Quantum technologies have the potential to bring transformative benefits to societies worldwide. In the Kananaskis Common Vision for the Future of Quantum Technologies, G7 Leaders commit to boosting international cooperation between like-minded partners to unlock the full potential of these technologies.
As a step towards implementing this vision, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) is leading an international joint call, which is anticipated to officially launch in late July of this year with proposals due in late September.
The upcoming funding opportunity aims to leverage complementary interests and research expertise across G7 and Nordic countries to support bilateral or multilateral collaborative research projects in quantum science and technologies. Further information about the upcoming call is available on the NSERC website.
The Nordic partners of one project proposal can apply for a maximum of NOK 7 mill. in total. The intention is to fund Nordic participation in 12 research projects under this call.
Funding agencies
This call is announced as a collaboration between:
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- NordForsk
- Japanese Science and Technology Agency (JST)
- United Kingdom Research and Innovation - Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UKRI - EPSRC)
- German Research Foundation (DFG)
*pending confirmation.
Additional funders may also join at a later stage.
The Nordic participation is managed by NordForsk in partnership with the Research Council of Norway, the Research Council of Finland, the Swedish Research Council and Innovation Fund Denmark who are co-financing the call.
Eligibility
Projects must include at least one Canadian researcher eligible to receive NSERC funds and at least one international collaborator eligible to receive funds from a participating international funder.
Projects that apply for funding from NordForsk must include eligible research partners from at least two different Nordic countries. Nordic countries are defined here as Åland Islands, Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
One of the Nordic partners must have the role of Nordic host institution and lead the Nordic team in the project. The Nordic host institution must be based in one of the Nordic countries co-funding the call: Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
Nordic project partners that apply for funding from NordForsk must be research performing organisations.
The Canadian applicant will submit a single collaborative proposal on behalf of the Canadian and international research teams, which will undergo a merit review process by NSERC as the lead agency. Collaborators and partner organizations from outside academia (industry, public, not-for-profit) are permitted but not required.
Proposals may address any challenge in quantum science, but their thrust must aim to advance research in any of the following quantum technologies:
- quantum algorithms/encryption, including post-quantum cryptography
- quantum communications
- quantum computing
- quantum materials
- quantum sensing
Complete information and instructions will be provided when the call officially launches in July.
