supply chain independence measures, security and standardisation engagement; 7) Evidence of operational and financial capacity to deliver large-scale demonstrators; 8) Clear exploitation, dissemination, and sustainability strategies including manufacturing and supply chain roadmaps.

Other practical support and helpdesk

Support resources:Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, IT Helpdesk for Portal problems, National Contact Points (NCPs) for Horizon Europe for proposal preparation support, European IPR Helpdesk for IP and exploitation questions, CEN-CENELEC and ETSI helpdesks for standardisation advice, EuroHPC JU partner search announcements on the topic page, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Research Enquiry Service for general Horizon questions. For EuroHPC-specific questions consult the EuroHPC JU website and the topic Q&As on the Portal.

FAQ-style structured extraction (answers to specified categorisation questions)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profits, public research organisations, national labs, international European research organisations and other legal entities established in eligible EuroHPC Member/Participating States and specified associated countries. Affiliated entities allowed under Article 190 rules.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant — action grant (HORIZON-JU-RIA; HORIZON-AG budget-based).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Consortium expected; single-beneficiary grants are rare for RIA topics; consult topic-specific requirements. EuroHPC indicates a single project will be selected; multi-beneficiary consortia with cross-disciplinary coverage are typical and expected.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Entities established in EuroHPC Member States, Participating States and specified associated countries listed in the topic and General Annex B. See topic Eligibility section for exact eligible country list.
5. 5Target Sector: Quantum computing (trapped-ion), photonics, HPC integration, ICT, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and packaging, software stacks and standards.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: 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; United Kingdom.
7. 7Project Stage: Start TRL 4 progressing to TRL 7 by project end; stages: development, integration, validation and demonstration; emphasis on demonstrators and application testing.
8. 8Funding Amount: Indicative topic budget €19 000 000 to €20 000 000; call expects one grant. Applicants should propose budgets consistent with topic scale and scope and justify co-funding if required.
9. 9Application Type: Open single-stage call via the Funding & Tenders Portal (submission via Submission System).
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary EU grant funding to cover eligible costs and contributions; also non-monetary support via access to EuroHPC infrastructure, benchmarks and integration with HPC systems.
11. 11Application Stages: Single-stage submission (1 stage: full proposal evaluation).
12. 12Success Rates: Not provided; competition expected to be strong. Topic indicative budget supports one project; expected low success rate relative to number of high-quality submissions.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Yes, follow the Horizon/EuroHPC funding rate rules and topic-specific co-funding instructions. Check General Annex G and topic specific conditions for exact funding rate and co-funding expectations.
14. 14Templates: Application forms (Part A and Part B) in the Submission System; Annex templates (Annex 1 DoA, Annex 2 budget table), Model Grant Agreement HORIZON-AG (budget-based), evaluation form templates (HE RIA, HE RIA stage 1) and guidance documents published on the Funding & Tenders Portal Reference Documents. Applicants must use the form in the Submission System for Part B and follow page limits and formatting rules.

Detailed applicant requirements and science and technology expectations

Applicant and consortium capabilities expected:Proven expertise in trapped-ion hardware (ion traps, cryogenics, cooling systems), integrated photonics (laser delivery waveguides, on-chip photonics, low-loss waveguides and on-chip detectors), quantum control electronics, scalable modular system architectures, quantum error correction for trapped ions, firmware and software stacks (firmware, compilers, schedulers), cloud integration and HPC hybrid workflows, standards and benchmark design, application co-design with industrial end-users and SMEs, and supply chain experience in lasers, packaging and control electronics. Consortia should combine leading research centres, industrial partners capable of industrialisation and SMEs with complementary technologies, plus HPC centres for integration and benchmarking. Security/strategic ownership constraints: partners potentially controlled by non-eligible countries need guarantees to demonstrate non-impact to Union strategic interests. Ethics and security reviews may be required by EuroHPC JU during evaluation and prior to grant signature.

How would you explain this opportunity? — General summary and applicant guidance

What is this opportunity about and how to approach it

This EuroHPC JU topical RIA is a large-scale, high-ambition Horizon Europe research and innovation action to accelerate European leadership in trapped-ion quantum computing by funding the development and systemic demonstration of a full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer targeting more than 1 000 physical qubits, integrated with HPC systems and accessible via cloud services. The call aims to deliver system-level innovation, demonstrate modular and scalable trapped-ion architectures with photonic integration and compact cryogenic setups, implement and benchmark advanced error correction codes for trapped-ion systems, and validate real-life applications with industry and academia through at least two use cases demonstrating quantum advantage or measurable progress towards it. The project must also align with European standardisation and supply chain strengthening, and provide open cloud access, documentation and training to foster a European quantum ecosystem.

Why apply:This call offers a unique public funding channel targeted specifically at trapped-ion quantum computing scale-up, backed by EuroHPC JU and Horizon Europe. It supports building large-scale demonstrators integrated with HPC and provides an opportunity to shape European hardware, software and standards for trapped-ion quantum computers while connecting to HPC ecosystems and user communities.

How to prepare a competitive proposal (practical priorities):1) Demonstrate technical credibility with a clear plan to reach TRL 7 from TRL 4, with measurable milestones and risk mitigation. 2) Show system-level engineering: cryogenic integrated readout/initialisation/manipulation, photonic integrated laser delivery and waveguides, control electronics and packaging for modular scaling and inter-chain coupling. 3) Present rigorous error-correction and fault-tolerance development, benchmarks and validation pipelines. 4) Include at least two concrete industrial or scientific use cases with performance baselines and benchmark plans that allow demonstration of quantum advantage or a clear path toward it. 5) Provide concrete plans for cloud-based open access, user documentation, training and ecosystem engagement (including SMEs). 6) Address supply chain independence and identify critical components and suppliers with mitigation strategies. 7) Align planned outputs with standardisation, benchmarking and certification activities and commit to publishing interface specifications. 8) Provide a detailed budget, justify co-funding and confirm financial and operational capacity. 9) Prepare ethics and security documentation, and plan for administrative checks and external audits.

Administrative checklist for submission:1) Register all participants in the Participant Register and obtain PICs. 2) Use the Submission System Part A and submit Part B via the system (do not use the downloadable Part B for final submission). 3) Respect page limits and required annexes (Annex 1 DoA and Annex 2 budget table). 4) Ensure compliance with EuroHPC-specific eligibility restrictions (strategic asset protection) and national rules for public bodies if applicable. 5) Complete ethics self-assessment and security statements as requested. 6) Submit before the portal deadline and ensure sufficient time for legal entity validation and document uploads for grant preparation if selected.

Useful links:Topic page and submission are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies Topic. Guidance, templates and General Annexes are on the Portal Reference Documents and the Horizon Europe Work Programme pages.

Footnotes

1. 1Complete topic text, call documentation and templates are on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: ec.europa.eu

This EuroHPC JU opportunity supports the scale up of European trapped ion quantum computing toward a full stack system with more than 1000 physical qubits, integrated with HPC, cloud access, interoperability standards, error correction, and real world validation. The topic is open for submission and the official topic page is linked in ¹ [2].

Key facts

What the funding is about

The call is designed to strengthen Europe’s leadership in trapped ion quantum computing by moving from advanced prototypes to an integrated, scalable platform that can be used for scientific and industrial workloads. The expected outcomes include a full stack ion trap quantum computer, quantum advantage demonstrations, advanced fault tolerant techniques, certified interfaces, and open access for researchers and industry [2].

The scope is not limited to hardware scale up. Applicants are also expected to solve at least two major technical roadblocks from the SRIA 2030 for trapped ion quantum computing, especially modular scalability with inter chain coupling and the integration of photonic components for laser delivery and compact system design [2].

What projects are expected to deliver

1. 1A full stack trapped ion quantum computer with more than 1000 physical qubits, including initialisation, manipulation, and readout integrated into the cryogenic setup [2].
2. 2A reduced system footprint through standardised interfaces and integrated waveguides [2].
3. 3Scalable error correction and fault tolerant computing, including development and benchmarking of error correction codes suited to trapped ion architectures [2].
4. 4Error mitigation in noisy environments and real life quantum information tasks [2].
5. 5At least two practical use cases aligned with industrial or scientific challenges, with benchmarking against classical simulations where possible [2].
6. 6Hardware and software interface specifications that support interoperability across vendors and platforms, aligned with European standardisation, benchmarking, and certification work [2].
7. 7Integration with HPC resources, including remote access and hybrid quantum classical workflows [2].
8. 8Open cloud based access, user documentation, and training resources for researchers, industry, and SMEs [2].
9. 9A contribution to a sustainable European supply chain for lasers, ion traps, control electronics, and packaging solutions [2].

Who can apply

The topic is aimed at consortia able to deliver a full stack trapped ion quantum computing platform, typically involving quantum hardware developers, photonics specialists, control and software integrators, HPC centres, research organisations, and industrial partners. The specific eligibility rule is stricter than the general list of eligible countries because participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States or Participating States of the EuroHPC JU, with associated countries becoming eligible only if they become participant states before signature of the grant agreement [2].

Entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by a non eligible country or non eligible country entity may only participate if approved guarantees show that the participation will not negatively affect the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security [2].

Main applicant requirements and conditions

• The proposal must address at least two major SRIA 2030 roadblocks relevant to trapped ion quantum computing [2].
• The project should begin at TRL 4 and reach TRL 7 by the end of the grant [2].
• Proposals should be prepared to an indicative length of 75 pages [2].
• Submission is single stage, with one deadline and one evaluation round [2].
• The action is expected to result in only one funded project [2].
• The call expects full stack system level innovation rather than a narrow component only approach [2].
• Applicants should plan for access, documentation, training, and ecosystem engagement from the outset [2].

Funding and grant setup

The topic budget is €20 000 000 and the portal indicates an expected range of 19 000 000 to €20 000 000 for the single selected project [2]. The extracted topic text does not show a topic specific special funding percentage, so applicants should confirm the final funding rate and grant conditions in the official submission system and general annexes before submission [2].

The grant agreement model is budget based under the Horizon Action Grant framework, and the topic is part of the EuroHPC JU Research and Innovation Actions portfolio [2].

Why this opportunity matters

This is a high ambition strategic infrastructure and technology call, not a small research grant. It is most suitable for mature consortia that can combine experimental quantum hardware, system engineering, HPC integration, software co design, standards work, and industrialisation planning into one coherent implementation pathway [2].

Official topic page:Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page: Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies. Supporting work programme material: EuroHPC Work Programme 2026 Amendment 3.