To access the Electronic Submission Service, please click on the submission-button next to the type of action and the type of model grant agreement that corresponds to your proposal. You will then be asked to confirm your choice, as it cannot be changed in the submission system. Upon confirmation, you will be linked to the correct entry point.
To access existing draft proposals for this topic, please login to the Funding & Tenders Portal and select the My Proposals page of the My Area section.
"],"keywords":["HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12-01","HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12","Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)","Quantum Technologies (e.g. computing and communication)"],"sortStatus":["1"],"language":["en"],"topicConditions":["described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The following exceptions apply:
the eligibility conditions are those established in the EuroHPC JU Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173 as last amended by Council Regulation 2026/150. In accordance with Article 22.5 of the HE Regulation, the Governing Board has decided that in order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States or Participating States of the EuroHPC JU [At the moment of the adoption of the Amendment No 5, the Participating States of EuroHPC JU are Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and United Kingdom (Discover EuroHPC JU - The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU))]. In addition, legal entities which are established in associated countries to Horizon Europe that become a participant state to EuroHPC JU before the signature of the grant agreement will also become eligible.
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 approved by the eligible country of establishment, that their participation to the action would not negatively impact the Union’s strategic, assets, interests, autonomy, or security.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the DECISION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE EuroHPC JOINT UNDERTAKING No 22/2026.
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and to achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project.
Expected project duration is 3.5 years.
The EuroHPC JU estimates that an EU contribution of EUR 24 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.
Application form templates
Please use the application form that you will find in the Submission System. You can find examples of standard application forms in the Reference Documents page.
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 3. Research Infrastructures
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 4. Health
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 5. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 10. European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 12. Missions
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
DECISION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE EuroHPC JOINT UNDERTAKING No 22/2026
Expected Outcome:
This action will strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in quantum-secure communications by advancing core QKD technologies and integration capabilities. Expected results include:
Scope:
The action should support applied R&D in advanced QKD systems and their integration into future secure communication networks, avoiding overlap with EuroQCI deployment efforts. Proposals must include:
This action should build on the results of the QSNP Framework Partnership Agreement and align with the SRIA 2030, the Quantum Europe Strategy and EuroQCI, targeting technology readiness and practical deployment pathways for quantum-secure communications.
"],"identifier":["HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12-01"],"es_ContentType":["text/plain"],"programmeDivision":["43120193","43108541","43108390"],"crossCuttingPriorities":[],"esDA_FirstIngestDate":["2026-08-13T07:06:55.999+0200"],"programmePeriod":["2021 - 2027"],"deadlineDate":["2026-11-17T00:00:00.000+0000"],"esDA_IngestDate":["2026-09-07T14:52:15.500+0200"],"typesOfAction":["HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions"],"url":["https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12-01"],"es_Combine":["1"],"esST_URL":["https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12-01"],"tags":[],"cenTagsA":["TOPICS-024346","TOPICS-024347","TOPICS-024348","TOPICS-024349","TOPICS-024350","TOPICS-024351","TOPICS-001973"],"esDA_QueueDate":["2026-09-07T14:52:15.494+0200"],"actions":["[{\"types\":[{\"typeOfAction\":\"HORIZON-JU-RIA HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions\",\"typeOfMGA\":[{\"id\":43027846,\"abbreviation\":\"HORIZON-AG\",\"description\":\"HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based\"}]}],\"status\":{\"id\":31094502,\"abbreviation\":\"Open\",\"description\":\"Open\"},\"plannedOpeningDate\":\"2026-08-13\",\"submissionProcedure\":{\"id\":31094504,\"abbreviation\":\"single-stage\",\"description\":\"single-stage\"},\"deadlineDates\":[\"2026-11-17\"]}]"],"allowPartnerSearch":["true"],"budgetOverview":["{\"budgetYearsColumns\":[\"2026\"],\"budgetTopicActionMap\":{\"115351\":[{\"action\":\"HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12-01 - HORIZON-JU-RIA HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions\",\"expectedGrants\":1,\"minContribution\":21000000,\"maxContribution\":24000000,\"budgetYearMap\":{\"2026\":\"24000000\"},\"plannedOpeningDate\":\"2026-08-13\",\"deadlineModel\":\"single-stage\",\"deadlineDates\":[\"2026-11-17\"]}]}}"],"startDate":["2026-08-13T00:00:00.000+0000"],"deadlineModel":["single-stage"],"specificObjective":[],"supportInfo":["Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).
Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
"],"status":["31094502"]},"enrichedMetadata":{},"children":[],"highlightedFragments":[],"citation":"Next-Generation QKD Systems. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12-01"}