Quantum Computing – complementing the quantum computing FPAs with the development of a technology agnostic software stack (RIA)
Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
02/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Quantum Computing – complementing the quantum computing FPAs with the development of a technology agnostic software stack (RIA) Call?
Grant Description
This call supports research and innovation actions to develop a universal, hardware-agnostic quantum computing software stack. It addresses the challenge of integrating diverse quantum hardware with classical high-performance and cloud systems, standardising software architectures, compilers and simulators, and demonstrating practical quantum-classical workflows. It also funds training initiatives for quantum programming and development of basic quantum algorithm libraries with error correction....
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Project results are expected to deliver:
• A universal, interoperable quantum computing ecosystem supporting diverse hardware platforms through a technology-agnostic software stack.
• Seamless integration of quantum computing with classical HPC and cloud services (including Euro HPC JU supercomputers), demonstrated via practical use cases combining quantum and classical capabilities.
• Standardized software architectures, compilers and simulators that ensure application portability and optimized performance across different quantum platforms.
• Demonstrated workflows effectively combining quantum and classical computing to tackle complex computational challenges, providing clear evidence of quantum acceleration or advantage.
• Training frameworks for software developers in quantum programming and libraries for fundamental quantum algorithms, including integrated quantum error correction.
• Established strategic collaboration frameworks between Horizon Europe quantum software and hardware projects and Euro HPC JU quantum initiatives, with agreed open interfaces documented for all layers of the software stack.
• Open-source release of software developments, data and workflows, ensuring reusability and compliance with FAIR principles.
• A universal, interoperable quantum computing ecosystem supporting diverse hardware platforms through a technology-agnostic software stack.
• Seamless integration of quantum computing with classical HPC and cloud services (including Euro HPC JU supercomputers), demonstrated via practical use cases combining quantum and classical capabilities.
• Standardized software architectures, compilers and simulators that ensure application portability and optimized performance across different quantum platforms.
• Demonstrated workflows effectively combining quantum and classical computing to tackle complex computational challenges, providing clear evidence of quantum acceleration or advantage.
• Training frameworks for software developers in quantum programming and libraries for fundamental quantum algorithms, including integrated quantum error correction.
• Established strategic collaboration frameworks between Horizon Europe quantum software and hardware projects and Euro HPC JU quantum initiatives, with agreed open interfaces documented for all layers of the software stack.
• Open-source release of software developments, data and workflows, ensuring reusability and compliance with FAIR principles.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must:
• Address the creation of a cohesive, hardware-agnostic quantum software stack, focusing on the transition layer of quantum APIs and cloud access.
• Support implementation, testing and deployment of quantum algorithms for gate-based systems, simulators and quantum annealers.
• Ensure seamless interoperability across diverse quantum hardware platforms and integration with classical HPC/cloud infrastructures.
• From project outset, collaborate to define open, consultable interface specifications for each main layer of the software stack, incorporating input from existing initiatives; fully document all interface specifications.
• Leverage existing projects and develop synergies/complementarities with specified Horizon-CL 4 calls (e.g. DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-17, 02-15, 01-43; QUANTUM-02-SGA; QUANTUM-01-SGA), Euro HPC JU projects, and Digital Europe Programme initiatives.
• Encourage spreading excellence via involvement of EU Widening Countries.
• Utilize open-source software platforms where possible, publish code in open repositories under recommended licenses, and provide open access to research outputs (data, workflows) under FAIR principles.
• Optionally integrate sex and/or gender analysis into research and innovation content, if relevant to the proposal.
• Address the creation of a cohesive, hardware-agnostic quantum software stack, focusing on the transition layer of quantum APIs and cloud access.
• Support implementation, testing and deployment of quantum algorithms for gate-based systems, simulators and quantum annealers.
• Ensure seamless interoperability across diverse quantum hardware platforms and integration with classical HPC/cloud infrastructures.
• From project outset, collaborate to define open, consultable interface specifications for each main layer of the software stack, incorporating input from existing initiatives; fully document all interface specifications.
• Leverage existing projects and develop synergies/complementarities with specified Horizon-CL 4 calls (e.g. DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-17, 02-15, 01-43; QUANTUM-02-SGA; QUANTUM-01-SGA), Euro HPC JU projects, and Digital Europe Programme initiatives.
• Encourage spreading excellence via involvement of EU Widening Countries.
• Utilize open-source software platforms where possible, publish code in open repositories under recommended licenses, and provide open access to research outputs (data, workflows) under FAIR principles.
• Optionally integrate sex and/or gender analysis into research and innovation content, if relevant to the proposal.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
- Participation restricted to legal entities established in EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom; entities controlled by non-eligible countries require national guarantees and high-risk suppliers of mobile network equipment are excluded.
• Successful applicants must immediately collaborate with Horizon Europe quantum software/hardware and Euro HPC JU quantum projects to define and agree open interface specifications for all main software stack layers.
• All software developments should, where possible, be open-source and published on platforms such as GitHub under FSF/OSI-approved or EUPL licenses.
• Open access to data and workflows must follow the ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’ principle and comply with FAIR data standards.
• Gender dimension integration is encouraged but not mandatory.
• Successful applicants must immediately collaborate with Horizon Europe quantum software/hardware and Euro HPC JU quantum projects to define and agree open interface specifications for all main software stack layers.
• All software developments should, where possible, be open-source and published on platforms such as GitHub under FSF/OSI-approved or EUPL licenses.
• Open access to data and workflows must follow the ‘as open as possible, as closed as necessary’ principle and comply with FAIR data standards.
• Gender dimension integration is encouraged but not mandatory.
Important dates
Open from: 10/06/2025
Deadline:02/10/2025
Application period has ended
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