New primitives and protocols for functionalities of future hybrid classical-hybrid and quantum networks

Expected Outcome: Proposals are expected to contribute to one or more of the following: New primitives beyond Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for future hybrid classical-quantum and quantum networks either as quantum equivalents of classical primitives or as new primitives for new practical applications, also in the relativistic setting when relevant, or as new primitives and protocols with modular, realistic integration of solutions from different cryptographic approaches, with focus on beyond-QKD applications and with gradual release on trust in hardware; Analysis of the applicability and strength of the results compared to their best classical-only counterpart, critical analysis of the formal assumptions and of performance, security proofs; Investigation of fundamental aspects of quantum information processing tasks, their eventual limits; and/or the connection between quantum computing and cryptography for insights for stronger cryptographic foundations; Roadmap for quantum cryptography and networks functionalities. Scope: The action supports research on new primitives and protocols beyond QKD for security and trust-based applications, by combining different cryptographic approaches and by exploiting insights from quantum information science, to demonstrate compelling quases of quantum cryptographic advantage and obtain foundational results on the unique features of quantum protocols. The goal is to build on the basis of insights from the field of real-world, applied crypt…bron

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• New primitives and protocols for functionalities of future hybrid classical-hybrid and quantum networksEU-portaal (SEDIA) · ec.europa.eu7 jul 2026
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  New primitives and protocols for functionalities of future hybrid classical-hybrid and quantum networks
  
  Topic: HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04
  Call: HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC — Indirectly Managed Action by the ECCC (2027)
  Programma: Horizon Europe (2021 - 2027)
  
  == Beschrijving ==
  Expected Outcome:
  Proposals are expected to contribute to one or more of the following:
  New primitives beyond Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for future hybrid classical-quantum and quantum networks either as quantum equivalents of classical primitives or as new primitives for new practical applications, also in the relativistic setting when relevant, or as new primitives and protocols with modular, realistic integration of solutions from different cryptographic approaches, with focus on beyond-QKD applications and with gradual release on trust in hardware;
  Analysis of the applicability and strength of the results compared to their best classical-only counterpart, critical analysis of the formal assumptions and of performance, security proofs;
  Investigation of fundamental aspects of quantum information processing tasks, their eventual limits; and/or the connection between quantum computing and cryptography for insights for stronger cryptographic foundations;
  Roadmap for quantum cryptography and networks functionalities.
  Scope:
  The action supports research on new primitives and protocols beyond QKD for security and trust-based applications, by combining different cryptographic approaches and by exploiting insights from quantum information science, to demonstrate compelling quases of quantum cryptographic advantage and obtain foundational results on the unique features of quantum protocols. The goal is to build on the basis of insights from the field of real-world, applied cryptography and the vision from the quantum domain on future entanglement-based networks, the foundations of a new cryptography, that will support mid-term hybrid classical-quantum and further in the future almost fully quantum networks. The design of such new foundations may need entirely new paradigms whose design requires different expertise.
  The proposal should target some of the following areas and lead to a roadmap:
  Development of quantum primitives which have classical equivalent, of new quantum primitives not possible classically (or without trusted hardware), and of alternative solutions improving quantum cryptography protocols using classical cryptography solutions (in particular PQC), by flexibly incorporating various cryptographic components, with some beneficial aspects such as performance improvements (run time, energy usage, less requirements on HW etc.)
  Analysis of the applicability and strength of the results compared to their best classical-only counterpart, critical analysis of the formal assumptions, rigorous security proofs, case-by-case analysis of composable security and of performance.Connection between quantum information processing tasks and holography, and transfer to the cryptographic context, such as, among others, non-local quantum computation for position-verification schemes and spoofing schemes as means of establishing trust, via foundational insights on entanglement and quantum correlations; connection between quantum computing and cryptography providing stronger cryptographic foundations.
  Development of a quantum cryptography roadmap, which identifies challenges for the technical realisation and scaling of applications and presenting the implications for the best hardware and architecture settings for both near-term and long-term applications of quantum networks.
  Proposals should include, in a balanced manner, quantum scientists and researchers from PQC with experience on real-world, applied cryptography and with interest in quantum protocols and new paradigms for future networks.
  
  == Voorwaarden (topic conditions) ==
  ">
  General conditions
  1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
  described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
  Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
  2. Eligible Countries
  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.
  3. Other Eligible Conditions
  In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security, participation in this topic is limited to legal entities established in Member States and Associated Countries. In order to guarantee the protection of the strategic interests of the Union and its Member States, entities established in an eligible country listed above, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by a non-eligible country entity, shall not participate in the action.
  described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
  4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
  described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
  5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
  are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
  5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
  are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
  5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
  described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
  6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
  Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
  described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
  Specific conditions
  described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
  Some activities resulting from this topic may involve using classified background and/or producing of security sensitive results (EUCI and SEN). Please refer to the related provisions in section B Security — EU classified and sensitive information of the General Annexes.
  Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
  Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
  Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
  Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
  Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
  Guidance
  HE Programme Guide
  Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
  Lump Sum MGA
  Call-specific instructions
  Detailed budget table (HE LS)
  Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
  Ownership Control Declaration
  Information on Security issues (Security section)
  Additional documents:
  HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
  HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society
  HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
  HE Programme Guide
  HE Framework Programme 2021/695
  HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
  EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
  Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
  Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
  EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
  Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
  Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
  Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement