CEF – European Quantum Communication Infrastructure – The EuroQCI initiative – 2025

Objectives

• To enable reliable and resilient transmission of sensitive communications and data between public authorities, research organisations and critical infrastructures in Member States, including outermost regions and OCTs
• To boost Europe’s capabilities in developing quantum-based secure optical communication networks and its capacity to protect critical public infrastructures by securing their communications and data, especially those that cross national borders and serve more than one Member State
• To promote quantum-based secure networks and the emergence of an ecosystem that would enable a large market uptake

Priorities

• Priority 1: To deploy of the first cross-border quantum terrestrial backbone networks for interconnecting neighbouring national quantum communication infrastructures across borders, including if necessary through the deployment of “trusted nodes”
• Priority 2: To interconnect with the EuroQCI’s space segment, which will be implemented via the optical ground stations and related ground equipment, serving as an interface between the EuroQCI’s space components and its terrestrial segment
• Priority 3: To provide fibre links between the EuroQCI and a pan-European network of Security Operation Centres (SOCs), where relevant

Among financed actions

• Works
• Studies

Eligibility

• Be a legal person
• Be a public or private entity
• Be established in one of the eligible countries:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
• A consortium composed of at least 2 entities, must be constituted

Additional information

• Initial duration of the action: 42 months
• Contact: HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLS@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• Executive Agency website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 90 million euro
• Amount of the grant: up to 5 million euro
• Funding rate: between 30% and 70% of the total eligible costs