Quantum secured tactical networks
Develop quantum-secured software defined tactical military networks for EU armed forces to enhance secure communications and cyber defence.
This call seeks projects to develop next-generation tactical military networks using quantum technologies like quantum key distribution. The goal is to create secure, resilient, and flexible software defined networks for EU armed forces. It builds on previous EDF research and supports deep digital technologies for defence.
Likely relevant for
- Defence technology developers
- Cybersecurity researchers
- Quantum communication experts
- Military network solution providers
- Software defined radio and network engineers
Project signals
What it funds
- Development of software defined network technologies for tactical military use
- Integration of quantum key distribution and post-quantum cryptography
- Creation of network architecture frameworks based on quantum technologies
- Enhancement of secure and resilient communications against cyberattacks
- Support for EU armed forces technological edge in secure networks
Expected outcomes
- Operational quantum-secured tactical network prototypes or solutions
- Improved detection of intrusions and hacking attempts in real time
- Enhanced integration of mobile and innovative devices in military networks
- Advancement of cyber defence capabilities using quantum principles
- Contribution to STEP objectives in deep and digital technologies
Who can apply / participate
- Research organisations
- Defence industry companies
- Technology developers
- Consortia including multiple eligible entities
- Check call document for consortium composition rules
- Eligible countries as per call document section 6
- Refer to call document section 6 for detailed eligibility conditions
- Specific consortium size and composition requirements
- Exact eligible countries list
Must check before shortlisting
- Eligibility criteria in call document section 6
- Consortium requirements and country eligibility
- Budget and funding rate details
- Specific evaluation criteria and thresholds
Money
EUR 14 million is allocated for this topic under the EDF-2026-RA call, with one or possibly more proposals to be funded.
- Total indicative budget — 14000000EURIndicative budget for this topic in 2026
Application notes
- Single-stage submission model.
- Proposal page limits and layout as per call document section 5 and application form Part B.
- Eligibility and admissibility conditions detailed in call document section 6.
- Financial and operational capacity requirements in call document section 7.
- Evaluation and award criteria and process in call document sections 8 and 9.
- Legal and financial setup described in call document section 10.
- Prepare proposal following call document and application form guidelines.
- Submit proposal via Funding & Tenders Portal before deadline.
- Ensure compliance with eligibility and admissibility conditions.
- Consult Online Manual and IT Helpdesk for submission support.
- Check eligibility criteria carefully before applying.
- Review all call document sections for detailed requirements.
- Budget and funding conditions may vary; verify before submission.
Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 7 Jul 2026, 12:16 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.
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Official source text
Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.
Topic description
Scope: The next generation of tactical military networks are being developed using software defined radio solutions and software defined network solutions to provide secure and resilient communications against cyberattacks. More agile and flexible than traditional approaches, these solutions make it much easier to integrate additional devices, including mobile devices, and innovative technologies into military networks such as quantum key distribution, post-quantum cryptography and physical unclonable functions. In particular, quantum key distribution aims to provide a higher level of trust in information sharing and cyber defence operations by ensuring that all intrusions and hacking attempts are detected in real time using quantum principles. Building on previous and ongoing EDF R&D activities in this area, this topic aims to develop software defined network technologies and solutions for a network architecture framework based on quantum technologies that will provide EU armed forces with a technological edge in secure tactical networks. Beyond defence technologies, this topic also contributes to the STEP objectives as defined in the STEP Regulation in the target investment area of deep and digital technologies. Targeted types of activities: Generating and integrating knowledge, studies and design. Indicative budget: EUR 14 000 000 for this topic under the EDF-2026-RA call. Indicative number of proposals to be funded : One proposal is to be funded for this topic. However, depending on the quality of the proposals submitted and the budget available, more than one proposal may ultimately be funded for this topic.
Conditions and documents
Conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in section 5 of the call document.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in section 6 of the call document.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
described in section 6 of the call document.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in section 7 of the call document.
5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.
5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
described in section 9 of the call document.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in section 4 of the call document.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in section 10 of the call document.
Call document and annexes:
Application form templates
Standard application form (EDF) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Detailed budget table (EDF RA)
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF)
Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Additional documents:
EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI)
Guidelines on FSTP implementation - WP2026
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support information
For help related to this call, please contact please add a contact e-mail or url Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals . IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.
Raw budget overview
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