Sub-Call for Expression of Interest: Unlocking New Horizons in Side-Channel Attacks with Quantum Sensing PCP

Sub-Call for Expression of Interest: Unlocking New Horizons in Side-Channel Attacks with Quantum Sensing PCP

Express your interest here!

[ Applications to this Sub-Call are now closed, stay tuned for our upcoming opportunities! ]

What is Side-channel attacks with quantum sensing PCP?

Side-channel attacks with quantum sensing PCP (Pre-Commercial Procurement), published by The Agentur für Innovation in der Cybersicherheit GmbH – “Innovation for Cybersecurity”, aims to identify potential new attack vectors on microchips using quantum sensors. Quantum sensing technology (QS) offers the possibility of measuring physical parameters with higher resolution, sensitivity, or otherwise improved performance. The suitability of different physical quantum sensing approaches for side channel attacks (SCA) on microchips will be evaluated and analysed in comparison with current methods. Additionally, the project aims to bring together scientists from the fields of quantum sensing technology and side-channel attacks to facilitate a long-term exchange. The target technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project is 3 to 4, depending on the technology.

Diving into PCP

Pre-Commercial Procurements allow public entities to acquire R&D services from various Technology Providers simultaneously. This approach enables a thorough comparison of alternative solutions, promoting the identification of the most cost-effective and valuable options. PCP involves a risk-benefit sharing arrangement under market conditions between public procurers and Technology Providers. Importantly, there is a clear separation between the PCP phase and the subsequent deployment of commercial volumes of end-products. For this reason, this R&D tender does not necessarily require a proposal for a finished product already launched on the market.

The procedure begins with a call for competition to determine the basic suitability of the applicants. This is followed by two phases, each consisting of a concept phase and a research phase. In these phases, the applicants first develop concepts and, if successful, implement them in the research phases.

In concept phase 1, evaluations are carried out to select the (maximum) 6 best of the competing approaches. A maximum of 6 participants will enter the subsequent research phase 1. If the project is continued after evaluation of the results of research phase 1, concepts will be created and evaluated again in concept phase 2, and the best of the competing approaches will enter research phase 2. Any remaining participants in the concept phases will be eliminated from the competition.

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The table below presents an overview of the details of each PCP Phase:

Entities that are interested in participating in the SCA with quantum sensing PCP call are encouraged to register on the e-Vergabe platform.

Further information and all tender documents are available at the following link. 

            Selection and Exclusion criteria for this tender

All information on the selection criteria for the SCA with quantum sensing PCP call for tenders can be reached at the following document:

• Document “EN Tender specification SCA-QS” (section 3.2).

Total budget and budget distribution per Phase:

The total price for the implementation of research phase 1 has to be stated. Payment will be made based on the Contractor's submitted offer for research phase 1. The offer prices include all costs, expenses, and other outlays (including travel expenses) required for the respective phase. The budget for the next stages after phase 1 will be defined subsequently.

Ownership of results

The Contractor grants the Client and the Federal Republic of Germany a non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, sub-licensable, and transferable right to the foreground, unlimited in time, place, and content, to use and exploit the research report and the presentation of the results in all known and unknown forms of use. This includes the rights to reproduce, distribute, exhibit, modify, and process the materials, and to use these modifications in the same manner or to have these rights exercised by third parties.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that responses to the invitation to tender for Side-channel attacks with quantum sensing PCP must be in German or English. The SPIN4EIC team will provide support for the tendering process in English but it will not provide the translation of documents into other languages.

SPIN4EIC powered by EIC BAS Innovation Procurement Programme (SPIN4EIC) Assistance Action - What's in it for you?

SPIN4EIC, is part of the Business Acceleration Services (BAS) and aims to support EIC beneficiaries by providing guidance and enhancing their capacity to leverage innovation procurement. Specifically, the SPIN4EIC Strategic Innovation Programme allows EIC-funded companies to expand their networks and engage with relevant innovation procurement decision-makers across Europe. As part of this programme, selected applicants can receive tailored assistance to participate in tender opportunities, such as the SCA with quantum sensing PCP.

The SPIN4EIC assistance action is a tailored guidance scheme that includes the following main activities:

1. Assignment of a Single Contact Person from the assistance team, who will be responsible for guiding the beneficiaries along the process.
2. Organisation of an online Kick-off meeting during which the beneficiaries and the assistance team will agree on the required guidance activities and define the next steps.

The support to the EIC beneficiaries under the SPIN4EIC Initiative will encompass guidance activities such as providing best practices on drafting tenders, sharing best practices of organising tendering documents, and providing guidance on their format        and organisation. The support will not include services such as the drafting of technical documents, the preparation of administrative documents, the submission of documents to buying entities, nor translation, mediation, and litigation services.

3. Provision of tailored assistance services: the exact guidance activities to be provided to each beneficiary will be tailored based on the nature and needs, as agreed during the Kick-off meeting.

SPIN4EIC assistance eligibility criteria & selection process

To receive support in the context of the SPIN4EIC assistance action, applicants must submit the application questionnaire within the following date: 15/07/2024 at 11:59 CEST.

Applicants are not automatically accepted to participate in the assistance action.

For the assistance actions, participants must meet the following criteria:

1. Be an EIC beneficiary (“EIC beneficiaries" include all SMEs and projects funded by the EIC, EIC Pilot, SME Instrument, FTI, Pathfinder, Transition and FET, regardless of the year they were funded. SMEs that received the Seal of Excellence (SoE) under Horizon Europe (starting from 2021) as well as Women in Tech awardees are also included);
2. Ensure that your company complies with tender requirements stated above (“Selection/Exclusion criteria”);
3. Ensure that your company possesses the linguistic capacity to submit an offer in the language requested by the tender opportunity (German/English);
4. Ensure that your company has the available resources to participate in/allocate to the assistance services.

Disclaimers

Please note the following disclaimers:

• Technical and Administrative Document Drafting Disclaimer:

           The assistance provided does not encompass the drafting of technical or economic documents, the preparation of administrative documents, or the submission of documents to buying entities.

• Language Translation Disclaimer:

          This assistance action does not extend to the translation of documents.

• Document development responsibility Disclaimer:

          The assistance action is tailored to offer assistance in selected aspects of the procurement process; however, the beneficiary will be responsible for the development of all documents related to the opportunity.  

Open Call for the SPIN4EIC Assistance Action

In case you wish to receive assistance in future tender opportunities, we encourage you to apply to our Open Call for Expression of Interest here.