Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRAT20260714030
- Term of Validity
- 14 July 2026 - 14 July 2027
- Company's Country
- Austria
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- Austria
- Canada
- Finland
- Spain
- Latvia
- Ireland
- Ukraine
- Poland
- Türkiye
General information
- Short Summary
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An Austrian SME is forming a consortium for a Eureka project aimed at transforming weather forecasting through the application of Quantum Computing.
The project aims to develop a hybrid Quantum–HPC framework in which a selected component of the weather forecasting model chain is implemented using quantum computing techniques, leveraging quantum-inspired approaches on today's HPC infrastructure while preparing key forecasting workflows for next-generation quantum computing platforms. - Full Description
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Weather forecasting, particularly at global scale and high resolution, is one of the most computationally demanding application domains. As forecasting systems continue to increase in complexity, Quantum Computing is widely expected to become a key enabling technology for future advances in forecasting performance, efficiency and scalability.
An Austrian SME with extensive experience in weather forecasting, extreme weather events and publicly funded R&D projects is seeking to form or join a consortium for a Eureka project dedicated to the application of Quantum Computing in weather, climate and environmental modelling. The company aims to become an early adopter of quantum technologies and contribute to bridging the gap between today's forecasting systems and future quantum-enabled forecasting architectures.
The envisioned project should develop a hybrid Quantum–HPC framework in which a selected component of the weather forecasting model chain is implemented using a quantum computing approach, while the remaining workflow continues to run on classical high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure. The project pursues two complementary objectives:
(i) preparing a first operational forecasting workflow for future quantum computing infrastructures; and
(ii) exploring how concepts derived from quantum algorithms and quantum-inspired approaches can already be leveraged on today's classical HPC systems to improve forecasting workflows.
To develop a competitive Eureka proposal and define a concrete implementation strategy, the SME is looking for companies eligible for Eureka funding with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
• Development and implementation of quantum algorithms for real-world applications;
• Hybrid Quantum–HPC architectures and integration frameworks;
• Quantum hardware and access to quantum computing platforms.
Universities and research institutes are also welcome, provided they are eligible for participation and willing to join the consortium as full project partners.
The Eureka proposal submission deadline is 1 February 2027.
The SME is seeking interested partners by latest mid-October 2026 to allow sufficient time for bilateral discussions, consortium building and the joint development of a strong project concept and proposal. - Advantages and Innovations
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The proposed project addresses one of the most computationally demanding scientific and industrial domains: numerical weather forecasting. While Quantum Computing is widely regarded as a potentially disruptive technology for large-scale simulation and optimization problems, its application to operational weather forecasting remains largely unexplored.
The project's key innovation lies in the development of a hybrid Quantum–HPC forecasting framework in which a selected computationally intensive component of the forecasting workflow is translated into a quantum-compatible implementation. This creates a practical pathway for integrating quantum technologies into real-world forecasting systems rather than treating Quantum Computing as a purely theoretical future opportunity.
A further innovation is the dual-use approach of the project. While preparing forecasting workflows for future quantum computing infrastructures, the project will also investigate how concepts derived from quantum algorithms can be transferred to today's classical HPC environments through quantum-inspired methods. This enables the generation of value already during the current generation of computing technologies while simultaneously establishing the foundations for future quantum-native forecasting systems.
By combining expertise in weather forecasting, high-performance computing and quantum technologies, the project has the potential to create one of the first concrete demonstrations of quantum-enabled weather forecasting workflows and position the participating organisations at the forefront of this emerging field. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
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The SME is seeking industrial and research partners with proven expertise in Quantum Computing and its application to real-world computational challenges.
Relevant expertise includes:
• Development, adaptation and optimization of quantum algorithms for complex scientific and engineering applications;
• Assessment of suitable quantum computing approaches for computationally intensive components of numerical weather forecasting workflows;
• Design and implementation of hybrid Quantum–HPC architectures and orchestration frameworks;
• Experience with quantum software development environments and quantum programming frameworks;
• Access to and experience with current quantum computing hardware platforms and/or quantum simulators;
• Expertise in quantum-inspired algorithms and their implementation on classical HPC systems;
• Experience in benchmarking, performance evaluation and validation of quantum and hybrid computing approaches.
Partners should be interested in jointly defining the specific forecasting component to be addressed, evaluating suitable quantum approaches and contributing to the development of a competitive Eureka project proposal. - Stage of Development
- Concept stage
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- IPR status
- Secret know-how
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The expected role of the partners is to contribute deep expertise in Quantum Computing and to actively co-develop the quantum component of the hybrid Quantum–HPC weather forecasting framework.
In particular, the partners are expected to support the identification and implementation of suitable quantum algorithms for a selected computationally intensive forecasting component, and to work together on translating this component into a quantum-ready or quantum-inspired formulation.
Furthermore, the partners should contribute to the design and integration of hybrid Quantum–HPC architectures, ensuring compatibility between classical high-performance computing workflows and quantum computing environments.
The partners are also expected to participate in the evaluation of quantum hardware platforms and simulation environments, as well as in benchmarking and performance analysis of quantum and quantum-inspired approaches applied to weather forecasting use cases.
Finally, the partners will contribute to consortium building activities and the joint development of a competitive Eureka project proposal. - Type and Size of Partner
- University
- SME 50 - 249
- R&D Institution
- Big company
- SME 11-49
- SME <=10
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Eureka
- Call title and identifier
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1. Xecs Thematic Quantum Call
- Submission and evaluation scheme
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Multiple-step submission scheme: Eureka submission and national submission, Deadline 01.02.2027
- Coordinator required
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No
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Eureka
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 01002011 - Quantum Informatics
- Market keywords
- 02006005 - Big data management
- Sector Groups Involved
- Digital
- Targeted countries
- Austria
- Canada
- Finland
- Spain
- Latvia
- Ireland
- Ukraine
- Poland
- Türkiye