EU-Japan cooperation on the exploitation of Quantum Space Gravimetry data
HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-81
- Programme
- SPACE-HADEA
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- May 22, 2025
- Deadline
- September 25, 2025
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €10,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €10,000,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €10,000,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 1
- Keywords
- HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-81HORIZON-CL4-2025-02
Description
Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- Support the EU space policy and the EU green deal by preparing the grounds for an innovative Quantum Space Gravimetry (QSG) mission.
- Foster EU-Japan cooperation in the field of quantum sensing from space.
- Allow scientists from EU and Japan to prepare for the exploitation of QSG mission data.
The development of quantum sensing technology brings several promises and expectations, in terms of sensor performances and stability. However, in order to best exploit quantum sensors, it is critical to prepare the scientific community to use the data generated by such sensors, develop new or tailor existing processing algorithms, and initiate and develop new applications based on this enhanced data.
The objective of this call is to prepare the grounds for the exploitation of Quantum Space Gravimetry mission data and foster the cooperation between the EU and Japan scientific communities on the topic. Effective QSG data exploitation requires research and dissemination activities to demonstrate the benefits of space-borne gravity field data and involve the relevant user institutions at early stage. To achieve this objective, one proposal will be selected. The proposal will identify Earth science fields relying on space gravity data exploitation and of mutual EU-Japan interest and will propose innovative algorithmic solutions highlighting the benefits of quantum space gravimetry. The proposal will discuss the expected QSG mission performance.
Horizon Europe will fund EU scientists only. Japan scientists will fund their own activities, expected to be at the same level as the EU contribution.
In this topic, the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.
Destination & Scope
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: In order to achieve the expected outcome of the action, the consortium must include at least one legal entity established in Japan.
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.
Please note that where in the scope section it is written "Horizon Europe will fund EU scientists only", this condition should be understood as "Horizon Europe will fund scientists from EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries only".
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).
Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Latest Updates
The call HORIZON-CL4-2025-02 closed on the 25/09/2025.
93 proposals have been submitted.
The breakdown per topic is:
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-11: 7 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-12: 9 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-13: 3 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-21: 5 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-22: 3 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-23: 3 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-24: 11 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-31: 20 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-32: 7 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-41: 2 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-42: 2 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-43: 2 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-44: 1 proposal
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-45: 4 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-46: 5 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-71: 1 proposal
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-72: 3 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-73: 2 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-74: 2 proposals
·HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-81: 1 proposal
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated at the latest on 25 February 2026.
Please note that due to a technical issue, during the first days of publication of this call, the topic page did not display the description of the corresponding destination. This problem is now solved. In addition to the information published in the topic page, you can always find a full description of the destination 5 “Open strategic autonomy in developing, deploying and using global space-based infrastructures, services, applications and data” that is relevant for the call in the Work Programme 2025 part for “Digital, Industry and Space”. Please select from the work programme the destination relevant to your topic and take into account the description and expected impacts of that destination for the preparation of your proposal.