Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies

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Expected Outcome:
This action will advance Europe’s leadership in trapped-ion quantum computing by achieving the following key outcomes:

• Establishment of a full-stack ion-trap quantum computer aiming at more than 1.000 qubits, fully integrated into high-performance computing (HPC) systems, and accessible via the cloud.
• Demonstration of quantum advantage for selected real-world applications, validated against benchmarks.
• Strengthened European capabilities to develop modular, interoperable, and scalable quantum computing architectures.
• Implementation and demonstration of advanced error correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing techniques.
• Integration of full-stack hardware-software systems with standardised and certified interfaces.
• Engagement with industry and academia through open access to quantum computing resources and co-design of applications. Scope:
The action should support the scale-up of European trapped-ion quantum computing platforms, aiming at technological maturity and usability for industrial and scientific applications. In particular, the action must address at least two major technical roadblocks defined in the Strategic Research and Industry Agenda (SRIA 2030) for trapped-ion quantum computing. These include the limited scalability of ion trap architectures, particularly the need for modular designs and inter-chain coupling, and the integration of photonic components for laser delivery, enabling compact and fault-tolerant systems. The proposal is expected to demonstrate system-level innovation and practical application addressing these and other equally critical challenges.
The proposal should also:

• Develop a full-stack trapped-ion quantum computer with more than 1000 physical qubits, including:
• Initialisation, manipulation, and readout fully integrated into the cryogenic setup.
• Reduced system footprint via standardised interfaces and integrated waveguides.
• Advance scalable error correction and fault-tolerant computing:
• Develop and benchmark error correction codes suitable for trapped-ion architectures.
• Demonstrate error mitigation in noisy environments and real-life quantum information tasks.
• Enable real-life application testing:
• Select and implement at least two practical use cases (aligned with industrial or scientific challenges).
• Demonstrate computational advantage over classical simulations where possible or show progress towards it.
• Develop standards and modular interoperability:
• Establish interface specifications for both hardware and software layers, enabling integration across vendors and platforms.
• Align with European efforts on standardisation, benchmarking, and certification.
• Integrate with classical computing infrastructures:
• Ensure seamless operation alongside HPC resources, with remote access and hybrid quantum-classical workflows.
• Provide access and foster ecosystem participation:
• Support researchers and industry (including SMEs) with open, cloud-based access, comprehensive user documentation, and training resources.
• Contribute to a sustainable European supply chain:
• Address key technological components such as lasers, ion traps, control electronics, and packaging solutions, aiming for independent and robust sourcing Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
The rules are described in General Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027.
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and to achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project

Status

Open

Deadline

17 November 2026 (time not stated)

Opens

13 August 2026

Published

13 August 2026

Total budget

€20,000,000

Grant range

€19,000,000 – €20,000,000

Country

European Union (EU-wide)

Programme

Horizon Europe (HORIZON)

Funder

European Commission

Official page

Open at the source portal

What applying involves

13 steps, every one of them taken from what this call's own documents state.

Understand the call

• Read the call on the source portal and download its documents
• Write the proposal against the award criteria and thresholds standard for this programme

  described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes — conditions §5a

• Check the grant's legal and financial set-up standard for this programme

  described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme] The documents are described in General Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027. Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): 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 … — conditions §6

• Check the amount you plan to request against the call's range

Check you are eligible

• Confirm your technology readiness level against the range the call states
• Check every partner is established in an eligible country standard for this programme

  Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide . The eligible countries are: Albania; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary … — conditions §2

• Meet the call's other eligibility conditions standard for this programme

  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 … — conditions §3

• Be able to show financial and operational capacity standard for this programme

  described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes — conditions §4

• Check the conditions for financial support to third parties

Prepare the documents

• Prepare Part B of the Application Form standard for this programme

  Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. — conditions

• Complete the detailed budget table standard for this programme

Submit

• Check the submission and evaluation process

  The general criteria are described in the General Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027. described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual — conditions §5b

• Submit before the closing date shown above

  The source states the closing day but no closing time — check the portal before the last day. — calls.deadline

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