Instrument navigator for policy makers

Decision support, not legal advice. This navigator orders options from your answers with a fixed, published rule set; it does not decide. The legal basis, the work programme, the call conditions and the Financial Regulation prevail. Check with the responsible Directorate-General, the implementing body and your legal service before choosing an instrument.

Something to do and not sure which EU instrument fits? Answer a few questions (each has "Not sure") and the navigator ranks the instruments that could do it: Horizon Europe actions and partnerships, Digital Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility, the EuroHPC and Chips Joint Undertakings, procurement procedures, pre-commercial procurement and public procurement of innovation, EIC and EIB Group finance, State aid and IPCEI, Member State-managed funds and networks. Each result says why it fits, why not, who runs it and what to read next.

Download the knowledge base (CSV) · Download the knowledge base (JSON) · Funding instruments · Who can participate? · Programme pipeline · EU legislation tracker

Questionnaire

Answer what you know; "Not sure" never counts against an instrument. Questions that do not matter for your goal are set aside.

1. What do you want to do?

The main purpose of the action. Pick the closest; the other questions refine it.

Research: new knowledge, early-stage science Innovation: develop, test or demonstrate a technology Deploy infrastructure (computers, networks, testbeds, facilities) Buy a product or service for public use Skills and talent: train or attract people Scale up companies: finance and growth Coordinate, network, align programmes or standards Build industrial or manufacturing capacity Not sure

2. How should the EU act?

Funding others (grants), buying for itself or for public authorities (procurement), investing or lending, or pooling Member States and national programmes.

Fund others' projects (grants) Buy as a public customer (procurement) Invest, lend or guarantee Pool or align Member States and national programmes Not sure

3. How mature is the technology?

Technology readiness levels (TRL) as in the Horizon Europe General Annexes: 1-3 basic principles to proof of concept, 4-6 validation and demonstration in a relevant environment, 7-8 prototype in an operational environment to a qualified system, 9 proven in operation.

TRL 1-3: ideas, principles, proof of concept TRL 4-6: lab or relevant-environment validation TRL 7-8: prototypes and pilots in real conditions TRL 9: proven products or services Not sure

4. Who should do the work or receive the support?

The organisations that carry out the action or are supported.

Universities, research organisations or individual researchers Companies, including large industry Start-ups and SMEs Mixed consortia of industry and academia Public authorities as buyers or operators Member States or national funders Not sure

5. How many countries take part?

Where the action takes place and who must join.

6. Will national or regional money co-fund it?

Some instruments need Member State or national co-funding; others are funded by the EU budget alone.

Yes, national or regional co-funding is part of the plan No, EU money alone (with the participants' own share) Not sure

7. What is the order of magnitude of the money involved?

Total public money for the action, EU and national together.

8. When must it start?

Instruments that need a new work programme, a Member State agreement or a Commission decision take longer than a call already planned.

Within a year In one to two years More than two years: a multi-annual plan Not sure

9. Must the results belong to the public buyer?

In grants the beneficiaries own the results; in procurement the buyer usually owns or uses them; in pre-commercial procurement the suppliers keep the intellectual property and the buyer gets use rights.

Yes, the public side must own the result or the asset Use or licence rights for the public side are enough No, the performers may own the results Not sure

10. Is the subject security-sensitive?

Security-sensitive: participation may be limited to EU-controlled entities (as Horizon Europe Article 22(5) and Digital Europe Article 12 allow). Defence: military use or classified information.

No, open civil subject Yes, security-sensitive but civil Defence or classified Not sure

Start again

Security or defence goals: the defence instruments are shown in the restricted view for Commission and Member State users.

Compare instruments

Tick two to four instruments; the first four ticked are compared.

Horizon Europe: collaborative actions

Horizon Europe RIA Horizon Europe IA Horizon Europe CSA Horizon Europe prize

European Innovation Council

EIC Pathfinder EIC Transition EIC Accelerator EIC Fund (equity)

European partnerships and Missions

Programme co-fund (co-funded partnership) Co-programmed partnership Institutionalised partnership (JU) Horizon Europe Mission

Digital Europe Programme

Digital Europe grant Digital Europe SME support action Digital Europe procurement EDIC (Digital Infrastructure Consortium) EuroQCI national projects (DEP)

Connecting Europe Facility (Digital)

CEF Digital (EuroQCI links)

Joint Undertakings (EuroHPC, Chips)

EuroHPC JU quantum computer procurement EuroHPC JU quantum grants Chips JU pilot lines Chips competence centres

Procurement procedures (Financial Regulation)

Innovation procurement (PCP and PPI)

Horizon Europe PCP/PPI action Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) Public procurement of innovative solutions (PPI)

Finance: equity, loans and guarantees

InvestEU EIB venture debt EIF equity (funds of funds)

State aid and IPCEI

IPCEI GBER (block-exempted aid) State aid R&D&I framework

Funds managed by the Member States

Cohesion policy funds (ERDF) Recovery and Resilience Facility

Networks and national partnerships

QuantERA COST Action EUREKA and Eurostars

Decision tree

What you want to do, then how the EU acts, then the instruments the rules rank first from those two answers alone. The full questionnaire refines the order. Each branch opens the questionnaire with those two answers.

Research: new knowledge, early-stage science
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - Horizon Europe RIA (100%)
  - ERC grant (100%)
  - EIC Pathfinder (100%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (79%)
  - Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) (79%)
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - No instrument fits this combination.
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - QuantERA (100%)
  - Programme co-fund (co-funded partnership) (79%)
  - Co-programmed partnership (79%)
Innovation: develop, test or demonstrate a technology
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - Horizon Europe IA (100%)
  - Horizon Europe prize (100%)
  - EIC Transition (100%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) (100%)
  - Horizon Europe PCP/PPI action (79%)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (79%)
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - EIC Accelerator (100%)
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - EUREKA and Eurostars (100%)
  - Co-programmed partnership (79%)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (79%)
Deploy infrastructure (computers, networks, testbeds, facilities)
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - Digital Europe grant (100%)
  - EuroQCI national projects (DEP) (100%)
  - CEF Digital (EuroQCI links) (100%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - EuroHPC JU quantum computer procurement (100%)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (79%)
  - Digital Europe procurement (79%)
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - InvestEU (79%)
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - EDIC (Digital Infrastructure Consortium) (100%)
  - EuroQCI national projects (DEP) (100%)
  - CEF Digital (EuroQCI links) (100%)
Buy a product or service for public use
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - Horizon Europe PCP/PPI action (79%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - EuroHPC JU quantum computer procurement (100%)
  - Open procedure (100%)
  - Restricted procedure (100%)
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - No instrument fits this combination.
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - EuroHPC JU quantum computer procurement (100%)
Skills and talent: train or attract people
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (100%)
  - ERA Chairs (100%)
  - ERC grant (79%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - No instrument fits this combination.
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - No instrument fits this combination.
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - Teaming for Excellence (79%)
  - Chips competence centres (79%)
Scale up companies: finance and growth
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - EIC Accelerator (100%)
  - Digital Europe SME support action (79%)
  - EUREKA and Eurostars (79%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - No instrument fits this combination.
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - EIC Accelerator (100%)
  - EIC Fund (equity) (100%)
  - InvestEU (100%)
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - EUREKA and Eurostars (79%)
  - Chips competence centres (58%)
Coordinate, network, align programmes or standards
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - Horizon Europe CSA (100%)
  - Programme co-fund (co-funded partnership) (100%)
  - Co-programmed partnership (100%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (100%)
  - Digital Europe procurement (58%)
  - Framework contract (58%)
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - No instrument fits this combination.
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - Programme co-fund (co-funded partnership) (100%)
  - Co-programmed partnership (100%)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (100%)
Build industrial or manufacturing capacity
- Fund others' projects (grants)
  - Chips JU pilot lines (100%)
  - Horizon Europe IA (79%)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (79%)
- Buy as a public customer (procurement)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (79%)
- Invest, lend or guarantee
  - InvestEU (79%)
  - EIB venture debt (79%)
  - EIC Accelerator (58%)
- Pool or align Member States and national programmes
  - Chips JU pilot lines (100%)
  - IPCEI (100%)
  - Institutionalised partnership (JU) (79%)

Worked examples

Install a quantum computer for European users
A Member State and its national supercomputing centre want a quantum computer coupled to a supercomputer, open to European users, owned by the public side.
The rules rank first: EuroHPC JU quantum computer procurement; Competitive dialogue
Open this example in the questionnaire
QKD testbeds and links across Member States
Several Member States want national quantum communication infrastructures connected across borders as part of EuroQCI.
The rules rank first: EuroQCI national projects (DEP); CEF Digital (EuroQCI links)
Open this example in the questionnaire
A public need no product meets yet
Public authorities need a quantum-safe sensing or timing service that does not exist yet; they want suppliers to develop and test competing solutions.
The rules rank first: Pre-commercial procurement (PCP); Innovation partnership
Open this example in the questionnaire
Scale up a quantum start-up
A European quantum hardware start-up with a working prototype needs money to grow and reach the market.
The rules rank first: EIC Accelerator; EIC Fund (equity)
Open this example in the questionnaire
A pilot line for quantum chips
Research and technology organisations from several Member States want a shared pilot line to fabricate and test quantum chips, with national co-funding.
The rules rank first: Chips JU pilot lines; IPCEI
Open this example in the questionnaire
Attract and train quantum researchers
A ministry wants more top quantum researchers and doctoral candidates in its universities.
The rules rank first: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions; ERA Chairs
Open this example in the questionnaire
Align national quantum research programmes
National funders of several countries want joint calls for quantum research, each funding its own teams.
The rules rank first: Programme co-fund (co-funded partnership); QuantERA
Open this example in the questionnaire
Collaborative research on quantum sensing
Universities and companies from several countries want to advance quantum sensors from proof of concept to lab validation.
The rules rank first: Horizon Europe RIA; EuroHPC JU quantum grants
Open this example in the questionnaire
Support standardisation and a community roadmap
The Commission wants European stakeholders to coordinate their input to quantum standards and update a strategic roadmap.
The rules rank first: Horizon Europe CSA; COST Action
Open this example in the questionnaire
A first industrial deployment across Member States
Several Member States want to support companies in a large first industrial deployment of quantum technologies, beyond what the market would fund.
The rules rank first: IPCEI; Chips JU pilot lines
Open this example in the questionnaire
Buy an existing service
A Commission service needs a study or an off-the-shelf service on post-quantum migration, available on the market today.
The rules rank first: Open procedure; Restricted procedure
Open this example in the questionnaire
Network researchers across Europe and beyond
Researchers want a pan-European network with partners outside the EU for meetings, training schools and short visits.
The rules rank first: COST Action; Horizon Europe CSA
Open this example in the questionnaire
A regional quantum programme
A region wants to fund quantum testbeds and company projects from its regional development programme.
The rules rank first: Cohesion policy funds (ERDF); Teaming for Excellence
Open this example in the questionnaire

All instruments

Connecting Europe Facility Digital - EuroQCI cross-border and space-segment works (Partly verified)

Kind

Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work)

What it is for

CEF Digital contributes to projects of common interest for safe and secure very high capacity networks and more resilient digital backbone networks. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 3(2)(c))
The EuroQCI works topic co-funds terrestrial backbone components for cross-border links between national quantum networks and/or links to the EuroQCI space segment via optical ground stations, complementary to DEP. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 2, Objectives (pp. 6-7))

Designed by

The Commission adopts CEF work programmes by implementing acts under the examination procedure; the call follows the CEF Digital 2024-2027 work programme (C(2024) 6891 of 9 October 2024). (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 0 and footnote 2 (p. 4))
CEF work programmes are adopted by implementing acts after the committee procedure. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Articles 20(3), 24(2))

Implemented by

The call is managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), unit B1 CEF Digital. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Cover page (p. 3); Section 0 (p. 4))
The Commission may delegate CEF implementation to executive agencies. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 6(3))

Who can apply or take part

Proposals are submitted by one or more Member States or, with the agreement of the Member States concerned, by international organisations, joint undertakings, or public or private undertakings or bodies. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 11(6))
Only consortia may apply: at least two beneficiaries, and for terrestrial connections from at least two different eligible countries. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 6, Consortium composition (p. 14))
Proposals must include letters of support (Member State agreement) from the relevant Member State authorities. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 5 (p. 12))

Funding rate or co-funding

CEF digital works are co-financed at up to 30%, up to 50% for actions with a strong cross-border dimension, up to 75% for Gigabit connectivity of socioeconomic drivers; studies up to 50%; works in outermost regions 70%. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 15(1), (4), (6))
For the EuroQCI call: maximum 50% for studies, 70% for works in outermost regions, 30% for other costs, and 50% for a strong cross-border dimension including the space segment. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 10, Form of grant (p. 19))

Typical size

The EuroQCI call budget was EUR 90 000 000, with an expected grant of around EUR 5 000 000 per project (may be exceeded if justified). (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 3 (p. 11); Section 6, Project budget (p. 14))
HaDEA reports 19 EuroQCI works projects covering 25 Member States, with EUR 193 million total investment and EUR 96 million in EU grants. (CEF Digital: Quantum communication infrastructure (EuroQCI), Key figures)

Maturity (TRL)

Not stated in the sources read.

Who owns the results

Proposals should define the post-project ownership of the infrastructure and how services will be provided. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 2, Scope (p. 7))
Security declarations must confirm that results of the CEF-funded action remain within the beneficiary during the action. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 2, Digital security requirements (p. 9))
The granting authority does not obtain ownership of results under the CEF grant agreement. (CEF Model Grant Agreement (Multi & Mono, V1.0 01.11.2024), Article 16.2 (p. 40))

Time to grant or contract

Call opened 22 October 2024, deadline 27 March 2025, results summer 2025, grant signature autumn 2025 (indicative). (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 4 (p. 11))
BENELUX-QCI's grant was signed on 19 December 2025 with a start on 1 January 2026. (24-EU-DIG-BENELUX-QCI - BENELUX-QCI, Project record)
After each call the Commission adopts an implementing act setting the support for selected projects. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 21(1))

Legal basis

Regulation (EU) 2021/1153; the call supports interconnection of national QCI networks under Article 9(4)(d) (backbone networks). (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 1 (p. 6))
Article 9(4)(d) covers new or significantly upgraded backbone networks within and between Member States and between the Union and third countries. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 9(4)(d))

Work programme, committee or other step needed

Member State agreement is required for proposals not submitted by Member States; a Member State may waive this for a work programme or category of applications. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 11(6))
Work programmes and the post-call award decisions are implementing acts under the examination procedure. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Articles 20(3), 21(1), 24(2))

Conditions and limits

Work programmes may exclude entities from associated countries or controlled from third countries from digital actions for security reasons. (Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility, Article 11(4))
Only entities established in and controlled from Member States may take part; security declarations and 5G-toolbox-style risk measures are required. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 2, Digital security requirements (pp. 8-9); Section 6 (p. 13))
RRF funding may not be used as co-funding; national co-funding is subject to State aid rules. (Call document CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (V2.0, 14.01.2025), Section 2, Scope (p. 7))
The topic covers links between EU countries (including outermost regions and OCTs) and space-segment interconnection; HaDEA lists Digital Global Gateways (EUR 615 million) as a separate CEF Digital topic, and no page read links EuroQCI to Global Gateway. (Connecting Europe Facility - about (CEF Digital), Over one billion awarded so far)

Quantum examples

BENELUX-QCI (CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI-WORKS): EU contribution EUR 4 771 889.50, implemented by HaDEA, 2026-2029. (24-EU-DIG-BENELUX-QCI - BENELUX-QCI, Project record)
Iberian QCI (CEF-DIG-2024-EUROQCI-WORKS): EU contribution EUR 5 315 163. (24-EU-DIG-IberianQCI - Iberian Quantum Communication Infrastructure, Project record)
QKD Network Germany-Poland-Czechia (Quant-GPlCz): EU contribution EUR 8 141 190. (24-EU-DIG-Quant-GPlCz - QKD Network Germany-Poland-Czechia, Project record)
SEEWQCI, South-East to Western Europe QCI: EU contribution EUR 8 926 988. (24-EU-DIG-SEEWQCI - South-East Europe to Western Europe QCI, Project record)
TransEuroOGS, network of optical ground stations: EU contribution EUR 8 975 480.20. (TransEuroOGS - Trans-European Network of Optical Ground Stations, Project record)
PIONIER-Q-SAT, interconnection of the Polish network with the EuroQCI space segment: EU contribution EUR 4 955 490. (24-EU-DIG-PIONIER-Q-SAT - Pionier-Q interconnection with the EuroQCI space segment, Project record)
The call received 24 proposals with coordinators from 15 countries and 189 partners. (Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) call completed with 24 proposals (31.03.2025), News item, 31 March 2025)

Who to contact

HaDEA, unit B1 CEF Digital (HADEA-CEF-DIGITAL-CALLS mailbox)

Next steps

CEF Digital funds the terrestrial and cross-border links of EuroQCI; check the current CEF Digital call and its conditions.
Member States concerned must agree to the cross-border project.

Verification

Partly verified. CEF Regulation (via the Publications Office), the call document, the CEF MGA, HaDEA pages and F&T project records were read. The CEF Digital 2024-2027 work programme and Commission EuroQCI pages on digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu were not opened (403), and no official page linking EuroQCI to Global Gateway was found.

Back to all instruments

Open an instrument for all its facts, sources, contact and next steps. The CSV and JSON downloads hold the whole knowledge base.

Horizon Europe: collaborative actions

Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Verified)
Horizon Europe Innovation Action (IA) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Verified)
Horizon Europe inducement and recognition prizes Prize (Partly verified)

Horizon Europe: researchers, excellence and widening

European Research Council (ERC) grants: Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, Synergy, ERC Plus and Proof of Concept Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (Doctoral Networks, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Staff Exchanges, COFUND) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Verified)
ERA Chairs (Widening participation and spreading excellence) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Teaming for Excellence (and the 2026 Teaming Synergies action) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Twinning Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)

European Innovation Council

EIC Pathfinder (Open and Challenges) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Verified)
EIC Transition Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Verified)
EIC Accelerator (grant, blended finance, equity-only) Equity or blended finance (Verified)
EIC Fund (equity component, EIC STEP Scale Up, Scaleup Europe Fund compartment) Equity or blended finance (Partly verified)

European partnerships and Missions

Horizon Europe Programme Co-fund Action (and co-funded European partnerships) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Co-programmed European Partnerships Partnership or body that runs other instruments (Partly verified)
Institutionalised European Partnerships (Article 185/187 TFEU, e.g. Joint Undertakings such as EuroHPC JU and Chips JU) Partnership or body that runs other instruments (Partly verified)
Horizon Europe Missions Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Verified)

Digital Europe Programme

Digital Europe Programme simple grants and lump-sum grants Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Digital Europe Programme SME Support Actions Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Digital Europe Programme procurement Procurement (a public buyer contracts and pays for a result) (Partly verified)
European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) Partnership or body that runs other instruments (Partly verified)
DEP EuroQCI calls (national QCI deployment, industrial QKD, coordination) and the 2025 IRIS2-funded EuroQCI call Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)

Innovation procurement (PCP and PPI)

Horizon Europe Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) and Public procurement of innovative solutions (PPI) actions Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)
Pre-commercial procurement (PCP) Procurement (a public buyer contracts and pays for a result) (Partly verified)
Public procurement of innovative solutions (PPI) Procurement (a public buyer contracts and pays for a result) (Partly verified)

Finance: equity, loans and guarantees

InvestEU (Regulation (EU) 2021/523) Loan, venture debt or guarantee (Partly verified)
EIB financing (venture debt, European Growth Finance Facility, EIB quantum investments) Loan, venture debt or guarantee (Not verified)
EIF equity (European Tech Champions Initiative, ESCALAR, InvestEU equity products) Equity or blended finance (Not verified)

State aid and IPCEI

Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) - Communication 2021/C 528/02 State aid rules (national money under EU rules) (Verified)
General Block Exemption Regulation (Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014) - R&D aid State aid rules (national money under EU rules) (Partly verified)
Framework for State aid for research and development and innovation (2022/C 414/01) State aid rules (national money under EU rules) (Partly verified)

Funds managed by the Member States

Cohesion policy funds (ERDF Regulation (EU) 2021/1058; CPR (EU) 2021/1060; STEP Regulation (EU) 2024/795) Shared management (Member State programmes) (Partly verified)
Recovery and Resilience Facility (Regulation (EU) 2021/241) Shared management (Member State programmes) (Partly verified)

Networks and national partnerships

QuantERA (network of national research funders in quantum technologies; joint transnational calls) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Verified)
COST Actions (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Networking support (Verified)
EUREKA network projects and Eurostars-3 (European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, Horizon Europe co-funded partnership) Grant (the beneficiaries carry out and own the work) (Partly verified)

How the navigator decides

Each answer you give (not "Not sure", and not a question set aside for your goal) is compared with the fit profile of every instrument. An instrument earns the question's weight when your answer is one of the options its profile lists; for the goal it earns the weight times the level its profile gives that goal (3 a primary purpose, 2 a common use, 1 possible but not its main use, 0 not for this). The score is the share of the weights it earned among those it could earn, in per cent; a question its profile leaves empty does not matter for it and counts neither way. A mismatch on a blocking question (the goal at level 0, how the EU acts, who must own the results, sensitivity) rules the instrument out and the reason is shown. Ties go to the higher goal level, then to the order of the knowledge base. Results at 75% or more are a strong fit, at 55% or more a good fit, from 40% a possible fit; at most eight are shown. The decision tree uses the same rules with the goal and the role answers alone. Nothing is learned from use and no AI is involved.

Weights of the questions
Question	Weight	A mismatch rules the instrument out
Goal	30	Yes
How the EU acts	18	Yes
Maturity	12	No
Who acts	10	No
Countries	8	No
National co-funding	6	No
Budget	6	No
Timeframe	5	No
Ownership of results	10	Yes
Sensitivity	8	Yes

48 instruments, 165 official sources; compiled 2026-10-25, assembled 2026-11-02; reviewed every 180 days, since work programmes change.

Knowledge base of EU instruments for the instrument navigator, compiled from official sources (EUR-Lex read through the Publications Office where EUR-Lex refused automated reading, the Funding & Tenders Portal, work programmes, Commission, agency and Joint Undertaking pages, CORDIS) on the dates shown with each source. Each fact is written in the portal's own words with its source and locator; figures appear only where the source states them. A record marked partly verified has at least one fact read on a summary page or a key page that could not be read. The fit profiles and weights are the portal's editorial rule set, documented in docs/modules/instrument-navigator.md, not official guidance.

Official pages that could not be read when compiled

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R0695: HTTP 202 with empty body (EUR-Lex bot challenge); read via Publications Office (2026-10-25)
https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/starting-grant: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://erc.europa.eu/apply-grant/proof-concept: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf: HTTP 404 (wrong filename; correct file read instead) (2026-10-25)
https://eic.ec.europa.eu/investment-opportunities/eic-fund_en: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/activities/work-programmes-digital: HTTP 403 (curl, WebFetch and browser pane) (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/work-programme-2025-2027-digital-europe-programme-digital: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/amendment-digital-europe-programme-and-work-programme-2025-2027: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R0694: HTTP 202 with empty body; read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/edic: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32022D2481: HTTP 202 with empty body; read via Publications Office (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/european-quantum-communication-infrastructure-euroqci: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R1153: HTTP 202 with empty body; read via Publications Office (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021R1173: HTTP 202 with empty body (bot challenge); read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/eu-invests-eu65-million-quantum-chips: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/factpages/european-chips-act-chips-europe-initiative: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/news/chips-competence-centres-strengthen-semiconductor-expertise-across-europe-about-kick: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://www.chips-ju.europa.eu/CompCentres/: Page Not Found (2026-10-25)
https://aar2024.chips-ju.europa.eu/annual-report/competence-centres: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)
https://www.cost.eu/funding/how-to-get-funding/: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)
https://eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/eurostars/: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/network-projects/: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R2509: AWS WAF challenge / empty content; read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014L0024: AWS WAF challenge; read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/pre-commercial-procurement: HTTP 403 (WebFetch, curl and browser) (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52021XC0706(02): EUR-Lex empty / WAF; the guidance was read from the Commission docsroom PDF (2026-10-25)
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/public-procurement-innovative-solutions: HTTP 403 (WebFetch, curl and browser) (2026-10-25)
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R0697: Empty response (HTTP 202, 0 bytes); acts read via Publications Office instead (2026-10-25)
https://www.eib.org/en/products/equity/venture-debt/index: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare block) via curl, WebFetch and browser (2026-10-25)
https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2022-207-finland-iqm-s-quantum-fabrication-facility-gets-a-eur35-million-boost-from-the-eib: HTTP 403 (Cloudflare block) (2026-10-25)
https://www.eif.org/etci/index.htm: HTTP 403 (2026-10-25)
https://www.eif.org/what_we_do/equity/escalar/index.htm: HTTP 403 (curl and WebFetch) (2026-10-25)
https://kohesio.ec.europa.eu/en/projects?keywords=quantum%20computer: HTTP 403 (curl and browser) (2026-10-25)
https://commission.europa.eu/business-economy-euro/economic-recovery/recovery-and-resilience-facility_en: Redirects to a language-selection page; content read at reforms-investments.ec.europa.eu instead (2026-10-25)
https://eda.europa.eu/what-we-do/eu-defence-initiatives/projects: HTTP 404 (2026-10-25)

Instrument navigator for policy makers

Questionnaire

Compare instruments

Decision tree

Worked examples

Install a quantum computer for European users

QKD testbeds and links across Member States

A public need no product meets yet

Scale up a quantum start-up

A pilot line for quantum chips

Attract and train quantum researchers

Align national quantum research programmes

Collaborative research on quantum sensing

Support standardisation and a community roadmap

A first industrial deployment across Member States

Buy an existing service

Network researchers across Europe and beyond

A regional quantum programme

All instruments

Connecting Europe Facility Digital - EuroQCI cross-border and space-segment works (Partly verified)

Horizon Europe: collaborative actions

Horizon Europe: researchers, excellence and widening

European Innovation Council

European partnerships and Missions

Digital Europe Programme

Connecting Europe Facility (Digital)

Joint Undertakings (EuroHPC, Chips)

Procurement procedures (Financial Regulation)

Innovation procurement (PCP and PPI)

Finance: equity, loans and guarantees

State aid and IPCEI

Funds managed by the Member States

Networks and national partnerships

How the navigator decides