Strong response to the first phase of the SQI TRL Call

All three topic areas of this call are addressed in the pre-proposals: quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum sensing and metrology. The submissions from the 16 main applicants at accredited institutions are supported by 58 national and international teams at public institutions and by 22 different companies active in Switzerland in the field of quantum.

Broad diversity of proposed business partners

The Swiss Quantum Commission (SQC) welcomes the overall direction of the proposals to strengthen existing partnerships and form new consortia between academia and industry. The list of proposed business partners ranges from young Swiss-based spin-offs and start-ups to established SMEs and multinational corporations with a strong presence in Switzerland. In total, the proposed project volumes amount to more than CHF 100 million. The indicated total funding volume in this first phase of the call is CHF 54 million.

Encouraging strategic consortia building

This pre-proposal phase will be followed by an invited call for full proposals, planned for September 2025. Applicants are encouraged to consider adjustments or extensions to their consortia compositions where meaningful and in the interest of the Swiss quantum ecosystem. This means that participants who may not be considered as main applicants in the first phase may still participate as co-applicants or partners in the second phase.

Responding to demand within budget constraints

This call aims to strengthen and expand quantum-specific shared infrastructures and platforms to advance technology readiness levels (TRL). The strong response, as well as the quality and thematic range of pre-proposals, confirms high demand and underscores the importance of mid- to high-TRL efforts, as outlined in the SQC 2025–2028 recommendations. However, due to ERI budget constraints set by Parliament and predefined allocations for 2025–2028, only part of this demand can be addressed. Guided by the SQC strategy, the SQI remains committed to continuing and expanding this initiative through targeted quantum-specific measures alongside generic funding instruments.