UK-Netherlands cooperation in quantum science and technologies

As a concrete next step in building the strategic relationship, this bilateral call aims to support collaboration in the development, prototyping and testing of second-generation quantum technologies; with ambitions to continue this collaboration in the future.

Based on mutual consent, the funding organisations in the Netherlands (RVO) and the United Kingdom (Innovate UK) are launching a common call for projects. Participants are invited to submit joint project proposals in the research and development of innovative products and applications with a strong market potential.

Scope

This call invites consortia to apply high quality R&D projects on quantum technologies within the scope of the call. The aim of this competition is to strengthen collaborative research and development (CR&D) through Netherlands based and UK partnerships towards commercialising quantum technologies. The co-innovation project must focus on development, prototyping and testing of commercial quantum technologies in one or more of the following themes:

• Software services or hardware solutions to advance commercial deployment of entanglement based quantum networking.

• Quantum computing algorithms, software applications, and services development.

• Adoption of quantum sensing for commercial applications in areas such as biosensing, public infrastructure and PNT.

Timeline

1. Opening of the call: 15 September 2025

2. Online briefing event: 22 September 2025

3. Deadline for application: 28 October 2025

4. Funding decision communicated: Mid December 2025

5. Project start: Between 1 January – 1 February 2026

4. Qualification Criteria Partners must meet the following qualifications:

• The consortium must be (co)led by two legal entities that are independent from each other, one (for profit) company from The United Kingdom and one (for profit) company from the Netherlands.

• The consortium must collaborate with at least one testbed provider in the United Kingdom and/or the Netherlands, having access to a relevant Quantum technology. Testbeds are prototype or development platform(s) to characterise, advance and demonstrate commercial quantum compute, networking, sensing solutions. The participating testbeds may be hosted at either a National lab, Research organisation or University research facility. In the case the testbed provider is not a project partner in the consortium, a signed letter of cooperation is needed as an annex to the relevant national application.

• The project must be directed at researching or developing an innovative product, process or service with the goal of commercialisation.

• The product, process or service must be innovative, and there must be a technological risk involved for all involved partners.

• The project must benefit all involved partners.

• No individual organisation, or participating country, can claim more than 70% of the total eligible project costs of the joint project.

• The project must have an obvious benefit and added value resulting from the technological cooperation between the participants (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure etc.).

• The product, process or service must be innovative and with the potential to create impact.

• A signed consortium agreement is required between project partners.

• The maximum duration of a project may not exceed 24 months.

• The project must have a civilian purpose.

• Project partners must submit national applications to their respective funding organisations to be eligible for assessment and potential funding.

• Project partners must use the same project title when submitting the national applications to their respective funding organisations.