Virtual info day for second Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital calls - Online event, 25 October 2022

THEEuropean Executive Agency for Health and Digital (HaDEA) will hold the 25 October la information session virtual on second wave di bandi on digital of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

The second tranche of the call was published as part of the "Connecting Europe Facility"(CEF): eight different types of calls are available depending on the topic of interest.

The main objective is to support projects for secure, fast and high-capacity networks, network backbones (backbones), including quantum communications, cloud federation and submarine cables, strengthening the networks that connect the rural areas, peripherals e overseas.

1) European Quantum Communication Infrastructure – The EuroQCI initiative – Works

the development and implementation of components of the terrestrial backbone network to support cross-border links. Between two or more national quantum communication networks in the Member States and / or on the link between the ground and space segments of EuroQCI. This call supports the following actions:

• strengthening of quantum backbone networks land cross-border for cross-border interconnection;
• connection with the space segment of EuroQCI, developed as part of the Secure Connectivity program;
• supply of fiber links between EuroQCI and a pan-European network of Security Operation Centers (SOC).

Are available 90 million € for these actions.

2) Interconnection of backbone networks for cloud federations – Studies

research will be funded under the Gigabit connections for the interconnection between socio-economic drivers, i.e. public administrations, public or private bodies in charge of managing services of general interest (SGI) or of services of economic interest general (SGEI) and backbone networks for cloud federations. The funded activities will be:

• analysis the investment needs related to the development and deployment of cross-border and national infrastructures for cloud interconnections and cloud interconnections with HPC and edge infrastructures both physically, taking into account sustainability;
• studio the economic sovereignty of the alternatives used;
• survey of technological needs and the relevant carbon footprint for the interconnection of networks and resources;
• analysis of cyber security risks.

3 million € is the budget for research in this area. 

3) Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways – Works

the goal of the call is deploy networks as part of the EU's digital global access strategy, helping to enhance the quality of connectivity within the Union and with third countries. Participants will need to use neutral technologies to strengthen connectivity and stimulate the market.

The funding for this call is 100 million €, a fund that also contains the part of the research. 

4) 5G coverage along transport corridors – Studies

this call supports the preliminary actions for implementation projects to support investments in difficult areas, where market forces alone cannot provide 5G services with the necessary quality of service, involving two or more Member States.

The call budget for actions and research is equal to 28 million €. 

5) 5G coverage along transport corridors – Works

will be funded activities that support investments in difficult areas, where 5G services will fail to be adopted with the necessary quality of service. The aim is to provide connectivity along the main European transport routes, in the cross-border sections involving two or more Member States, with a co-financing rate of 50%.

Support from 2 million €.

6) Preparation of works for Operational digital platforms

the call finances the realization of digital platforms to support the EU's environmental and energy objectives in the face of the ongoing energy crisis, providing both technologies and connectivity. This coordination and support action will prepare future work projects by identifying in these areas: 

• exploratory study to identify use cases in energy and mobility;
• feasibility analysis for pre-selected cases;
• detailed preparations for the selected cases;
• assistance to projects originating from the first call.

They will be funded 4 million € for this announcement.

7) Integration of 5G with edge computing and federated cloud facilities:

this coordination and support action will collect information on projects under European and national programs and on major private sector initiatives with the aim of connect 5G infrastructures along transport corridors e 5G smart communities to the edge node and federated cloud infrastructure. The objectives are: 

• meet the service requirements for connected and automated mobility;
• generate market efficiency: the global 5G-edge-cloud platform is expected to meet the needs of various communities and sectors. In particular the socio-economic sector and that of mobility.

For this coordination and support action have been allocated 6 million euro.

8) 5G for Smart Communities – Works: this call will finance projects that:

• implement 5G infrastructures capable of providing innovative connectivity (such as Gigabit performance, high user density, ubiquitous coverage, ability to connect IoT devices, low latency and reliability). Able to support innovative ways to improve the provision of public services and SGIs or SGEIs;
• group 5G networks deployed with a cloud-to-edge middleware stack capable of supporting the data-intensive use cases and applications required by the SEDs involved.

Activities will be granted 50 million €. 

The following can participate in CEF Digital calls: legal entities, public or private entities (including joint ventures) based in EU countries, including overseas countries or territories. 

All proposals can be submitted by 23 February 2023.

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