Large-Scale Photonic Quantum Computing Platform Technologies
Open
Status as published by the data source.
Expected Outcome:
This action will establish a strategic European initiative to develop scalable, modular, and interoperable photonic quantum computing platforms. Proposals for this topic are expected to address and provide credible solutions to at least two major technical roadblocks currently limiting the advancement of photonic quantum computing such as:
• The lack of deterministic, high-efficiency photonic entanglement and loss-tolerant architectures suitable for fault-tolerant scaling
• The absence of a standardised, integrated control stack combining photonic hardware, firmware, and system software with reliable benchmarking across platforms Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
• By 2028, demonstration of a photonic NISQ processor with ≥100 photonic qubits, integrating deterministic single-photon sources, low-loss waveguides, on-chip detectors, and a firmware stack (scheduler, controller, compiler), validated via hardware-agnostic benchmarks and hybrid photonic-HPC applications demonstrating classical-quantum crossover
• By 2030, delivery of a full-stack, high-connectivity photonic quantum computer, with modular scalability, integrated on-chip and fibre-based interconnects, and high-fidelity gates (e.g. error rates ≤10⁻³) with an indicative target of 1 000 photonic qubits, laying the groundwork for prototype demonstrations of quantum utility on industrially relevant workloads.
• System-level interoperability and standardisation, with published interface specifications across photonic quantum hardware and software stacks including packaging, APIs, compiler interfaces, and cloud protocols compatible with telecom wavelengths
• Validation of entanglement distribution across modules through standardised protocols and field-demonstration of interconnected photonic quantum processors
• Acceleration of industrialisation and commercialisation, including a roadmap for pilot manufacturing lines, quality assurance protocols, and development of a sovereign European supply chain for photonic quantum technologies
• Demonstration of project results through a concrete use case provided by a major end-user partner within the consortium, validating the platform’s relevance and performance under real operational constraints. Scope:
Proposals for this topic are expected to be led by a startup with demonstrated expertise in photonic quantum computing. The startup should collaborate with relevant academic, industrial, and RTO partners to ensure both technological depth and market orientation. The consortium should also include at least one major end-user whose operational needs will shape the platform design, and whose infrastructure will host the field demonstration of the project’s results.
Proposals should implement a coordinated, durable R&I programme that integrates hardware, software, system architecture, and application-level use cases. Activities should include:
• Platform development advancing open, scalable photonic quantum processors with semiconductor and/or glass-based photonic chips, integrated control electronics, firmware, and robust error mitigation and correction schemes
• System integration realising modular quantum nodes with photonic interconnects and validating scalable architectures under realistic noise, loss, and control constraints
• Software stack co-design integrating low-level firmware, compilers, hybrid algorithms, and network APIs to demonstrate application-level quantum advantage and HPC interoperability Proposals are expected to build upon prior Quantum Flagship results and demonstrate capacity to contribute actively to the governance and strategic coordination of the EU quantum computing ecosystem, including synergies with STEP, Chips JU, IPCEI projects and EuroHPC.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- (time not stated)
- Opens
- Published
- Total budget
- €10,000,000
- Grant range
- €9,500,000 – €10,000,000
- Country
- European Union (EU-wide)
- Programme
- Horizon Europe (HORIZON)
- Official page
- Open at the source portal
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All calls under this programme
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Where this came from
- Source document
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/data/topicDetails/horizon-ju-eurohpc-2026-pqc-06-01.json
- Document fingerprint
b053f10ef2ccd5b3(SHA-256, first 16 hex characters)- Retrieved
- First recorded here
What has changed
- url first recorded as https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-ju-eurohpc-2026-pqc-06-01 on
- currency first recorded as EUR on
- amount_max first recorded as 10000000.00 on
- amount_min first recorded as 9500000.00 on
- budget_total first recorded as 10000000.00 on
- deadline first recorded as 2026-09-30 on
- opens_on first recorded as 2026-06-02 on
- published_on first recorded as 2026-06-02 on
- status_basis first recorded as source_status on
- status first recorded as open on
- title first recorded as Large-Scale Photonic Quantum Computing Platform Technologies on
Data source
© European Union, 2026. Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU — CC BY 4.0.
Retrieved from the source on .
The source last updated this document on Thu, 16 Jul 2026 09:56:45 GMT.
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