Call for projects: Quantum Sensing Technologies
ESA's Phi-Lab Switzerland is a platform of the Paul Scherrer Institute's European Deep-tech Innovation Center (ESDI), which aims to transform scientific breakthroughs into concrete solutions by accelerating the transition from laboratory demonstrations to market-ready products that meet the demanding standards of both space and terrestrial applications.
Details & online application until May 1, 2025.
Webinar presentation scheduled for April 3: online registration
Quantum sensors can detect minute variations in gravity, magnetic fields, time and other quantities with atomic precision, potentially revolutionizing the way we measure our world. Yet many of these extraordinary capabilities remain confined to controlled laboratory environments, preventing quantum sensing from addressing pressing commercial and societal needs, such as water resource management, infrastructure monitoring and autonomous navigation.
The Big Question: what if every satellite could carry a quantum sensor the size of a shoebox?
The aim of this call for projects is therefore to support concrete initiatives that will enable measurable progress towards at least a 10x improvement in compactness, performance or reliability in quantum detection.
The total Phi-Lab "seed funding for innovation" (see call documentation for details) for the implementation of this specific call is 2.97 MCHF.
The budget available per winning project is between a minimum of CHF 200,000 and a maximum of CHF 990,000 for a maximum duration of 24 months, with the average innovation seed funding per project expected to be between CHF 600,000 and 750,000 for 24 months.
Details & online application until May 1, 2025.
Webinar presentation scheduled for April 3: online registration
