Framework Partnership Agreements for open testing and experimentation and for pilot production capabilities for quantum technologies (FPA) -

Expected Outcome

Proposal results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

Framework Partnership Agreements (FPAs) respectively for open testing, experimentation, and for pilot production capabilities for quantum technologies are expected to establish stable and structured partnerships between the Commission and the institutions and organisations who commit themselves:

• To create long-term open, supportive and sustainable experimental and testing infrastructures in Europe that are openly accessible by European academia and industry; and,
• To develop and provide access to first European fabrication (production) capabilities for quantum technologies, building on and linking together existing infrastructures.

These partnerships will be set up through two FPAs, which will enable the completion of the research roadmap within the context of the agreements. The FPAs will specify the objectives, the nature of the actions planned, and the procedure for awarding specific grants.

The first FPA (“supporting open testing, and experimentation for quantum technologies in Europe”) is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Establish a technology innovation roadmap through effective consultation with industry for linking early-stage capabilities to industry developments.
• Provide open testing, and experimentation capabilities for quantum technologies, that are available to scientists, engineers and users, and provide innovation support services to individual companies, in particular a broad spectrum of SMEs.
• Establish a well-connected network at European level and federate competences to increase European testing and experimentation capabilities of quantum technologies, and reduce their time-to-market.
• Provide services for the development of a European supply chain of quantum technologies, provide European industry, especially start-ups and SMEs, with the necessary innovation capacity, and make sure that critical IP remains within the EU.

The second FPA (“supporting experimental production capabilities for quantum technologies in Europe”) is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Establish a capability innovation roadmap for providing experimental (pilot) production capabilities and a roadmap for transferring such capabilities to an industrial production environment.
• Provide experimental production capabilities for quantum technologies in computing, communication and /or sensing available to users, including industry, in particular SMEs and contribute to developing European standards in the field.
• Provide services for the development of a European supply chain of quantum technologies, provide European industry, especially start-ups and SMEs, with the necessary innovation capacity, and make sure that critical IP remains within the EU.

Scope

Proposals for both FPAs above are expected to establish well-networked lab facilities that interact and support each other. Proposals should federate key competences in the whole innovation value chain, from business-model development to promoting open-access to innovation and know-how, in order to provide access and support to European quantum technologies innovation actors.

Proposals should develop practical strategies in synergy with European academic and industrial players (especially start-ups and SMEs), and quantum technologies innovation actors in Europe to provide the quantum ecosystem with a ‘one-stop-shop’ to unique facilities, competences and know-how centred at various locations in Europe.

The consortia applying for the first FPA should include a balanced and inclusive network of RTOs and other excellent European institutes equipped with state of the art quantum experimental facilities, infrastructures and tools, and other key innovation players that can play a role in the implementation of sustainable open experimental and testing infrastructures in quantum technologies.

The consortia applying for the second FPA should include a balanced and inclusive network of RTOs and other excellent European institutes, small foundries, unique manufacturing providers, and other key innovation players that can play a role in building and providing experimental pilot production capabilities for quantum technologies.

The proposal for both FPAs should also cover: (i) the collaboration with other initiatives or programmes at regional, national, or European level; (ii) the any additional financial support they may receive in their activities from relevant national or regional initiatives; and (iii) contribution to the governance and overall coordination of the Quantum Technologies Flagship initiative. It should also contribute to spreading excellence across Europe; for example, through the involvement of Widening Countries.

The partnership will have a duration of 4 years.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

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