Insider Brief
- NordForsk has launched a joint G7-Nordic quantum technology research call that will fund Nordic participation in up to 12 international collaborative projects spanning quantum computing, communications, sensing, materials and post-quantum cryptography.
- The initiative is led by Canada’s NSERC in partnership with NordForsk, Germany’s DFG, Japan’s JST, the UK’s UKRI-EPSRC and the U.S. National Science Foundation, with Nordic co-funding provided by research councils in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
- Eligible proposals must include a Canadian researcher and international collaborators, while projects seeking NordForsk funding must involve research partners from at least two Nordic countries and may request up to NOK 7 million per project, with applications due Sept. 24, 2026.
- Image: Photo by Google DeepMind on Pexels
NordForsk has joined a new international research initiative with G7 funding agencies to support collaborative quantum technology research, committing funding for Nordic participation in up to 12 international projects spanning quantum computing, communications, sensing, materials and post-quantum cryptography.
The call for proposals, announced July 27, is being coordinated by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), which will serve as the lead agency for proposal submission and merit review. Applications are due Sept. 24, with successful projects expected to bring together researchers from Canada and partner organizations across the Nordic region and other G7 nations.
NordForsk said the initiative is designed to leverage complementary expertise across participating countries while strengthening international collaboration in quantum science and engineering.
Under the program, Nordic research teams may request up to NOK 7 million per project from NordForsk. The organization expects to fund Nordic participation in 12 international collaborations.
The call is open to research addressing any area of quantum science, provided the primary focus advances one or more core quantum technology fields. Eligible topics include quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum sensing, quantum materials, and quantum algorithms and encryption, including post-quantum cryptography. Researchers may also combine these areas with broader natural science and engineering disciplines where appropriate.
According to the call, quantum technologies are expected to play an increasingly important role in economic development, scientific discovery and national security by enabling new computing capabilities, secure communications, advanced sensing systems and other emerging applications.
The funding opportunity brings together several of the world’s major public research organizations. In addition to NSERC and NordForsk, participating agencies include the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the United Kingdom Research and Innovation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UKRI-EPSRC), and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).
Within the Nordic region, the program is co-funded by the Research Council of Norway, the Research Council of Finland, the Swedish Research Council and the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
To be eligible for NordForsk funding, projects must include research partners from at least two Nordic countries. One participating institution must serve as the Nordic host organization and lead the regional team. Eligible host institutions must be located in Denmark, Finland, Norway or Sweden, while research partners may also come from Åland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Iceland.
All proposals must also include at least one Canadian researcher eligible for NSERC funding, along with at least one international collaborator supported by another participating funding agency. Canadian applicants will submit a single joint proposal representing the full international consortium.
An information webinar for researchers and university research offices is scheduled for Aug. 19. During the session, NSERC will provide an overview of the funding opportunity and the application process.
The initiative reflects a growing trend toward multinational investment in quantum technologies as governments seek to accelerate research and strengthen international partnerships in strategically important areas of science and technology.
Read the complete call for proposals here.
.png){kind=logo}
