EuroHPC Opens €119M in New Quantum Funding Calls

On August 13, the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking launched six funding calls, totaling €119 million. These calls aim to advance quantum hardware, quantum-secure communications, testing facilities, and pilot manufacturing across Europe. All of these calls represent open opportunities for organizations to apply for funding. The technical specifications, such as qubit counts and fidelity thresholds, are targets for applicants to build towards, not existing capabilities.

The application deadline for all six calls is November 17, 2026, at 5:00 pm CET. Most projects are expected to last 3.5 years. The figures below come from EuroHPC’s official call documentation and subsequent announcements, and they represent aspirational goals.

Funded quantum platforms and their scale

Three of the calls, each with a €20 million budget, focus on different quantum computing hardware approaches. The trapped-ion call, HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-TIPT-09, seeks the development of a full-stack machine featuring over 1,000 individually addressable physical qubits. This system must integrate with classical high-performance computing and offer cloud access. Key deliverables also include integrated cryogenic systems, error correction, and standardized interfaces.

Similarly, the superconducting call, SPT-10, targets a 1,000-qubit minimum using chiplet technology. The successful proposal is expected to deliver a complete system encompassing hardware, cooling, control electronics, and software. Both of these calls also require teams to contribute to establishing European supply chains for quantum components, indicating EuroHPC’s interest in the manufacturing ecosystem beyond just assembly.

The neutral-atom call, NAPT-11, sets the most ambitious targets. It calls for fully programmable platforms with 10,000 neutral atoms for simulation and 1,000 physical qubits for computation, with a roadmap for scaling to 10,000 physical qubits. Applicants are expected to achieve operation fidelities above 99% and demonstrate quantum advantage in sectors like energy and health. This last point is a call objective, not an assertion of current capability. Currently, no error-corrected, application-scale quantum computer with these qubit counts exists across any platform, globally.

Security claims in the QKD call

The next-generation QKD call, NQKD-12, has the largest individual budget at €24 million. It aims to develop quantum key distribution (QKD) systems capable of key rates exceeding 1 Mbps over metropolitan distances, with network coverage beyond 300 km regionally. The call also requests hybrid frameworks that integrate QKD with post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

EuroHPC’s documentation describes QKD as providing “unconditional security” by using quantum mechanics to detect eavesdropping. That said, the concept of unconditional security typically applies to idealized QKD protocols in theory. In practice, real hardware components such as detectors, lasers, and channels can be susceptible to side-channel attacks, and such attacks on deployed QKD systems have been documented. Therefore, “unconditional” should be understood as a mathematical property of the protocol itself, not a guaranteed security feature of a physical device.

The hybrid QKD-PQC approach is a more pragmatic aspect of this call. Post-quantum cryptography operates on existing classical computers and does not require the specialized fiber, trusted nodes, or line-of-sight infrastructure that QKD does. These two technologies offer distinct layers of defense, and their combination provides a hedge against potential weaknesses in either. 

For those following standardization efforts, NIST finalized its initial post-quantum standards, FIPS 203, 204, and 205, in 2024. These algorithms are currently considered secure based on existing analysis. Do note that “supports NIST PQC” in a product is not equivalent to a FIPS 140-3 validated cryptographic module. As no cryptographically relevant quantum computer currently exists, the practical rationale for migrating to new encryption methods now remains the concern of “harvest-now-decrypt-later” attacks.

Testing and manufacturing initiatives

The final two calls focus on infrastructure development. The quantum-testing call, QTI-13, with a budget of €20 million, seeks to establish a pan-European, open-access network of testing facilities across multiple member states. The goal is to validate and certify quantum components, including processors, sensors, photonics, and control systems, providing startups and SMEs with resources to test their innovations against evolving standards.

The pilot-line call, QEXP-14, is the smallest at €15 million. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic quantum research and established pilot lines under the CHIPS Joint Undertaking. Its purpose is to advance quantum hardware from technology readiness levels 4 to 6. Named focus areas include quantum processors, sensors, and cryo-compatible packaging. Both of these calls emphasize reproducibility and certification pathways, highlighting Europe’s ambition to move from one-off lab demonstrations to repeatable, standardized manufacturing.

EuroHPC’s wider quantum strategy

EuroHPC, which coordinates funding from the EU and participating countries, has already procured 12 supercomputers, including JUPITER and Alice Recoque, identified as Europe’s first exascale systems. The organization is also developing a European quantum computing infrastructure designed to complement these supercomputers, and in June 2026, it launched a quantum pilot access mode for testing and development.

The focus on quantum technologies is a recent expansion for EuroHPC. Council Regulation (EU) 2026/150 broadened EuroHPC’s mandate to include both AI Gigafactories and quantum technologies. The AI Gigafactories call was launched in July 2026, with these six quantum calls following soon after.

For potential applicants or observers, the key takeaway is that €119 million represents a substantial budget that is currently open for competitive proposals, not already allocated work. The specified qubit counts, fidelities, and key rates outlined in these documents represent Europe’s aspirations for quantum technology development by approximately 2030, contingent on project success. The application deadline is November 17, 2026, at 5:00 pm CET, and applicants should consult the individual call pages on the EU Funding and Tenders portal for binding eligibility terms.