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

Forthcoming EU call topic HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04 · HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions. Part of call HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC: Indirectly Managed Action by the ECCC (2027). Opens 2027-03-02; next deadline 2027-09-15. Topic page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04

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…