What this call funds
Expected Outcome
This action will consolidate Europe’s position in superconducting quantum computing through:
- Establishment of a full-stack superconducting quantum computer aiming at 1.000 physical qubits and QPU architecture based on chiplet technology. The system should feature a scalable and user-adjustable architecture, T1 coherence time above 100 us, gate fidelities (both one- and two-qubit gates, and read-out) of at least 99.9%, read-out speed below 300 ns, two-qubit gate speed below 20 ns.
- Demonstration of quantum advantage on selected industrial use cases, validated through benchmarking with best-in-class classical methods.
- Deployment of a cloud-accessible quantum system integrated with high-performance computing environments.
- Maturation of fault-tolerant quantum computing protocols, including effective quantum error correction and noise mitigation schemes.
- Delivery of a comprehensive, standardised software stack supporting system bring-up, calibration, control, benchmarking, and user access.
Strengthened supply chains and industrial capacity in Europe for superconducting quantum technologies.
Scope
The proposal should contribute to the scale-up and practical deployment of superconducting quantum computing platforms and must address at least two of the critical technical roadblocks identified in the SRIA 2030, among which necessarily:
- Error Correction and Fault Tolerance: the implementation of error correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing via significant improvements in gate fidelity, coherence times, and noise mitigation strategies.
- Cryogenic and Interconnect Engineering: integration with cryoelectronic and efficient signal routing at low temperatures at the scale of 1,000+ qubits, also addressing the scalability issues that prevent the implementation of an industrial-grade quantum computing platform
In addition, the proposal should address the following:
- Construction and demonstration of a modular superconducting quantum computer with high-fidelity gates and scalable architecture.
- Integration of all required layers: quantum hardware, cryogenic infrastructure, control electronics, and a full-stack software suite.
- Establishment of mature test and measurement capabilities at the production sites, in particular cryogenic screening capacity of chiplets for the early identification of perfectly working chiplets before being assembled in the final QPU package.
- Establishment of full interoperability and open standards across the various chiplet manufacturers. The project should also pursue the development of standards and EU-wide certification schemes.
- Development and validation of advanced error correction and fault-tolerance schemes suited for superconducting qubits.
- Demonstration of real-life use cases (minimum of two) addressing relevant industrial challenges within the lifetime of the project. Use cases should show quantum advantage or clear progression towards it, with validation against classical methods.
- Deployment of a full software stack to operate the system, including tools for calibration, control, performance verification, benchmarking, and interfacing with classical computing environments.
- Development of standardised interfaces and APIs for access, control, and hybrid workflows, ensuring interoperability with classical HPC systems and cloud-based platforms.
- Provision of remote access capabilities to enable wide use by academic, research, and industrial communities across Europe.
- Contribution to the creation of a robust and independent European supply chain for superconducting quantum technologies, including scalable cryogenics, high-fidelity readout and control electronics, and superconducting chip fabrication.
- Open access to the system for co-design and evaluation of algorithms, supported by training resources and documentation.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
The rules are described in General Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027.
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and to achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project
Eligibility & conditions+
General conditions
1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligibility Conditions
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
The general criteria are described in the General Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
The documents are described in General Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates
Please use the application form that you will find in the Submission System. You can find examples of standard application forms in the Reference Documents page.
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) 
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA) 
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1) 
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1 BLIND)
Standard evaluation form (HE PCP PPI) 
Standard evaluation form (HE COFUND) 
Standard evaluation form (HE FPA) 
Standard evaluation form (HE MSCA) 
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES) 
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN) 
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION) 
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal) 
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal) 
Guidance
HE Programme Guide 
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
HE MGA 
HE Unit MGA 
Lump Sum MGA 
Operating Grants MGA 
Framework Partnership Agreement FPA 
Call-specific instructions 
Detailed budget table (HE LS) 
Information on financial support to third parties (HE) 
Information on clinical studies (HE) 
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 3. Research Infrastructures
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 4. Health
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 5. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 10. European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 12. Missions
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
EIC Work Programme 2026
ERC Work Programme 2026
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions 
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-08-27