Who can participate?

Matrix: instrument by country group

Whether a university or research organisation established in each group of countries can take part (company rules can differ, for example in the EIC). "Varies by country" means members of the group are treated differently: choose the country above.

Cooperation frameworks (not funding instruments)

Digital partnerships, trade and technology councils, science and technology agreements and co-funding mechanisms shape cooperation, but they do not by themselves open EU calls or funding.

• EU-Japan Digital Partnership (Japan). Fourth Digital Partnership Council on 5 May 2026 in Brussels: both sides welcomed deeper cooperation under the Letter of Intent on quantum science and technology and confirmed stronger collaboration in quantum research. (Source: Fourth Meeting of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council Held (7 May 2026), Section (2), "Quantum technology")
• EU-Republic of Korea Digital Partnership (Republic of Korea). An EU-Korea Quantum Experts Group was set up on 29 June 2023; at the second Council (26 March 2024) both sides agreed to advance quantum standardisation and explore R&D collaboration. (Source: Joint Statement of the second meeting of the European Union - Republic of Korea Digital Partnership Council (Council document 8318/24, 26 March 2024), Section 3, "Quantum")
• EU-Singapore Digital Partnership (Singapore). Second Council on 1 December 2025: quantum technologies became a new area of cooperation, focusing on quantum communication. (Source: Joint Statement of the Second Meeting of the European Union - Singapore Digital Partnership Council (1 December 2025), Section "Quantum")
• EU-Canada Digital Partnership (Canada). Joint statement of 1 February 2024: the EU and Canada will expand collaboration on quantum science and convene a ministerial Digital Partnership Council. (Source: Canada and EU boost their strategic digital partnership to address new challenges (1 February 2024), Paragraph on quantum science)
• EU-US Trade and Technology Council (United States). Established at the EU-US Summit of 15 June 2021; the sixth and last ministerial meeting on the Commission page took place on 4-5 April 2024. The Commission page is archived and no longer updated. (Source: EU-US Trade and Technology Council (archived page), Archived-content banner, introduction and "Sixth Ministerial Meeting")
• EU-India Trade and Technology Council (India). First meeting 16 May 2023 in Brussels, second on 28 February 2025 in New Delhi; Working Group 1 covers strategic technologies such as AI, semiconductors, high-performance computing and 6G. (Source: Joint Statement: Second Meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, New Delhi (28 February 2025), Introduction and Working Group 1)
• Negotiations on India's association to Horizon Europe Pillar II (India). Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on India's participation in Union programmes and association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe (12 June 2026). (Source: Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on the association of the Republic of India to Pillar II of Horizon Europe (Council document 9373/26, 12 June 2026), Subject line and Article 1)
• EU bilateral science and technology agreements (DZ, AR, Australia, Brazil, Canada, CL, China, Egypt, India, Japan, JO, Republic of Korea, MX, Morocco, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, United States). Agreements with 20 countries to increase cooperation in research and innovation; they do not by themselves give access to EU funding. (Source: Bilateral cooperation: science and technology agreements with non-EU countries, "Bilateral science and technology agreements")
• Co-funding mechanisms for Horizon Europe participants (Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, MX, China, MC, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, TW). Countries that fund their own entities taking part in Horizon Europe projects, since high-income non-associated partners in principle bring their own funding. (Source: Bilateral cooperation: science and technology agreements with non-EU countries, Section "Funding")

Legal basis and sources

Horizon Europe: collaborative research and innovation (general rules)

Consortia need at least one independent legal entity in a Member State and two more in different Member States or associated countries; anyone else may join on top of that minimum. Work programmes may limit participation for strategic reasons (Article 22(5)).

• Any legal entity may participate, including from non-associated third countries (Article 22(1)); consortium minimum (Article 22(2)). (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Article 22(1) and (2))
• Participation may be limited to Member States or to specified associated or other third countries for actions related to Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security; entities controlled from non-associated countries may be excluded (Article 22(5)). (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Article 22(5))
• Entities in Member States and associated countries are eligible for funding; others bear their own costs unless low- to middle-income or exceptionally (Article 23). (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Article 23(1) and (2))
• Associated countries, transitional arrangements and the low- to middle-income list. (Source: EU Grants: List of participating countries in Horizon Europe, version 4.2 of 7 October 2026, Pages 1-4)
• Restrictions on entities established in China. (Source: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, part 15: General Annexes, Part 15, pages 6-7)

EuroHPC JU quantum calls (Horizon Europe funded, 2026)

Since Council Regulation (EU) 2026/150 the EuroHPC JU runs the EU quantum research and innovation calls. Most 2026 calls are limited to Member States and EuroHPC JU Participating States.

• Eligibility conditions are those of Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173 as last amended by Council Regulation 2026/150; limitations decided by the Governing Board under Article 22(5) of the Horizon Europe Regulation. (Source: HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-TIPT-09-01: Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies, Topic conditions, "Other Eligibility Conditions")
• Members of the EuroHPC JU (Participating States). (Source: Discover EuroHPC JU, Section "Members")
• Calls launched on 2 June 2026 (inertial navigation grand challenge, photonic quantum computing, standards, quantum machine learning) and on 13-14 August 2026 (six platform, QKD, testing and pilot-line calls, deadline 17 November 2026). (Source: Four new EuroHPC JU calls to boost quantum innovation and standardisation in Europe (2 June 2026), Call list with identifiers and deadlines)

EuroHPC JU access calls (computing time on EuroHPC supercomputers)

Computing time, not grants: researchers from academia, research institutes, public authorities and industry apply to access calls; access is currently free of charge.

• Users established or located in a Member State, a Participating State or a third country associated to the Digital Europe Programme or Horizon Europe are granted the Union's share of access time to supercomputers acquired after 2020. (Source: Access policy and FAQ, Section "Eligibility")

European Research Council (ERC) grants

Researchers of any nationality apply with a host institution established in a Member State or associated country.

• ERC actions may be implemented by one or more legal entities, one of which must be established in a Member State or associated country. (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Article 22(3))
• Host institution in a Member State or associated country; additional team members may be hosted anywhere; in a Synergy Grant one host (not the corresponding host) may be outside. (Source: ERC Work Programme 2027 (Commission Decision C(2026)4907), Section 1.4.2.4 "Eligible Host Institution", pages 20-21)
• Special measures for entities from non-associated third countries in Synergy and Proof of Concept grants. (Source: ERC Work Programme 2027 (Commission Decision C(2026)4907), Annex 3, pages 64-66)

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (Doctoral Networks and Postdoctoral Fellowships)

Doctoral Networks need at least three partners in different Member States or associated countries (one in a Member State); others may join. European Postdoctoral Fellowships are hosted in Europe; Global Fellowships send researchers to non-associated countries.

• Doctoral Networks: minimum three independent entities in different Member States or associated countries, other organisations from any country may join. (Source: MSCA: Doctoral Networks, Section "Who can apply?")
• Postdoctoral Fellowships: host in a Member State or associated country; Global Fellowships spend 1-2 years in a non-associated third country. (Source: MSCA: Postdoctoral Fellowships, Sections on the two types of fellowships)
• Funding of entities in non-associated third countries. (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Article 23(2))

European Innovation Council (Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator, STEP Scale Up)

Pathfinder and Transition fund research teams and start-ups; the Accelerator and STEP Scale Up fund start-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps established in a Member State or associated country.

• Mono-beneficiary applicants must be established in a Member State or associated country; consortia follow the Horizon Europe minimum. (Source: EIC Work Programme 2026 (Commission Decision C(2026) 4080), Annex, section B.3, PDF page 178)
• Accelerator applicants: SMEs and small mid-caps established in a Member State or associated country, or people and entities intending to establish or relocate one there. (Source: EIC Work Programme 2026 (Commission Decision C(2026) 4080), Section V, EIC Accelerator, "Can you apply?", PDF page 73)
• Investment safeguards for quantum, AI, semiconductors and biotechnology; control restrictions in Accelerator grant-only actions where stated. (Source: EIC Work Programme 2026 (Commission Decision C(2026) 4080), Introduction, economic security measures, PDF page 16)

Digital Europe Programme

Open to entities in Member States and associated countries; non-associated countries only where necessary. Security-sensitive actions, including EuroQCI, can be limited to entities established in and controlled from Member States.

• Eligible legal entities; non-associated countries only where necessary, at own cost; limitation to Member States for security or strategic autonomy. (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/694 establishing the Digital Europe Programme, Article 18(1), (2) and (4))
• Security restrictions: Specific Objective 3 can be limited to entities established in and controlled from Member States (Article 12(5)); Specific Objectives 1 and 2 subject to security requirements (Article 12(6)). (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/694 establishing the Digital Europe Programme, Article 12(5) and (6))
• Associated countries and their scope. (Source: EU Grants: List of participating countries in the Digital Europe Programme, version 7.0 of 1 December 2025, Page 1)

Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips for Europe Initiative, pilot lines)

The Chips JU members are the EU, its Participating States and three industry associations; call conditions are set per call.

• Participating States of the Chips JU. (Source: Chips JU: Governance and Members, First paragraph)

European Defence Fund (EDF)

Recipients and subcontractors must be established in the Union or an associated country, with executive management there, and not be controlled from non-associated third countries unless guarantees are approved.

• Eligibility of recipients and subcontractors, control and guarantees. (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/697 establishing the European Defence Fund, Article 9(1) to (4))
• The Fund is open to EEA EFTA States. (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/697 establishing the European Defence Fund, Article 5)
• Norway participates; Iceland and Liechtenstein will not; Ukraine has confirmed interest. (Source: EU Grants: List of participating countries in EDF, ASAP, EDIRPA, EDIP and USI, version 5.0 of 1 April 2026, Page 1)

Connecting Europe Facility Digital: EuroQCI (terrestrial cross-border and space links)

EuroQCI works calls are restricted for security reasons to entities established in and controlled from Member States.

• Work programmes may exclude associated countries and EU entities controlled from third countries for security reasons (Article 11(4)). (Source: Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 11(2), (4) and (5))
• The 2024 EuroQCI works call: only EU Member States are eligible, in any capacity. (Source: Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI: European Quantum Communication Infrastructure, version 2.0 of 14 January 2025, Section 6, "Eligible participants (eligible countries)", pages 12-13)

QuantERA joint transnational calls

Each partner is funded by its own national or regional funder under that funder's rules; at least three eligible partners from three participating countries.

• Consortium structure and partners not requesting funding. (Source: QuantERA Call 2025: Call announcement (13 November 2025), Section "Eligibility", "Consortium structure")
• Countries participating in Call 2025 and national contact points. (Source: QuantERA Call 2025, Call 2025 page)

Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)

A State aid framework: Member States notify and fund the participating undertakings; a project must involve at least four Member States.

• The project must normally involve at least four Member States, and all Member States must be given a genuine opportunity to participate. (Source: Communication from the Commission: Criteria for the analysis of the compatibility with the internal market of State aid to promote the execution of important projects of common European interest (2021/C 528/02), Points 16 and 17)

Sources read on 2026-10-24

1. Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Official Journal of the EU (retrieved 2026-10-24)
2. EU Grants: List of participating countries in Horizon Europe, version 4.2 of 7 October 2026, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
3. Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, part 15: General Annexes, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
4. Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, part 7: Digital, Industry and Space, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
5. ERC Work Programme 2027 (Commission Decision C(2026)4907), European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
6. EIC Work Programme 2026 (Commission Decision C(2026) 4080), European Innovation Council (retrieved 2026-10-24)
7. MSCA: Doctoral Networks, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
8. MSCA: Postdoctoral Fellowships, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
9. Discover EuroHPC JU, EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (retrieved 2026-10-24)
10. Access policy and FAQ, EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (retrieved 2026-10-24)
11. Six new quantum calls launched by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (14 August 2026), EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (retrieved 2026-10-24)
12. Four new EuroHPC JU calls to boost quantum innovation and standardisation in Europe (2 June 2026), EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (retrieved 2026-10-24)
13. Regulation (EU) 2021/694 establishing the Digital Europe Programme, Official Journal of the EU (retrieved 2026-10-24)
14. EU Grants: List of participating countries in the Digital Europe Programme, version 7.0 of 1 December 2025, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
15. Call document DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI: European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI), version 1.0 of 16 June 2025, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
16. Chips JU: Governance and Members, Chips Joint Undertaking (retrieved 2026-10-24)
17. Regulation (EU) 2021/697 establishing the European Defence Fund, Official Journal of the EU (retrieved 2026-10-24)
18. EU Grants: List of participating countries in EDF, ASAP, EDIRPA, EDIP and USI, version 5.0 of 1 April 2026, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
19. Call document EDF-2026-RA: Research actions implemented via actual cost grants, version 1.1 of 8 September 2026, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
20. Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Official Journal of the EU (retrieved 2026-10-24)
21. EU Grants: List of participating countries in the Connecting Europe Facility, version 3.0 of 15 June 2023, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
22. Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI: European Quantum Communication Infrastructure, version 2.0 of 14 January 2025, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
23. EU Grants: Participation in EU calls with ownership and control restrictions, version 2.0 of 1 January 2026, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
24. QuantERA Call 2025, QuantERA (retrieved 2026-10-24)
25. QuantERA Call 2025: Call announcement (13 November 2025), QuantERA (retrieved 2026-10-24)
26. Communication from the Commission: Criteria for the analysis of the compatibility with the internal market of State aid to promote the execution of important projects of common European interest (2021/C 528/02), Official Journal of the EU (retrieved 2026-10-24)
27. Bilateral cooperation: science and technology agreements with non-EU countries, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
28. Fourth Meeting of the EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council Held (7 May 2026), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan) (retrieved 2026-10-24)
29. Joint Statement of the second meeting of the European Union - Republic of Korea Digital Partnership Council (Council document 8318/24, 26 March 2024), Council of the European Union (retrieved 2026-10-24)
30. Joint Statement of the Second Meeting of the European Union - Singapore Digital Partnership Council (1 December 2025), Ministry of Digital Development and Information (Singapore) (retrieved 2026-10-24)
31. Canada and EU boost their strategic digital partnership to address new challenges (1 February 2024), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (retrieved 2026-10-24)
32. EU-US Trade and Technology Council (archived page), European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
33. Joint Statement: Second Meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, New Delhi (28 February 2025), Press Information Bureau, Government of India (retrieved 2026-10-24)
34. Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on the association of the Republic of India to Pillar II of Horizon Europe (Council document 9373/26, 12 June 2026), Council of the European Union (retrieved 2026-10-24)
35. Candidate countries and potential candidates, European Commission (retrieved 2026-10-24)
36. EU countries, European Union (retrieved 2026-10-24)
37. HORIZON-CL4-2027-SPACE-03-71: Quantum Space Gravimetry topic, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
38. HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-03: Secure PQC implementations, Cryptanalysis and Post-quantum Digital Trust, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
39. HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-04: New primitives and protocols for functionalities of future hybrid classical-hybrid and quantum networks, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
40. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-TIPT-09-01: Trapped-Ion Platform Technologies, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
41. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-SPT-10-01: Superconducting Platform Technologies, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
42. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NAPT-11-01: Neutral-Atom Platform Technologies, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
43. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NQKD-12-01: Next-Generation QKD Systems, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
44. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-QTI-13-01: Quantum-Testing Infrastructure for Quantum Technologies, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
45. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-QEXP-14-01: Quantum Experimental Pilot Lines for Quantum Technologies, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
46. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-QML-07-01: Quantum Machine Learning, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
47. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-NGC-04-01: Grand Challenge on Quantum Sensors for Inertial Navigation, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
48. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-PQC-06-01: Large-Scale Photonic Quantum Computing Platform Technologies, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
49. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-STAND-05-01: Standards for Quantum Technologies, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
50. HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-QGC-02-01: Quantum Grand Challenge, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
51. DIGITAL-IRIS2-2025-QCI-01: Maturing of a European industrial ecosystem for security-certified terrestrial QKD technologies and systems, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
52. EDF-2026-RA-CYBER-QSTN: Quantum secured tactical networks, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)
53. CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI-WORKS: European Quantum Communication Infrastructure - The EuroQCI initiative - Works, EU Funding & Tenders Portal (retrieved 2026-10-24)