PHOTONQBOOST 2nd Open Call for Solutions, Missions, Trainings and Services

Européen

PHOTONQBOOST 2nd Open Call for Solutions, Missions, Trainings and Services

Entité de financement : Commission Européenne - Horizon Europe

Clôture de l’appel : 19 janvier 2026

Hubs & Enjeux :

Advanced Engineering & Computing Industrie & Services One Health Optics & Photonics Territoires

PhotonQBoost is committed to empowering European SMEs to achieve sustainability, resilience, and global competitiveness by harnessing the transformative potential of Photonics and Quantum solutions. Recognizing, firstly, the challenges SMEs face in accessing and integrating these advanced technologies due to limited awareness and resource constraints, and, secondly, the potential that technology deployment represents to boost the sustainability and competitiveness of European industry, PhotonQBoost aims to serve as a gateway for European SMEs to match their sustainability and resilience challenges with the solutions offered by Photonics and Quantum technologies. This will be done through a comprehensive pipeline of services, comprising advisory-driven innovation support, technology support and sustainability transition activities, complemented by piloting-driven projects funded under three FSTP open calls. More than €3,6 million will be spent on direct support services to the 600 SMEs that will be onboarded into PhotonQBoost service pipeline. These SMEs will achieve improved KPIs in terms of resource consumption, enhanced productivity and derisked supply chain disruptions. The initiative is also dedicated to fostering cross-fertilization across countries and ecosystems, through matchmaking activities and delegation visits, thereby facilitating market access for SMEs and bridging gaps in knowledge, networks and infrastructure. PhotonQBoost is a strong alliance of seven experienced European Photonics and Quantum clusters, four specialised consultancies and two Research and Technology Organisations, spread across nine EU Member States, that gathers a broad array of competencies. Altogether, PhotonQBoost members will help to consolidate an EU-wide Photonics and Quantum technological innovation ecosystem, ultimately contributing to Europe’s global leadership in both fields and to securing its strategic autonomy in critical technologies.

Objectif de l’appel Technologies clés Projets attendus Critères d’éligibilité

This open call is launched under the Horizon Europe PhotonQBoost project, funded by the European Commission, and fully aligned with the European guidelines on Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
The purpose of this call is to select SMEs demonstrating excellence and impact potential to:
• Receive up to €40,000 to develop photonics and/or quantum challenge-oriented solutions.
• Receive up to €10,000 to be used for training and related services that enhance their resilience and/or sustainability.
• Participate in up to two Matching Missions organised by the project in 2026 and receive up to €1,440 to cover participation costs.

In addition to the financial support, beneficiaries of this call will gain access to mentoring, coaching, and networking opportunities to help them implement the activities described in their applications. This non-financial support will be delivered by the project partners under the Advisory Support Services Framework of PhotonQBoost.

Proposed solutions should address or contribute to one or more of the PhotonQBoost challenges listed below, while supporting the development of a sustainable, competitive and resilient European industry.
● Advanced Manufacturing
1. Photonics or Quantum Sensing: develop sensors or sensor networks to enable ultra-precise positioning, material characterisation and inspection (such as microfracture detection), or to optimise production lines.
2. Advanced Photonics Manufacturing: Develop advanced laser systems for precision manufacturing (including lithography and additive Manufacturing methods), material processing, surface treatment, and enable methods to go beyond rapid prototyping in industrial environments.
3. Advanced Optical Systems: Design and integrate high-tech optical systems enabling high-performance imaging, inspection, and quality assurance in industrial setting.
4. Optics and Photonics in Semiconductor Production: Enhance optical production processes by improvements in lens/mirror coatings and manufacturing, mirror materials, mask design, etc.
● Agrifood
1. Precision Agriculture: Develop and implement Photonics or Quantum sensing, imaging and advanced lighting solutions to enable a) targeted precision farming reducing energy needs, fertiliser and pesticide consumption; b) increased yield in fields or in greenhouses; or c) improved plant and soil phenotyping precision.
2. Zero-waste Food Processing: Develop and implement hyperspectral/multispectral imaging with inline-scan cameras, thermal/UV inspection and laser sorting/marking to deliver real-time composition (i.e. fat/protein/ moisture) and contaminant detection, automating grading and cutting food waste and recalls.
3. Water, air and soil quality assurance: Develop spectroscopy with gas and water sensors, distributed fibre sensing or other Photonics and Quantum sensor solutions to provide autonomous, real-time environmental monitoring.
4. Reliable Optical Sensing in Harsh Field Environments: Develop rugged, optical sensors that withstand dust, humidity, and temperature extremes while maintaining calibration and data quality.
● Life Science and Health
1. Advanced Optical Spectroscopy, Imaging and Photonic Components: Develop lab-on-chip and organ-on-chip platforms, OCT, advanced optical spectroscopy, quantitative phase imaging and photoacoustic imaging to improve diagnostic accuracy, allow non-invasive, real-time diagnosis (i.e. tissue discrimination for cancer detection), and reduce invasive procedures, for example high-throughput live cell imaging and analysis.
2. Photonic Therapies: Develop and demonstrate photodynamic and photoimmunotherapy solutions, especially for oncology and wound care.
3. Laser-Based Photonics Manufacturing and Structuring and Personalised Medicine: Use photonics, especially laser-based, lithography techniques and 3D printing to create customised microstructures for medical devices and implants, enhancing biocompatibility and performance.
4. Continuous and Remote Health Monitoring: Deploy continuous and remote health monitoring systems through connected wearables and photonic-based physiological sensors to support preventive care and early intervention.
5. Point-of-Care (PoC) Diagnostics: Developing rapid, portable PoC diagnostic tools integrated with photonic (e.g. surface plasmon resonance, SERS) or quantum sensing technologies for accessible, real-time healthcare delivery.
● Mobility
1. Sensing in Autonomous Driving: Develop photonic or quantum sensing devices to enhance vehicle navigation.
2. Energy Saving Illumination: Improve on existing laser and LED lighting technologies.
3. Automotive Manufacturing and Fault Detection: a) Demonstrate photonics-or quantum-enhanced processes in manufacturing of automotive elements such as batteries, b) further develop laser metallurgy, or UV-LED supported curing/hardening processes.
4. Hydrogen Economy: Show monitoring, design or production improvements using quantum or photonic technologies in fuel-cells or hydrogen storage.
● Digital Technologies
1. Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC): demonstrate miniaturisation of photonic components for use in e.g. computation, communication or sensing.
2. Photonics and Quantum Sensing in Fault Detection: Develop procedures and sensing devices to detect faulty components on semiconductor or PIC devices.
3. Quantum Computing: Show improvements in hardware or a combination of hard- and software that will lead to reliable and energy efficient quantum computers.
4. Resilient Communication Networks: Demonstrate either secure quantum communication links, improvements on photonic communication technology, QKD-components or post-quantum cryptography applications.

Solutions (up to EUR 40K)
Key challenges solvable through Photonics and Quantum
solutions have been identified within 5 strategic sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Agrifood, Life Science and Health, Mobility, and Digital Technologies. These challenges represent concrete technological needs that demand innovative and impactful solutions.
SMEs applying to this call are invited to propose Photonics and/or Quantum related solutions at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 8; from technology validated in a laboratory environment (TRL 4) to tested in operational conditions (TRL 8).

Trainings and services (up to EUR 10K)
This grant aims to support the acquisition of trainings or specialised services focused on resilience and sustainability to help SMEs accelerate their innovation and business development.
Applicants must consult PhotonQBoost’s catalogue of advisory services before applying, which presents the solutions offered by the project on a free-of-charge basis. The Trainings & Services Grant will only support external suppliers, covering training or services absent from the catalogue or not presently offered by
PhotonQBoost partners.
For clarification purposes, examples of activities include but are not limited to:
• Adaptation of business processes
• Feasibility studies
• Software development
• Specialised consultancy or coaching
• Standards and certifications
• Sustainability audits
• Trainings

Missions (up to EUR 830)
Participation in the Matching Missions will provide SMEs with strategic exposure to key players in the innovation ecosystem and insights into how their technologies can contribute to sectoral transformation.
• Czech Republic: The first Matching Mission covered by this Open Call will take place in the Czech Republic (Prague and Brno), from March 24th to 26th 2026, focusing on manufacturing and industrial optics.
• Germany: The second mission will be held in Germany (Stuttgart), from October 8th to 9th 2026, following the VISION and Quantum Effects Fairs taking place the two days prior, and focusing on the mobility sector.

Each mission will combine visits to the local Photonics and Quantum ecosystem, discovery sessions highlighting the strengths of the local cluster within the target sector, ideation workshops, and matchmaking and networking opportunities.
he grant (€610 for the participation in the Czech Republic Mission, and €830 for the German Mission), will be provided as a lump-sum, to cover the costs of participation.

Eligibility criteria:
a) The SME exists as a legal entity.
b) The SME meets the European Union’s definition of a Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise
c) The SME was established before July 17th, 2025.
d) The SME is registered in a European Union Member State, or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
[…]
j) The proposals do not exceed the funding request upper limit of € 50,000 per SME.

It should be noted that SMEs are not required to have Photonics or Quantum as their main area of activity. For example, an SME from any sector may apply in partnership with one, or more, organisations that provide complementary expertise in Photonics or Quantum technologies to jointly develop the proposed solution. In such case, a letter of commitment from the partner organisations will be requested.

Up to two SMEs may apply for funding to co-develop a solution, each submitting its own application and clearly identifying their shared objectives and complementary roles.

Processus de labellisation du Pôle Systematic

Transmettez vos documents un mois minimum avant la clôture de l’AAP à : depot.projet@systematic-paris-region.org

Une fois votre consortium établi, le processus auprès du pôle peut s’enclencher, il se déroule en 3 étapes. La première étape est l’audition de votre projet par le comité de pilotage qui est associé à votre projet en fonction du groupe thématique. C’est un comité d’experts du domaine réunissant grands groupes, PMEs et académiques qui jugera de la qualité scientifique de votre projet. Une ou deux auditions devant le comité de pilotage, en fonction de la deadline de l’AAP visé, seront réalisées où des retours vous seront faits par les experts au cas par cas pour bien vous accompagner dans le montage et la réalisation de votre proposition.Ces auditions sont souvent espacées d’un mois pour vous laisser le temps de faire les modifications demandées.

Les experts statuent sur la qualité de votre projet et donne un avis sur le passage ou non à l’étape supérieur, l’audition devant le Bureau Exécutif de Systematic où votre projet sera présenté par le président du Groupe Thématique associé (cette personne vous aura accompagnée durant toutes les précédentes auditions). Cette audition jugera sur la pertinence de votre projet par rapport au marché visé ainsi que sur l’éligibilité du projet.

Une fois tout ce processus terminé, les responsables des groupes thématiques associés vous délivreront une lettre de labellisation du pôle Systematic qui sera à joindre à votre dossier lors du dépôt de votre projet sur la plateforme BPI. C’est un procédé relativement standard que vous risquez de retrouver dans chaque pôle de compétitivité si vous désirez faire co-labelliser votre projet par plusieurs pôles. Les partenaires du projet s’engagent, s’il est financé uniquement, à adhérer à un des pôles ayant labellisé le projet.

Le Pôle Systematic Paris-Region vous accompagne dans vos projets

Déposez vos projets auprès de nos équipes Innovation et Europe.

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