GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

The following priorities have been set to address the needs of EU’s national governments and critical infrastructures supporting services of general interest (“critical public infrastructures”):

• Deployment of cross-border quantum terrestrial backbone networks for interconnecting neighbouring national quantum communication infrastructures across borders, built with EU technologies.
• Interconnection with the EuroQCI’s space segment, developed under the Secure Connectivity programme.
• Provision of fibre links between the EuroQCI and a pan-European network of Security Operation Centres (SOCs).

This topic will support the deployment of quantum communication infrastructure for routes between Member States, including OCTs:

• where the national segments of quantum communication infrastructure are already in place or where their deployment is already ongoing or operationally planned; and
• where a crossborder link between at least two EU countries, (including outermost regions and OCTs), or a space segment interconnection is foreseen.

The call aims to:

• Enable reliable and resilient transmission of sensitive communications and data between public authorities, research entities and critical public infrastructures in Member States, including outermost regions and overseas countries and territories.
• Boost Europe’s capabilities in developing quantum-secure optical telecommunication networks and their capacity to secure its critical public infrastructures, especially those that cross national borders and serve more than one Member State.
• Promote quantum-based secure networks and the emergence of a new ecosystem that would enable a large market uptake. This will ultimately support the growth of a pan-European quantum industry that will develop new, innovative systems and technologies critical for the EU’s strategic autonomy and digital sovereignty.