Alternatives to AI chip demonstrators for EU compute infrastructure

Expected Outcome: This topic is the first phase of a two-phase competitive structure supported by Horizon Europe, implemented via a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) in close collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB). Phase 1 (this topic): A CSA focused on readiness-analysis in terms of exploitation and investments, benchmarking the commercial viability of quantum enabled navigation systems. The aim is to deliver concrete outputs that improve the conditions for use of the supported projects through credible technical, industrialisation and financial roadmaps, validated against investor requirements (e.g. EIB, InvestEU). Activities also include analyses of investor-readiness and supply-chain sovereignty. Phase 2: For further information, see the indirectly managed action “HORIZON-CL4 Quantum Top-Up to InvestEU: Grand Challenge Phase 2” in the Cluster 4 part of the Horizon Europe 2026/2027 Work Programme. This CSA is designed to allow the best possible application in Phase 2 and the current CSA results may therefore inform applications by beneficiaries to investment support managed by the EIB under InvestEU (separate procedures). Under Phase 1 projects are expected…

Scope: This award aims to recognise sport activities implemented by organisations that have successfully used sport as a powerful tool to promote social inclusion, gender equality, diversity and unity. It recognises efforts that break down barriers, empower and include underrepresented groups, and use sport to foster understanding, peace, and diversity in society. This category rewards initiatives that meet social challenges and support disadvantaged groups, such as ethnic minorities, people with disabilities or vulnerable young people. It highlights the transformative power of sport in building bridges, empowering communities, and shaping a more inclusive and united society.

Expected Impact: The project will explore the feasibility of a roadmap based on the assessment of the situation around the preservation of born-digital heritage, the mapping of legal and non-legal frameworks and the adoption of good practices that would help further born-digital heritage preservation. It will provide information regarding challenges and barriers related to existing legal and non-legal frameworks, such as copyright, digital storage, licencing, etc., and practical solutions to contribute to wider born-digital heritage preservation. Overall, the project should contribute to stakeholders and interested parties’ understanding of the legal and policy situation and practices related to the preservation of and access to born-digital heritage, and present possible ways forward to facilitate the preservation of and access to born-digital heritage by: delivering a clear assessment of the share and types of born-digital cultural heritage being preserved in the EU, and of what should be preserved from the perspectives of different fields and in the context of possible (re)use of the preserved digital assets; providing a mapping of national, European and international legal,…

Objective: The objective of this call is to develop dual-use transport infrastructure on the TEN-T and the military mobility networks. Scope: In accordance with Article 9(2), point (c), and Article 12 of the CEF Regulation, support will be provided to dual-use projects, works and/or studies, addressing both civilian and defence needs. As provided in Article 12(1) of the CEF Regulation, dual-use projects must be located on the TEN-T and on the EU military mobility network established by the Council in November 2018, last updated in March 2025 [1]. Priority will be given to projects located on the four EU military mobility priority corridors and projects located in two or more Member States [2]. As provided in Article 12(1), point (c) of the CEF Regulation, such projects are to take into account the infrastructure requirements applicable to certain categories of dual-use infrastructure actions, as set out in Implementing Regulation 2021/1328 [3]. In case a proposal combines studies and works components, these must address different sections / activities. Facilities and infrastructure supported under CEF must be accessible for use by all operators on a non-discriminatory basis. [1]…

Objective: The objective of this call is to modernise transport infrastructure on the TEN-T network with the purpose of facilitating traffic flows for rail and road transport at border control areas at the Union external border of the TEN-T network. Scope: Works and / or studies related to: Projects, targeting only the transport infrastructure, which will inter alia improve the rail and road connections to the border crossing points, as well as parking lines and spaces related to the border controls. Support will be given to rail projects facilitating traffic flows at the TEN-T Border Crossing Points (BCPs) including as regards interoperability. Support will also be given to the upgrade of parking spaces for trucks, of waiting areas and of road lane capacity from the parking spaces to the border control points and between them, provided that it facilitates traffic flows at the Union external border. Border check equipment and facilities cannot be supported, in principle, as a stand-alone project. However, certain border check equipment, such as smart IT solutions which facilitate and/or accelerate border checks and alleviate congestion at border crossing points, or fixed devices…

Expected Impact: The expected benefits of the supported project: Provide quick response to emergency situations identified by the relevant Regional Cable Hub or other entity declaring the emergency situation (Key Performance Indicator). Provide quick average estimated time-to-repair for cable systems in the targeted EU sea basins with at least one landing point in an EU territory (Key Performance Indicator). Increase operational repair capacity in the main European sea basins (Key Performance Indicator). Strengthen the resilience of cable systems in the main European sea basins. Ensure digital sovereignty and strategic autonomy of the EU in the main European sea basins. Objective: This call aims to enhance emergency response capacities and the resilience of backbone networks’ infrastructures by supporting the development and deployment of adaptable repair modules for swift emergency repair operations, enabling quick response to incidents that could severely impact the Union or its Member States. The goal of the EU is to fund modules covering the main sea basins of the Union, the objective being to develop adaptable repair modules that can be deployed on existing vessels, as well…

Expected Outcome: the proposals under this call are expected to address one or more of the following subjects : • Enhanced personalized monitoring, care and treatments, focusing on the development of highly customized healthcare solutions, including the required research and diagnostic tools, tailored to individual needs, covering various scenarios such as chronic disease management, physiotherapy, precision diagnosis, personalized medicine/treatment, pre- and postoperative care, and daily assistance in homes and common spaces. It also targets effective management of chronic diseases and elderly care through personalized monitoring and interventions facilitated by advanced sensor technologies and edge-to-cloud solutions. This includes the development and integration of solutions for Hospitalization at Home, enabling patients to receive complex, remotely supervised care using intelligent medical devices capable of sensing, analysing, and transmitting real-time data. This requires a continuum, from in-hospital diagnostics to robust, long-term patient support at home via AI-driven care pathways and hospitalization at home. • Prevention and treatment of diseases, allowing the improved…

Expected Outcome: The proposals under this topic should address the design/specification and implementation/testing of the key microelectronics building blocks of an FR3 FEM paving the way towards their future integration into a complete integrated FEM system. • Progresses the State of the art to optimise the cost-performance trade off to serve the target ITU IMT 2030 specifications, notably for what concerns maximum data rate, user data rate, spectral efficiency, whilst enabling 50% mobile transmission system energy consumption; • Allows operational implementation of spectrum sharing with other spectrum users within the selected FR3 sub-band; • Enables large arrays integration for increased path loss compensation at FR3 frequencies with very compact, low power, high efficiency FEM integration; • Enables high bandwidth for carrier aggregation with broadband RF transceivers; • Enables SBFD (Sub-Band non overlapping Full-Duplex) for UL coverage extension (Rel.-19 5G-Advanced in 3GPP) with appropriate interference cancellation techniques; • Enables ISAC (Integrated Sensing and Communications) supporting monostatic as well as bistatic radar functionality, and addressing interference…

Expected Outcome: Proposals submitted to this call are expected to address several of the following elements: • Scaling of wafer-level photonic processes for key materials (e.g. SiN, InP, GaAs),including process integration, yield optimisation, and manufacturability at highvolumes. • Development of packaging and test solutions that are scalable, automated, andcompatible with co-packaged optics and advanced photonic-electronic integration. • Integration of heterogeneous materials and components, such as on-chip lasers,modulators, and detectors, using advanced packaging and assembly approaches. • Design-process-equipment co-optimisation, enabling repeatable, cost-effectiveproduction of complex photonic circuits and systems, including use of PDKs andvalidated building blocks. • Demonstration of system-level functionality through application-relevant use casesin strategic sectors (e.g. AI, sensing, telecommunication, mobility, health, defence),with quantified performance metrics and clear market relevance.

Expected Impact: Projects funded under this call are expected to deliver tangible industrial outputs that demonstrably advance the readiness and affordability of future governmental Ka-band user terminals for IRIS2 and GOVSATCOM services. Expected outputs include, for example: qualified production processes, calibrated sub-assemblies, pilot-run units, validated manufacturing equipment chains or manufacturing cost models. Purely analytical deliverables (studies, design reports) are not sufficient as primary outputs but may complement the above. Where relevant, outputs shall include documented design assumptions, interface parameters or process specifications enabling adaptation to different terminal configurations with limited re-engineering, so as to support uptake in follow-on integration, pilot deployment and scale-up activities. Objective: The aim of this call for proposals is to advance the industrial readiness of European Ka-band user terminal technologies, subsystems and manufacturing processes, with a view to enabling cost-effective production of user terminals for services provided under the Union secure connectivity programme (IRIS²) and GOVSATCOM. The target reference…

Scope: Proposals innovations should address one or more of the several domains : WBG substrates to reduce EU dependency on material and provide more sustainable, industrially compatible solutions. WBG platform for cost effectiveness, available in 300mm for GaN and/or SiC to improve yield and power density and close gaps in the value chain. A toolbox (e.g. wafer cut, smart stacking, thin layer transfer, epitaxy, UWBG materials) for further innovation schemes. Next generation or optimised new power semiconductor devices fitting their application. Adding intelligence to power semiconductor devices on control and/or sensor side. Facilitate the propagation of EU Packaging/Integration excellence along the entire value chain e.g. pre-packages or power semiconductor device packaging solutions to enable power device/system integration and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness in advanced packaging. Explore the use of heterogeneous and functional integration for improved performance, reliability, robustness and cost competitiveness. Rising operative voltage, frequency, current and thermal features that are common challenge on power electronics across the different application sectors. Provide…

Expected Outcome: Objectives and profile of the ERC Plus Grant Principal Investigator The ERC Plus Grant supports outstanding Principal Investigators who address a major scientific challenge. Applications for ERC Plus Grants should be for projects that could not be carried out with a regular ERC grant. Applicants should explain how the proposed project aims go beyond those of a regular ERC project, for example, because they have a vision to transform their field or open a new field of research. Scholars at all career stages can apply for an ERC Plus Grant if they have an outstanding record of scientific achievement at the forefront of their field. Their intellectual leadership will be evaluated in comparison to peers at their own career stage. It is expected that a researcher may be the Principal Investigator of only one ERC Plus Grant in their lifetime. Applicants should be aware that every year, only some 30 ERC Plus Grants can be awarded across all fields and all career stages, compared to approximately 1000 Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants. This level of competitiveness should be taken into account when considering whether to submit an application. Size of ERC Plus…