Serces to enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs in the macro-region 1 in Romania
- Funding agency:
- Horizon 2020
- Status:
- awarded
- Location:
- Romania
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Support standardisation for the EuroQCI (CSA)
Details
Location:
EU 27
Grantmaking entity type:
Multilateral organization
Status:
Awarded
Budget:
EUR 3,000,000
Award ceiling:
N/A
Award floor:
N/A
Sector:
Standards & Certification, ICT & Telecommunications
Languages:
English
Eligible applicants:
Government / Public Bodies, Private Sector
Eligible applicant countries:
EU 27, Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, French Southern Territory, Greenland, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Turks and Caicos, Wallis and Futuna
Date posted:
Jun 17, 2025
Summary
The grant aims to enhance the EuroQCI infrastructure with standardized Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and quantum cryptograph...
Eligible applicants must be legal entities (public or private), established in EU Member States, including overseas countries and territories. Executive management structures m...
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Description
Topic updates
17 October 2025
Call DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI has closed on 16.10.2025.
17 proposals have been submitted.
The breakdown per topic is:
DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03: 3
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in December 2025.
Support standardisation for the EuroQCI (CSA)
TOPIC ID: DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-03
Type of grant: Call for proposals
General information
Programme:
Call: European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) (DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI)
Type of action: DIGITAL-CSA DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions
Type of MGA: DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based [DIGITAL-AG]
Status: Forthcoming
Deadline model: single-stage
Planned Opening Date: 15 July 2025
Deadline dates: 16 October 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)
Topic description
Expected Outcome:
Expected Outcome and Deliverables
-
Sets of standards for QKD components and systems.
-
Interoperable systems and applications for the operation of an entire network and multiple networks.
-
Specific requirements, benchmarking tests and metrics on performance and monitoring of subsystems that are specifically required for QKD purposes.
-
Formalized assessments for the acceptance of QKD protocols.
-
Contribution to a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem.
Objective:
Objective
To implement appropriate necessary standardisation activities to efficiently support an operational EuroQCI infrastructure with dedicated QKD and quantum cryptography services. While the available QKD products have now been made available by industry for a market of early adopters and innovators, there is the need to intensify standardization efforts at all levels, from QKD components, systems and applications to network capabilities and components for future quantum networks, to enable integration of quantum devices into wider complex systems, to build a solid industrial base and anticipate foreseeable work on components for future quantum networks and future certification.
Scope:
Scope
Proposals may include the following activities:
-
Overview of current QKD standardization activities
-
Standardization of QKD components such as, among others, single-photon sources, entanglement-based sources, QKD transmitters/receivers and detectors, ultra-low loss optical fibres. Activities on requirements on the performance of the system, definition of benchmarking tests, the definition of metrics, calibration at operational environment and monitoring of the correct behaviour over the entirely lifetime of the system are encouraged.
-
Standardization of multiplexing of quantum signals with third-party classical and noise compensation technology.
-
Standardization of software-hardware interfaces, as well as harmonization of interoperable key management system APIs.
-
Standardization of systems and applications for the operation of an entire network and multiple networks, covering network capabilities such as routing, control and management capabilities, interoperability between different SDN systems, roaming for cross-border connections.
-
Standardization of hybridisation schemes for combined QKD/PQC.
-
Evaluation and certification of QKD protocols, via formalization of a rigorous assessment of different types of implementation constraints in the security proofs. Accelerating work on certification, by strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration between national authorities, accredited evaluation laboratories and other relevant initiatives.
Conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in section 5 of the call document.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in section 6 of the call document.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
described in section 6 of the call document.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in section 7 of the call document.
5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.
5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
described in section 9 of the call document.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in section 4 of the call document.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in section 10 of the call document.
Call document and annexes:
Call document
Application form templates
Call document is available here
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Detailed budget table - available in the Submission System
Additional documents:
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
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Start submission
The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.
Get support
Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.
For help related to this call, please contact us HERE
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals.
IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.
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grant Background
About the Funding Agency
EuropeAid is an agency responsible for designing European international cooperation and development policy and delivering aid worldwide. Its purpose is to aid in the reduction and eventual abolition of poverty in developing nations by fostering sustainable development, democracy, peace and security. With its partner nations, EuropeAid walks alongside them on their journey to sustainable development, continually adapting its help to their changing requirements. EuropeAid is also concerned with increasing the value and impact of aid money by ensuring that help is provided appropriately.
Under the donor EC - European Commission, DevelopmentAid covers the following entities:
Departments / Directorate Generals
- AGRI - Agriculture & Rural Development
- BUDG - Budget
- CLIMA - Climate Action
- COMM - Communication
- CNECT – Communications Networks, Content & Technology (formerly Digital Agenda)
- COMP - Competition
- ECFIN - Economic & Financial Affairs
- EAC - Education & Culture
- EMPL - Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion
- ENER - Energy
- ENV - Environment
- ESTAT - Eurostat
- FISMA – Financial Stability, Financial Services & Capital Markets Union
- SANTE - Health & Food Safety
- ECHO - Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection
- HR - Human Resources & Security
- DIGIT - Informatics
- GROW - Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs
- DEVCO – International Cooperation & Development - EUROPEAID
- SCIC - Interpretation
- JRC - Joint Research Centre
- JUST - Justice & Consumers
- MARE - Maritime Affairs & Fisheries
- HOME - Migration & Home Affairs
- MOVE - Mobility & Transport
- NEAR – Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations
- REGIO - Regional & Urban Policy
- RTD - Research & Innovation
- SG – Secretariat-General - no procurement opportunities available
- FPI – Service for Foreign Policy Instruments
- TAXUD - Taxation & Customs Union
- TRADE - Trade
- DGT - Translation
Agencies
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
- Eurojust
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
- European GNSS Agency (GSA)
- European Union Agency for Network and Information Security
- The European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy ("Fusion for Energy")
- European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
- European Stability Mechanism (ESM)
- Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (CHAFEA), Health and Food Safety Unit
- European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA)
- European Fisheries Control Agency
- Single Resolution Board
- Office of the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC Office)
- The Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME)
- European Asylum Support Office
- European Union Intellectual Property Office
- European Union Agency for Railways
- European Environment Agency
- European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (eu-LISA)
- Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
- European Defence Agency
- EU Grant Programmes
EU Bodies
- European Parliament
- Council of the European union
- Court of Justice of the European Union
- European Court of Auditors
- European Economic and Social Committee
- European Committee of the Regions
- Publications office of the European Union
- European Patent Office
- European External Action Service
- Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
- Energy Community Secretariat
About the Sectors
Standards & Certification
Focuses on establishing and applying standards to ensure consistent quality, safety, and compliance across products, services, and organizations.
Key areas:
- Standardization and quality regulations
- ISO-aligned systems and compliance frameworks
- Consumer protection and regulatory conformity
- Certification and conformity assessment services
ICT & Telecommunications
Features information and communication technologies, digital systems, and telecommunications infrastructure and services.
Key areas:
- ICT systems, software, and digital solutions
- Telecommunications networks and services
- Digitalization, data, and communication tools
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