Funding opportunities

Maltese SME specialising in the real-world deployment of developed quantum-safe communication technologies seeks R&D partners

The Maltese company seeks financial institutions, telecommunication operators, supervisory or policy bodies, universities and research institutes that would like to join their consortium seeking EU funding to further build on the work already carried out under the quantum communication initiative PRISM as part of the PRISM EuroQCI project funded project, to work on a proposal together to work for EU funding such as Horizon Europe, EUREKA or EUROSTARS. 

NATO DIANA Challenges (2027 Cohort)

NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is seeking dual-use, deep-tech solutions to address critical alliance security challenges. In the 2027 cohort, quantum technologies (quantum sensing, GPS-free quantum navigation, quantum machine learning, and cryptography) play a vital role across three main tracks:

• Operational Resilience in Contested Environments: Anti-jamming solutions and alternative positioning/timing methods (Quantum PNT).
• Multidomain Sensing and Advanced Data Processing: Ultra-sensitive quantum sensors and real-time processing of massive multi-domain data.
• Multidomain Autonomy of Uncrewed Systems: Compact quantum navigation chips and autonomy in GPS-denied environments.

What the programme offers:

• Up to €100,000 in non-dilutive grant funding in Phase 1 (with potential for an additional €300,000 in Phase 2).
• Access to NATO’s network of 200+ test centres and accelerators (including test sites in Estonia).
• World-class mentorship and direct pathways to defence and commercial markets.
• Application Deadline: July 2026
• Programme Kick-off: January 2027

Large-Scale Photonic Quantum Computing Platform Technologies

This action aims to establish a strategic European initiative to develop scalable, modular, and interoperable photonic quantum computing platforms. Proposals must address and provide credible solutions to at least two major technical roadblocks: the lack of deterministic, high-efficiency photonic entanglement and the absence of a standardized control stack.

Expected Outcomes:

• By 2028: Demonstration of a photonic NISQ processor with ≥100 photonic qubits, integrated with a full firmware stack and validated via hybrid photonic-HPC applications.
• By 2030: Delivery of a full-stack, modularly scalable photonic quantum computer with an indicative target of 1,000 photonic qubits and high-fidelity gates (error rates ≤10⁻³).
• Standardization: Published open interface specifications across hardware/software stacks and the development of a sovereign European supply chain.
• Real-world Demo: Validation of results through a concrete use case provided by a major end-user partner within the consortium.

Consortium & Eligibility Requirements

• Lead Partner: Proposals are expected to be led by a startup with demonstrated expertise in photonic quantum computing.
• Partners: The startup must collaborate with relevant academic, industrial, and RTO partners, including at least one major end-user.
• Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project.

Grand Challenge on Quantum Sensors for Inertial Navigation

The objective of this Grand Challenge is to advance quantum-enabled navigation systems (Q-INS) for GNSS-denied or contested environments, strengthening the EU’s technological sovereignty. This topic represents Phase 1 of a two-phase competitive structure implemented in close collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Note: This CSA does not provide EU funding for R&I or prototype development. Instead, it focuses on readiness-analysis, commercial viability benchmarking, and building financial roadmaps for existing or externally financed prototypes to prepare beneficiaries for large-scale investment support under Phase 2 (InvestEU).

Proposals must address one of the following two categories: 

1. Cold-atoms Q-INS: Focusing on long-term navigation accuracy (<10 m/hour) for maritime or aviation applications.
2. Chip-scale Q-INS: Low C-SWAP chip-scale sensors (based on defect centers in crystals or warm atomic vapors) for small satellites, UAVs, and autonomous transport. 

Expected Outcomes, Budget & Duration 

• Deliverables: A comprehensive technical, industrialization, and financial roadmap aligned with EIB criteria, supply-chain sovereignty risk assessment, and market viability paths.
• Project Duration: Approximately 6 months. 
• Funding: EU contribution up to EUR 0.5 million per project. 

Quantum Machine Learning

This call focuses on integrating quantum computing into data pre-processing pipelines and learning workflows for data-heavy or computationally intensive tasks. The goal is to develop reliable, noise-aware, and scalable Quantum Machine Learning (QML) models integrated with existing AI frameworks, demonstrating measurable improvements (speed, accuracy, data efficiency) at scales achievable with NISQ-era hardware.

Proposals must address multiple of the following key research directions:

• Quantum Supervised Learning (QSL): Overcoming computational bottlenecks in data-intensive domains like finance, healthcare, and Earth observation.
• Quantum Convolutional Neural Networks (QCNNs): Developing hybrid architectures for pattern recognition and vision-based analytics.
• Learning with Quantum Models: Advancing quantum-native learning models and quantum kernels for drug discovery, autonomous systems, and materials engineering.
• Quantum Reinforcement Learning (QRL): Enhancing exploration strategies and policy training for robotics, logistics, and adaptive control.
• Quantum Unsupervised Learning: Detecting structures and anomalies in unlabelled or complex high-dimensional datasets.
• Quantum AI for Algorithmic Discovery: Automating the discovery and optimization of algorithms and computational architectures.

Consortium Requirements & Technology Readiness Level (TRL):

• Collaboration: Multi-sector collaboration across academia, research infrastructures, industry, and SMEs is strongly encouraged to ensure rapid technology uptake.
• Open Source & IP: All developed software must be made available under the European Union Public Licence (EUPL-1.2) or compatible OSI licenses, leveraging the code.europa.eu repository.
• Technology Readiness Level: Activities are expected to start at TRL 3/4 and achieve TRL 5/6 by the end of the project.