Quantum Machine Learning

Worum geht es in dieser Ausschreibung?

The topic funds research on quantum machine learning, from new hybrid and quantum-native algorithms to benchmarks and demonstrators for industrial uses. Software is to be released under the EU Public Licence or a compatible open-source licence.

Was fördert diese Ausschreibung?

Scope

The topic funds research and innovation across several directions in Quantum Machine Learning (QML), aiming for both scientific excellence and industrial relevance. Work may include the design and analysis of quantum, quantum-inspired or hybrid QML algorithms, performance modelling, complexity analysis and benchmarking, and error-mitigation and noise-aware methods. Proposals should advance scalable algorithms for large, computationally intensive problems and move towards quantum-native models that show genuine advantage over classical approaches.

Research directions

Developments should address several of the following:

• quantum supervised learning integrated into classical AI pipelines;
• hybrid quantum convolutional neural networks;
• learning with quantum models, such as parametrised circuits and quantum kernels, including generative models;
• quantum reinforcement learning;
• quantum unsupervised learning, such as quantum spectral clustering;
• quantum AI for algorithmic discovery.

Expected outcomes

• Quantum computing integrated into data pipelines and learning workflows, with measurable gains over classical baselines on today's noisy (NISQ-era) devices.
• Reliable, scalable and noise-aware QML models integrated with existing AI frameworks.
• Demonstrators for real-world uses such as climate modelling, Earth observation, health, materials, finance, robotics, manufacturing and cybersecurity.
• Stronger European leadership in quantum computing and trustworthy AI, and a more connected European QML community.

Requirements

All software developed is to be released under the European Union Public Licence (EUPL) or a compatible OSI-approved licence, and projects are expected to use the code.europa.eu repository. Proposals must include a clear IP plan and licensing strategy. Selected consortia are expected to feed into standardisation work and align with the Quantum Flagship's Strategic Research and Industry Agenda. Activities are expected to start at TRL 3 to 4 and reach TRL 5 to 6.

Was wird von den Vorschlägen erwartet?

• Collaboration between academia, research infrastructures, industry, SMEs and other actors in the European quantum ecosystem is strongly encouraged.

Wann endet die Einreichungsfrist?

28. Januar 2027 (84 Tage)

28 January 2027.