Developing large-scale quantum Computing platform technologies (SGA)

Expected Outcome:

Within the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) awarded under topic HORIZON-CL4-2023-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-FPA: Framework Partnership Agreement for developing large-scale quantum computers (FPA), the selected consortia will be invited to submit a proposal that will implement the first 3.5 years of the action plan defined in the above FPA.

The proposal should progress the quantum computing platform in accordance with the research roadmap as defined in the FPA. This covers in particular progress in key areas such as the number of qubits to reach and the scalability potential, the fidelity / physical error rate, the further development of the underlying quantum computing processors and the low-level control of the programmability capability, the standardisation aspects, etc.

The proposal should describe how the activities carried out during the ramp-up phase will be continued involving the relevant disciplines and stakeholders, how results of the ramp-up phase will be used, and how they will provide efficient coordination under strong scientific leadership. The proposal should identify the different gaps, describe in detail activities in areas such as education, dissemination, ethics and societal aspects. It should also describe how it will grasp the technological potential in a way that accelerates innovation in all relevant application areas. Partners will be required to give other partners access to results needed for the purpose of any other specific actions under the FPA.

The proposal should also cover: (i) the cooperation with complementary projects launched specifically in the area of the enabling quantum software stack (see HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-10: Strengthening the quantum software ecosystem for quantum computing platforms), including also the need to establish from the beginning of this cooperation appropriate IP exploitation agreements; (ii) the collaboration with other initiatives or programmes at regional, national, transnational or global level; (iii) any additional support they may receive from relevant national, or regional programmes and initiatives; and (iv) contribution to the governance and overall coordination of the Quantum Technologies Flagship initiative; and (v) relevant aspects of cooperation with European industry and SMEs. It should also contribute to spreading excellence across Europe; for example, through the involvement of Widening Countries.

Activities are expected to start at TRL 4-5 and achieve TRL 6-7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

The standard evaluation criteria, thresholds, weighting for award criteria and the maximum rate of co-financing for this type of action are provided in parts C and E of the General Annexes.

In this action the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Funding rate: 100%

Minimum contribution: 25.000.000 EUR

Maximum contribution: 25.000.000 EUR

Expected grants: 1

Eligibility conditions - Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland, Norway and the following associated country: Israel

In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security, it is important to avoid a situation of technological dependency on a non-EU source, in a global context that requires the EU to take action to build on its strengths, and to carefully assess and address any strategic weaknesses, vulnerabilities and high-risk dependencies which put at risk the attainment of its ambitions. For this reason, participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following associated country: Israel. [[Legal entities established in Israel are eligible to participate in this action on the basis that (i) Israel is an associated country (and continues to be on the date of the opening of this topic for submission); and (ii) Israel meets specific conditions. Prior to the adoption of this Work Programme, questionnaires were sent to non-EEA associated countries and countries in the process of association in order to assess their eligibility to participate.]]

For the duly justified and exceptional reasons listed in the paragraph above, in order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by a non-eligible country entity, may not participate in the action unless it can be demonstrated, by means of guarantees provided by their eligible country of establishment, that their participation to the action would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic, assets, interests, autonomy, or security [[The guarantees shall in particular substantiate that, for the purpose of the action, measures are in place to ensure that:

a) control over the applicant legal entity is not exercised in a manner that retrains or restricts its ability to carry out the action and to deliver results, that imposes restrictions concerning its infrastructure, facilities, assets, resources, intellectual property or know-how needed for the purpose of the action, or that undermines its capabilities and standards necessary to carry out the action;

b) access by a non-eligible country or by a non-eligible country entity to sensitive information relating to the action is prevented; and the employees or other persons involved in the action have a national security clearance issued by an eligible country, where appropriate;

c) ownership of the intellectual property arising from, and the results of, the action remain within the recipient during and after completion of the action, are not subject to control or restrictions by non-eligible countries or non-eligible country entity, and are not exported outside the eligible countries, nor is access to them from outside the eligible countries granted, without the approval of the eligible country in which the legal entity is established.]]