Project description
A powerful device to control and transform quantum light
The future of quantum technology depends on harnessing the strange and powerful phenomenon of quantum entanglement. This unique connection between particles could provide the ultimate form of communication security, scalable quantum computing and sensor networks with unprecedented levels of sensitivity. Yet, building large-scale quantum networks presents challenges, from creating stable entanglement to distributing it reliably over long distances. The ERC-funded QUEST project will create advanced tools to handle quantum light in new ways. It will develop a device to transform and control structured quantum light, making it easier to generate, measure and distribute entanglement. By focusing on high-dimensional and robust forms of entanglement, QUEST will ensure reliable performance even over long distances and in noisy environments.
Objective
The realization of complex quantum networks that efficiently distribute entanglement over large-scale distances remains a central challenge in quantum technologies, while offering the potential for breakthrough next-generation applications. Entanglement-based quantum communication can provide the ultimate form of security that is independent of any devices used, distributed quantum computing protocols promise a scalable approach to fault-tolerant quantum computing that will revolutionize information processing, and distributed quantum sensing schemes enable sensor networks to reach the ultimate limits of sensitivity. While entanglement lies at the heart of these exciting technologies, its efficient generation, noise-robust distribution, and practical measurement are key challenges that must be overcome for the realization of a real-world quantum network infrastructure.
QUEST will harness the multi-modal properties of light in space and time to target specific technology bottlenecks that limit the scalability of quantum networks today. QUEST will develop a versatile device that performs programmable transformations of spatially structured quantum light and use it to address key challenges in entanglement generation, distribution, and measurement. QUEST will engineer deterministic sources of multipartite and high-dimensional entanglement and develop methods for the generalized measurement and manipulation of high-dimensional entanglement encoded in the photonic spatiotemporal degrees-of-freedom. QUEST will in turn apply these technologies in quantum protocols that achieve noise and loss-robust distribution of the strongest forms of entanglement over deployed fiber networks spanning multiple distance scales. In doing so, QUEST will open a pathway towards scalable and reliable entanglement networks that enable next-generation technologies for communication, computation, and sensing.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- engineering and technology materials engineering fibers
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering computer hardware quantum computers
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
EH14 4AS Edinburgh
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.