Overall Description

The Xecs Call on Quantum supports international, industry-oriented R&D projects advancing applied quantum technologies from laboratory validation toward industrial demonstration.

Projects should generally progress from TRL 4–5 to TRL 6 or 7 and address quantum sensing, quantum metrology, quantum-secure communications or electronic and photonic technologies enabling quantum computing. The call particularly emphasises miniaturisation, system integration, scalability and manufacturability.

Funding Amount

Funding is awarded separately by participating national authorities. Published national conditions include:

• Austria: Small companies up to 60%, medium-sized companies up to 50%, and large companies up to 40%.
• Canada: SMEs up to 50% of eligible costs.
• Finland: Small companies up to 50%, medium-sized and large companies up to 40%, and research organisations up to 80%.
• Ireland: Small companies up to 60%, medium-sized companies up to 50%, large companies between 15% and 40%, and research organisations up to 100%, capped at €250,000 per institution.
• Latvia: Maximum €100,000 per participant annually; companies up to 65%–80% and research organisations up to 100%.
• Poland: Rates up to 50%–80% for companies and 100% for research organisations; funding comes from a shared national budget for several Eureka calls.
• Spain: Loan financing up to 85% of eligible project costs.
• Türkiye: Total national budget of €3 million; maximum €600,000 per project; SMEs up to 75%, large companies up to 60%, and research organisations up to 100%.
• Ukraine: Research organisations and universities may receive up to UAH 199,000 per year for up to three years.

Submission Deadlines

• Call opening: 23 June 2026.
• Matchmaking event: 6 October 2026, Vienna.
• Project Outline deadline: 26 November 2026 at 17:00 CET.
• Full Project Proposal deadline: 5 March 2027.
• Funding and Xecs Label decisions: June 2027.
• Expected project start: September 2027.

Selected national deadlines:

• Austria: 1 February 2027 at 12:00 CET.
• Spain: 15 December 2026.
• Poland: 22 October 2027 at 14:00 CEST.
• Other national deadlines must be confirmed with the relevant funding authority.

Submission Conditions

• Applications follow a two-stage procedure:
  1. Project Outline.
  2. Full Project Proposal following successful evaluation.
• The consortium must contain at least two independent legal entities from at least two Eureka countries.
• Organisations from non-Eureka countries may participate provided the minimum Eureka-country requirement is satisfied.
• The project must develop an innovative product, process or service with commercialisation potential.
• Projects must have a civilian purpose.
• Projects should begin at approximately TRL 4–5 and target TRL 6 or 7.
• No single organisation may account for more than 70% of the total budget.
• No single country may account for more than 70% of the total budget.
• Proposals must demonstrate progress in miniaturisation, integration or manufacturability.
• Applications are submitted through the Xecs application system.
• National funding applications must also be submitted where required.
• Applicants should contact their national funding authorities before submission.
• The Xecs Label does not automatically guarantee national funding.
• A consortium agreement covering intellectual property, exploitation and partner responsibilities is required before implementation.

Eligible Types of Businesses and Organisations

Subject to national rules, eligible applicants include:

• Start-ups.
• Small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Mid-cap companies.
• Large companies.
• Quantum-technology developers.
• Semiconductor and photonics companies.
• Electronics and communication-system providers.
• Metrology and standardisation organisations.
• Universities and higher-education institutions.
• Research and technology organisations.
• Public and private research institutes.

Funding for universities and research organisations varies by country. In some countries, they may participate only as subcontractors or together with an eligible company.

Eligible Countries

• Austria
• Canada
• Finland
• Ireland
• Latvia
• Poland
• Spain
• Türkiye
• Ukraine

Organisations from other Eureka or non-Eureka countries may participate if they secure appropriate funding, but the consortium must still include at least two independent organisations from Eureka countries.

Target Technology Readiness Level

• Starting TRL: Approximately TRL 4–5.
• Target TRL: TRL 6 or 7.
• Basic or purely theoretical quantum research is not the call’s primary focus.
• Projects should lead toward prototype demonstration and industrial validation.