Maturing of a European industrial ecosystem for security-certified terrestrial QKD technologies and systems
DIGITAL-IRIS 2-2025-QCI-01 - Digital SME Support Actions
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
16/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Maturing of a European industrial ecosystem for security-certified terrestrial QKD technologies and systems Call?
Grant Description
This call supports the maturation and certification of compact, efficient European quantum key distribution components and end-to-end systems for integration into telecom networks. It addresses the need for a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem by advancing manufacturing readiness, security certification under common criteria, and interoperability of quantum secure networks, with emphasis on small form factor and cost-effective designs. Expected outputs include ma...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to deliver:
• Mature, compact, high-performance QKD components and systems that are fully integrable into telecom networks, security-certified under Common Criteria and compliant with Euro QCI protection profiles, with a manufacturing readiness level that supports commercial deployment.
• Market-ready, cost-effective, small-form-factor solutions enabling coexistence of QKD and conventional communications.
• End-to-end quantum secure network solutions incorporating dynamic routing, multi-vendor/operator orchestration, PQC-integrated key management, real-time adaptive security management and AI-driven network optimization/anomaly detection.
• A robust multi-layer security framework for trusted nodes, mitigating physical, optical and cyber vulnerabilities through integrated hardware, software and protocol measures.
• Active contributions to the Euro QCI testing and evaluation infrastructure, providing devices for interoperability tests and participating in validation exercises.
• Tangible progress toward a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem and strengthening of the European industrial value chain, notably within the SME sector.
• Mature, compact, high-performance QKD components and systems that are fully integrable into telecom networks, security-certified under Common Criteria and compliant with Euro QCI protection profiles, with a manufacturing readiness level that supports commercial deployment.
• Market-ready, cost-effective, small-form-factor solutions enabling coexistence of QKD and conventional communications.
• End-to-end quantum secure network solutions incorporating dynamic routing, multi-vendor/operator orchestration, PQC-integrated key management, real-time adaptive security management and AI-driven network optimization/anomaly detection.
• A robust multi-layer security framework for trusted nodes, mitigating physical, optical and cyber vulnerabilities through integrated hardware, software and protocol measures.
• Active contributions to the Euro QCI testing and evaluation infrastructure, providing devices for interoperability tests and participating in validation exercises.
• Tangible progress toward a technologically autonomous European quantum communication ecosystem and strengthening of the European industrial value chain, notably within the SME sector.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Projects must deliver compact, efficient, integrable and security-certified QKD components and systems with a demonstrated manufacturing readiness level suitable for telecom deployment. Proposals should:
• Target Small Form Factor (SFF) and cost-effective designs with relevant industrial maturity.
• Cover maturing of individual technological components and their integration into market-ready, high-performance, ultra-efficient end-to-end solutions.
• Include hardware/software integration (photonic ICs, QRNGs, detectors, etc.), complete QKD system architecture (SDN controllers, key management, AI-based tools), and coexistence techniques with conventional traffic.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive, multi-layer security approach for trusted nodes, addressing physical security, side-channel and optical attack mitigation, and cybersecurity of control systems.
• Prepare for compliance with Euro QCI security requirements and Common Criteria certification, including close liaison with certification bodies.
• Engage with Euro QCI testing/evaluation facilities for device validation, interoperability testing and certification trials.
• Target Small Form Factor (SFF) and cost-effective designs with relevant industrial maturity.
• Cover maturing of individual technological components and their integration into market-ready, high-performance, ultra-efficient end-to-end solutions.
• Include hardware/software integration (photonic ICs, QRNGs, detectors, etc.), complete QKD system architecture (SDN controllers, key management, AI-based tools), and coexistence techniques with conventional traffic.
• Demonstrate a comprehensive, multi-layer security approach for trusted nodes, addressing physical security, side-channel and optical attack mitigation, and cybersecurity of control systems.
• Prepare for compliance with Euro QCI security requirements and Common Criteria certification, including close liaison with certification bodies.
• Engage with Euro QCI testing/evaluation facilities for device validation, interoperability testing and certification trials.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
Admissibility and eligibility rules as per the official call document:
• Admissibility Conditions: strict page limits and layout per section 5 of the call document and Part B of the application form.
• Eligible Countries and other eligibility criteria: specified in section 6.
• Financial and operational capacity, exclusion criteria: detailed in section 7.
• Evaluation and award processes: submission and evaluation rules (section 8), award criteria, scoring and thresholds (section 9), indicative evaluation timeline (section 4).
• Legal and financial set-up of grants: covered in section 10.
• Use of the Digital Europe Programme template applied to the EU Secure Connectivity Programme; submissions via the Funding & Tender Portal using the standard call-specific application form and detailed budget table.
• Deadline: single-stage submission by 16 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Budget: €30 million for DIGITAL-SME actions (up to 5 grants), €3 million each for two DIGITAL-CSA actions.
• Mandatory collaboration with Euro QCI certification bodies and testing infrastructure.
• Applicants must comply with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Funding & Tenders Portal terms, privacy and LEAR/financial capacity rules.
• Admissibility Conditions: strict page limits and layout per section 5 of the call document and Part B of the application form.
• Eligible Countries and other eligibility criteria: specified in section 6.
• Financial and operational capacity, exclusion criteria: detailed in section 7.
• Evaluation and award processes: submission and evaluation rules (section 8), award criteria, scoring and thresholds (section 9), indicative evaluation timeline (section 4).
• Legal and financial set-up of grants: covered in section 10.
• Use of the Digital Europe Programme template applied to the EU Secure Connectivity Programme; submissions via the Funding & Tender Portal using the standard call-specific application form and detailed budget table.
• Deadline: single-stage submission by 16 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Budget: €30 million for DIGITAL-SME actions (up to 5 grants), €3 million each for two DIGITAL-CSA actions.
• Mandatory collaboration with Euro QCI certification bodies and testing infrastructure.
• Applicants must comply with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Funding & Tenders Portal terms, privacy and LEAR/financial capacity rules.
Important dates
Open from: 15/07/2025
Deadline:16/10/2025
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