Submission deadline extended to April 26, 2026

Background 

Explore2040 is Europe’s long-term space exploration strategy, spanning human and robotic missions across Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the Moon, and Mars. As ESA advances its exploration capabilities, quantum technologies are emerging as a potentially disruptive set of tools. Their rapid evolution across quantum computing, sensing, communication, and materials, suggests that they could significantly enhance multiple elements of future missions. However, the full scope of their applicability has yet to be better understood and defined.  

A handful of early space experiments from both industry and academia indicate their potential for the future, while still being constrained by current technological limitations, meaning that quantum technologies have not yet transitioned into operational use. This creates a phase in which rapid scientific and technical progress is visible, but clear pathways toward integration into space missions are still emerging. For ESA, this makes continuous monitoring, cross-domain collaboration, and strategic foresight essential to understand how the field is evolving and to identify where quantum technologies may meaningfully contribute to future exploration activities.

The Software and AI team forms part of ESA's Human & Robotic Exploration Future Preparation Group, which is responsible for identifying and assessing the practical applicability of emerging technologies such as quantum technologies to space exploration and investigating how breakthrough technologies can redefine the future of space exploration. We embrace forward-thinking and open-minded principles, fostering a vision where research, technology, and innovation communities unite knowledge and innovation toward a common goal. 

Status Quo 

Interest in quantum technologies has been backed by substantial public and private investment worldwide. Governments have committed between US$40 to 50 billion globally to quantum-technology research and development, and the global quantum-technology market is projected to reach tens of billions of dollars over the next decade.  

Quantum technologies promise advances ranging from ultra-sensitive measurements for exploration missions to secure communication infrastructures and radically new computational capabilities for mission planning, robotics, and operations. 

Quantum computing could offer novel ways to tackle optimisation, simulation, and data analysis challenges. Quantum sensors could enable ultra-precise measurements for navigation, planetary science, and in-situ resource utilisation. Quantum communication could transform security architectures for spacecraft and ground segments. Quantum materials could enable new levels of performance in energy storage, shielding, superconductivity, and advanced instrumentation. 

Each technology follows a different trajectory of maturation. Quantum communication and sensing have already demonstrated feasibility in controlled environments, while quantum computing and materials remain at an earlier stage, yet its long-term potential is extraordinary. Given this uneven landscape, ESA would like to strategically determine which quantum technologies hold the most near-term and long-term value for space applications within Explore2040. 

Challenge  

Your contribution will help define how, when, and where quantum technologies integrate into Europe’s exploration roadmap.  

This requires: 

• Assessing current technological performance and expected evolution. 

• Identifying priority mission applications for early implementation. 

• Estimating approximate timelines for operational readiness in space contexts. 

• Determining investment areas that can accelerate practical adoption. 

• Revealing emerging or unforeseen use cases that may reshape future mission concepts. 

• Estimating budgeting needs for technology and software development for space demonstrators. 

Ultimately, the aim is to gather detailed insights about the quantum landscape and build pathways for future integration, while elevating collaboration between quantum researchers, academia, industry and the overall space community. 

What We Are Looking For 

The aim of this Call for Ideas is to identify key research areas in quantum technologies for space exploration, along with a clear justification for advancing this field. This includes assessing the background and state of the art of each technology, its challenges and potential, and its relevance to exploration missions both for ground-based capabilities and on-board applications. The focus is on concepts across all technology readiness levels (TRLs) that directly support the priorities of the Directorate for Human and Robotic Exploration (HRE). Ideas related to other destinations and ESA programmes fall outside the scope unless there is a clear technology-transfer possible with clear, mission-specific relevance. 

We welcome ideas, studies, development of software prototypes and early demonstrations relating to quantum technologies with potential relevance to ESA's Human and Robotics Exploration activities. Both ground- and space-based solutions are of interest in this context. Where it is proposed to develop hardware, a clear rationale must be provided regarding the added value in the specific mission-context. In this case, it is suggested to focus on ideas based on feasibility assessments, integration studies, or early identification of partnerships with hardware providers to kickstart the activity. 

Key Domains of Interest:

• Quantum Computing, including algorithms, software tools, hybrid quantum-classical approaches.
• Quantum Sensing, including advanced measurement principles, instrumentation concepts, pathways toward space-qualified systems. 
• Quantum Communication, including secure communication techniques, communication architecture using quantum effects. 
• Quantum Materials, such as materials leveraging quantum properties for enhanced performance in space environments. 

Proposals must clearly articulate:

a) the specific quantum advantage, i.e. how the proposed concept meaningfully outperforms or complements classical approaches;

b) the exploration use-case and relevance to the Space Exploration Programme (LEO, Moon, or Mars mission context);

c) the expected mission impact, e.g. improvements in performance, efficiency, scientific return, or operational capability;

d) a structured approach describing how the work will be delivered, whether as a study, software activity, or technical development; and

e) an outlook to the future, including next steps and long-term potential.

Concepts may range from exploratory studies to early demonstrations, provided a credible methodology is defined.

The ESA Approach 

Launching this Call for Ideas (CFI) is the first step in understanding how quantum technologies could contribute to the future planning, development, and operation of future space missions in the context of Human and Robotic Exploration. Through this campaign, we invite the European quantum technology community to share their insights, and work with us to identify promising directions, to shape the next steps and prepare future projects in this rapidly evolving field. 

Selected contributors will be invited to a strategic workshop in Q2 2026 to co-develop the preliminary roadmap for quantum integration. The aim of this workshop is to give selected participants the chance to exchange about their ideas, discover synergies and shared interests, and identify opportunities for collaboration. Beyond that, we would like to use this forum to discuss a  preliminary roadmap for the integration of quantum technologies into future exploration missions, hoping to gather valuable feedback. We hope to provide a forum for exchange, alignment, and collaboration across disciplines, ensuring that a diverse set of perspectives informs ESA’s strategic direction. This step will initiate the practical implementation of quantum technologies within ESA’s exploration preparation efforts, marking the transition from idea gathering to concrete capability development. 

Who Can Apply 

This campaign is open to academic institutions, research centres, and companies. ESA staff are also encouraged to contribute through internal submissions.

While anybody can submit an idea, the implementing entity must be registered in an ESA Member State, Associate Member, or Cooperating State.

Please note that no funding is provided in this Phase 1, selected proposals may be invited to a future phase involving ESA co-funding. 

What Comes Next 

The best selected ideas may lead to follow-on opportunities such as: 

• Dedicated ESA organised workshop for further presentation of ideas; 

• Invitations to future funded thematic calls, where proposals can mature into concrete activities; 

• Direct discussions with ESA teams to explore contributions to ongoing or future projects, via potential co-funding; 

• Creation of focused working groups or communities of practice, enabling continued engagement between submitters, ESA experts, industry stakeholders, and academic partners. 

These pathways aim to build momentum, strengthen collaboration, and support the long-term integration of quantum technologies into ESA’s exploration roadmap. 

ESA Quantum technology whitepaper available upon request.