Quantum Space Gravimetry topic

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Expected Outcome: Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: Support the EU space policy by fostering the development of groundbreaking space technology and support the Quantum Europe Strategy. Enhance the technological maturation of the critical components necessary to perform quantum space gravimetry. Foster the technological leadership and non-dependence of the EU in the field of quantum gravimetry from space and promote the EU’s competitiveness in quantum technologies. This action aims at supporting the maturation, development and/or implementation of quantum gravimetry technology for space. Monitoring the Earth gravity field provides key information and data on Earth mass movements. This type of data is of utmost importance for Earth science and used in many areas, for example to monitor ice sheet changes, floods or droughts, volcanic activities and earthquakes. The community of users for such data spans from climate scientists to geophysicists and relies on quality and precise data. Monitoring the Earth gravity field from space provides a global scale to the user community and fosters the development of models and understanding of the Earth as an integrated and global system. Space gravimetry data provided up to now (or planned in the near future) is using an underlying technology based on electrostatic accelerometers, which has reached its limits in terms of performance. Accelerometers based on quantum technology may offer enhanced performances in terms of sensitivity, accuracy, stability and operational time compared to these classical accelerometers. The European Commission is committed to the development of quantum technologies and for this purpose, adopted the Quantum Europe Strategy in July 2025 (Quantum Europe Strategy | Shaping Europe’s digital future). This strategy identifies Space as a critical element and highlights the benefits of quantum sensing, including for fundamental science. The strategy provides the case for a network of mobile and stationary quantum sensors and foresees the deployment of ground, airborne and space-based gravimeters for Earth observation purposes. The strategy highlights the need for and importance of developing a space compatible technology to fulfil this ambition. Quantum technologies are also identified as a critical R&I area in the EU Economic Security Strategy (eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023JC0020). Mastering this technology will contribute to the EU technological sovereignty and foster the development of an EU non-dependent quantum & space ecosystem, able to address the EU’s ambitions for its space policy. To meet these strategic objectives and envisage a full-blown quantum space gravimetry capacity, the development and in-orbit testing of a quantum accelerometer is a pre-requisite. The European Commission has been supporting the development of quantum accelerometer technology for ground and space gravimetry with dedicated calls in Horizon Europe.…