Quantum chips: direct grants for projects selected in Chips JU

Key data

If your company or research centre has passed an international competitive call from the EU Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU), you already have access to Spanish public funding without additional competitive procedures. Real Decreto 270/2026, de 1 de abril, regulates the direct award of these grants under the UNICO Chips JU-Líneas Piloto Cuánticas programme, funded by Next Generation EU funds from the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia.

The mechanism is significant because it eliminates the double competitive burden: those who have already passed the European filter do not need to compete again at national level. The regulation directly establishes the conditions for award, execution and control for those already validated projects.

What does this regulation establish?

Real Decreto 270/2026 regulates three main aspects:

• Direct award of grants: Projects selected in international competitive Chips JU calls receive Spanish funding directly, without a national competition. The European selection acts as a sufficient eligibility criterion.
• Programme scope: The grants fall under the UNICO Chips JU-Líneas Piloto Cuánticas programme, focused on research projects in quantum chip technology and quantum semiconductors.
• Beneficiary obligations: Beneficiary entities must comply with the execution, justification and control requirements specific to Next Generation EU European funds, including certification of proper project execution and submission to the control mechanisms established for these funds.

The stated objective of the measure is to reinforce Spanish technological sovereignty in quantum semiconductors and align national public investment with the European Union's industrial priorities in the chips sector.

Economic and operational impact

The main impact of this regulation is operational and related to funding access. As it involves a direct award, beneficiary entities avoid the cost of preparing and submitting an additional competitive application at national level, with all the technical and administrative time that entails.

From a risk perspective, the main focus is on compliance with Next Generation EU obligations. These funds require traceability, rigorous documentary justification and submission to audits. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in repayment of the amounts received.

From a strategic perspective, the regulation reinforces Spain's position as a recipient of European investment in quantum technology, aligning with the European Chips Act and the EU's technological sovereignty agenda. For companies in the sector, participating in Chips JU becomes a direct route to accessing Spanish public co-financing.

Who is affected?

• Spanish technology companies that develop or manufacture quantum chips or quantum semiconductors and have participated in Chips JU calls.
• Research centres and universities with R&D projects in quantum technology selected within the European Chips JU framework.
• Mixed public-private consortia with Spanish participation in international quantum chip projects under the Chips JU umbrella.
• R&D and funding departments of semiconductor sector companies that manage European projects and need to coordinate national co-financing.
• Next Generation EU fund managers in public bodies responsible for monitoring and controlling these projects.

Practical example

A Spanish research centre specialising in quantum computing submits a proposal together with European partners to an international competitive Chips JU call, within the framework of the Quantum Pilot Lines. The proposal passes the technical and scientific evaluation of Chips JU and is selected.

Thanks to Real Decreto 270/2026, that centre does not need to apply to any additional national call to receive Spanish co-financing. The European selection is sufficient to activate the direct award of the grant under the UNICO Chips JU-Líneas Piloto Cuánticas programme.

From that point on, the centre must comply with the execution and justification obligations specific to Next Generation EU funds: properly documenting expenditure, certifying project execution within the established deadlines and submitting to the controls provided for these funds. Failure to comply with these obligations could require repayment of the amounts received.

What should companies do now?

1. Check whether your project has been selected in Chips JU: Verify whether your company or research centre is among the beneficiaries of any international competitive call from the EU Chips Joint Undertaking. That selection is the access requirement for the Spanish grant.
2. Review the applicable Next Generation EU obligations: Identify the execution, justification and control requirements imposed by the Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia for the funds received. Prepare the necessary documentation and traceability systems from the start of the project.
3. Contact the national managing body: Identify which Spanish public body manages the UNICO Chips JU-Líneas Piloto Cuánticas programme to find out the specific deadlines and procedures for formalising the direct grant.
4. Ensure compliance throughout execution: Establish an internal project monitoring protocol that guarantees the documentary justification required by European funds, avoiding the risk of having to repay amounts received.
5. Evaluate participation in future Chips JU calls: If your company works in quantum chip technology but has not yet participated in Chips JU, this regulation reinforces the incentive to do so: European selection opens the direct door to national co-financing without additional competition.

Official source

View full regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-7448