Objective
BEACON aims to develop a pioneering THz chip platform enabling high-speed communications across the “THz gap” over distances of up to 10 km, with potential for direct satellite-to-earth links.
THz communications remains a long-standing unresolved challenge. It holds promise to offer way higher capacity and tighter directivity than traditional RF frequencies. The high directivity increases resistivity against interception. The short wavelengths enable a compact footprint. In contrast to optical free space solutions, THz waves offer reasonably low losses in adverse weather conditions such as snow or rain, all without raising eye-safety concerns.
Bridging the THz gap requires disruptive advances. Specifically, it demands:
• Continuous-wave THz sources delivering 100s of mW,
• Ultra-sensitive detectors operating near the thermal noise limit, and
• High-directivity antennas with agile beam-steering capabilities.
To achieve this, BEACON will introduce an entirely new chip platform designed to seamlessly integrate and exchange information across photonic, plasmonic, electronic, antenna, and lens layer stacks. Such a platform does not yet exist. Each functional layer requires ground breaking innovation. For example, the plasmonic stack responsible for bandwidth enhancement will be pioneered through a novel graphene-plasmonic architecture—combining, for the first time, both low loss and high-power resilience.
The project is ambitious and disruptive, yet firmly rooted in the proven expertise of the applicant’s group, internationally recognized for advances in hardware development and transmission technologies.
If successful, BEACON will deliver a versatile THz platform with wide-ranging impact. Beyond shaping next-generation 6G standards, it will accelerate progress in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and security applications—domains where the lack of compact and affordable THz sources and detectors has long been a critical bottleneck.
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.
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 has not yet been classified with EuroSciVoc.
Be the first one to suggest relevant scientific fields and help us improve our classification service
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.