Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)
Overview
This EU funding opportunity, titled "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", is part of Horizon Europe under the DIGITAL call. It is structured to boost the integration of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector, focusing particularly on developing advanced robotics skills, foundational models, and adaptable frameworks. The application process commences on January 15, 2026, and concludes on April 15, 2026. The total budget allocated is EUR 18,000,000, with only one grant expected to be awarded.
The initiative aims to achieve several key outcomes, including the development of advanced robotics skills focused on high precision autonomous manipulation and autonomous navigation in various environments. A core goal is to facilitate widespread deployment of robotics in the manufacturing sector, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The proposal includes a comprehensive framework for skill development in robotics, emphasizing measurable industry-relevant challenges and evaluation metrics. The automotive industry is highlighted as a significant use case, demonstrating how robotics can enhance production efficiency while ensuring that solutions are transferable across various manufacturing contexts.
The project involves a multi-stage competition, consisting of three distinct stages. Stage 1 features an open call for proposals, selecting the 10 highest-ranked submissions for further development. In Stage 2, these selected teams receive a EUR 200,000 grant each to create prototypes, with the top three progressing to Stage 3, the Grand Finale, for a chance to win EUR 1,000,000 each.
The opportunity primarily targets consortia, which must include user-industry companies from the manufacturing sector to ensure the relevance of project outcomes. Eligible applicants include SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and educational institutions based in EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, and several associated countries including Canada, Israel, South Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK. Notably, entities from China are excluded.
While no explicit co-funding requirements are mentioned, successful proposals are expected to outline plans for the uptake of developed solutions and share progress metrics. Proposals must also support cohesion activities with the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, Data, and Robotics and seek synergies with relevant international initiatives.
In summary, this funding opportunity seeks to invigorate innovation in AI-driven robotics within manufacturing, reinforcing Europe's competitive status in cutting-edge technologies and fostering an ecosystem conducive to advanced robotics skills development. The call opens on January 15, 2026, and concludes on April 15, 2026.
The initiative aims to achieve several key outcomes, including the development of advanced robotics skills focused on high precision autonomous manipulation and autonomous navigation in various environments. A core goal is to facilitate widespread deployment of robotics in the manufacturing sector, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The proposal includes a comprehensive framework for skill development in robotics, emphasizing measurable industry-relevant challenges and evaluation metrics. The automotive industry is highlighted as a significant use case, demonstrating how robotics can enhance production efficiency while ensuring that solutions are transferable across various manufacturing contexts.
The project involves a multi-stage competition, consisting of three distinct stages. Stage 1 features an open call for proposals, selecting the 10 highest-ranked submissions for further development. In Stage 2, these selected teams receive a EUR 200,000 grant each to create prototypes, with the top three progressing to Stage 3, the Grand Finale, for a chance to win EUR 1,000,000 each.
The opportunity primarily targets consortia, which must include user-industry companies from the manufacturing sector to ensure the relevance of project outcomes. Eligible applicants include SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and educational institutions based in EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, and several associated countries including Canada, Israel, South Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK. Notably, entities from China are excluded.
While no explicit co-funding requirements are mentioned, successful proposals are expected to outline plans for the uptake of developed solutions and share progress metrics. Proposals must also support cohesion activities with the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, Data, and Robotics and seek synergies with relevant international initiatives.
In summary, this funding opportunity seeks to invigorate innovation in AI-driven robotics within manufacturing, reinforcing Europe's competitive status in cutting-edge technologies and fostering an ecosystem conducive to advanced robotics skills development. The call opens on January 15, 2026, and concludes on April 15, 2026.
Detail
This EU funding opportunity, HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-08, titled "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) under the DIGITAL (HORIZON-CL4-2026-04) call. It aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in manufacturing by developing advanced robotics skills, foundation models, and adaptable frameworks. The planned opening date is January 15, 2026, with a deadline of April 15, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget is EUR 18,000,000, and it is expected that one grant will be awarded.
The expected outcomes of this project are:
Development of advanced robotics skills (e.g., high precision autonomous pick and place manipulation, autonomous navigation in unstructured environments) using robotics foundation models, tailored for manufacturing.
Creation of a comprehensive framework for general purpose and flexible robotics skills development with industry-relevant challenges, evaluation metrics, and success criteria.
Facilitation of widespread deployment of robotics in manufacturing, especially SMEs, through modular, adaptable, and reconfigurable solutions built on robotics foundation models, to meet evolving production needs.
The scope of the project includes:
Enhancing robotics capabilities in manufacturing by developing advanced robotics skills such as task and environment-aware autonomous pick and place with high precision and speed, and human-robot collaboration.
Leveraging next-generation AI, including generative AI, to enable robots to better adapt to real-world environments and interact with human operators, with a focus on reconfigurability.
Creating a comprehensive framework for robotics skills development in manufacturing, including the initial definition of three technical challenges that must be clearly described at the proposal stage, with evidence of their industrial relevance and potential impact.
Organizing a multi-stage competition for each of the three identified technical challenges, with each stage presenting an increased level of complexity.
Explicitly including the automotive industry as a key use case, demonstrating how advanced robotics can enhance production efficiency and adaptability in this sector, while also considering other use cases to demonstrate industry-agnostic nature and transferability.
Ensuring user-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) are core partners in the consortium, demonstrating a genuine interest in the project results and actively supporting the FSTP recipients.
The organization of the challenge involves three stages:
Stage 1 Open call: The consortium launches an open call for proposals, selecting the 10 highest-ranked proposals for each of the three technical robotics skills. Solutions can be submitted by a single SME, research organization, public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations.
Stage 2 Competition among Stage 1 winners: The 10 teams or organizations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. At the end of Stage 2, the 3 highest-ranked competing solutions will be selected for the next stage.
Stage 3 Grand Finale (competition among Stage 2 winners): The 3 best teams or organizations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. They will prepare for the grand finale to identify the best-performing solution.
The consortium should define measures to support the winning team in maximizing the impact and uptake of its solutions. Proposals must include a draft exploitation plan outlining how the solutions developed by the FSTP recipients will be taken up, with concrete support from the user-industry partners. This scheme is repeated for each of the three technical challenges.
All proposals are expected to incorporate mechanisms for assessing and demonstrating progress, including qualitative and quantitative KPIs, benchmarking, and progress monitoring. Proposals should build on and reuse public results from relevant previous funded actions and share communicable results through the AI-on-demand platform.
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. Proposals should also build on or seek collaboration with relevant projects and develop synergies with other relevant International, European, national, or regional initiatives.
The destination of this topic is to achieve open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging enabling technologies, with a focus on leadership in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Photonics, and Semiconductors. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.
General conditions for participation include:
Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.
Eligible Countries: Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.
Other Eligible Conditions: Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may not participate unless guarantees are provided.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: Described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Beneficiaries must provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants. FSTP grants may be provided to SMEs, research organizations, or public bodies. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates are available in the Submission System.
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation form templates will be used.
Additional documents include:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
This funding opportunity aims to foster innovation in AI-powered robotics for manufacturing by creating a competition that challenges participants to develop advanced robotics skills and solutions. The focus is on enhancing robotics capabilities through AI, promoting industry-agnostic solutions, and facilitating the deployment of robotics in manufacturing, particularly for SMEs. The project involves a multi-stage competition with significant financial support for third parties to encourage the development and uptake of innovative robotics solutions in the manufacturing sector, with a specific emphasis on the automotive industry as a key use case. The initiative seeks to strengthen Europe's position in frontier technologies and ensure its economic security and global competitiveness.
The expected outcomes of this project are:
Development of advanced robotics skills (e.g., high precision autonomous pick and place manipulation, autonomous navigation in unstructured environments) using robotics foundation models, tailored for manufacturing.
Creation of a comprehensive framework for general purpose and flexible robotics skills development with industry-relevant challenges, evaluation metrics, and success criteria.
Facilitation of widespread deployment of robotics in manufacturing, especially SMEs, through modular, adaptable, and reconfigurable solutions built on robotics foundation models, to meet evolving production needs.
The scope of the project includes:
Enhancing robotics capabilities in manufacturing by developing advanced robotics skills such as task and environment-aware autonomous pick and place with high precision and speed, and human-robot collaboration.
Leveraging next-generation AI, including generative AI, to enable robots to better adapt to real-world environments and interact with human operators, with a focus on reconfigurability.
Creating a comprehensive framework for robotics skills development in manufacturing, including the initial definition of three technical challenges that must be clearly described at the proposal stage, with evidence of their industrial relevance and potential impact.
Organizing a multi-stage competition for each of the three identified technical challenges, with each stage presenting an increased level of complexity.
Explicitly including the automotive industry as a key use case, demonstrating how advanced robotics can enhance production efficiency and adaptability in this sector, while also considering other use cases to demonstrate industry-agnostic nature and transferability.
Ensuring user-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) are core partners in the consortium, demonstrating a genuine interest in the project results and actively supporting the FSTP recipients.
The organization of the challenge involves three stages:
Stage 1 Open call: The consortium launches an open call for proposals, selecting the 10 highest-ranked proposals for each of the three technical robotics skills. Solutions can be submitted by a single SME, research organization, public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations.
Stage 2 Competition among Stage 1 winners: The 10 teams or organizations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. At the end of Stage 2, the 3 highest-ranked competing solutions will be selected for the next stage.
Stage 3 Grand Finale (competition among Stage 2 winners): The 3 best teams or organizations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. They will prepare for the grand finale to identify the best-performing solution.
The consortium should define measures to support the winning team in maximizing the impact and uptake of its solutions. Proposals must include a draft exploitation plan outlining how the solutions developed by the FSTP recipients will be taken up, with concrete support from the user-industry partners. This scheme is repeated for each of the three technical challenges.
All proposals are expected to incorporate mechanisms for assessing and demonstrating progress, including qualitative and quantitative KPIs, benchmarking, and progress monitoring. Proposals should build on and reuse public results from relevant previous funded actions and share communicable results through the AI-on-demand platform.
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. Proposals should also build on or seek collaboration with relevant projects and develop synergies with other relevant International, European, national, or regional initiatives.
The destination of this topic is to achieve open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging enabling technologies, with a focus on leadership in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Photonics, and Semiconductors. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.
General conditions for participation include:
Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.
Eligible Countries: Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.
Other Eligible Conditions: Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries may not participate unless guarantees are provided.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: Described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Beneficiaries must provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants. FSTP grants may be provided to SMEs, research organizations, or public bodies. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates are available in the Submission System.
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and evaluation form templates will be used.
Additional documents include:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
This funding opportunity aims to foster innovation in AI-powered robotics for manufacturing by creating a competition that challenges participants to develop advanced robotics skills and solutions. The focus is on enhancing robotics capabilities through AI, promoting industry-agnostic solutions, and facilitating the deployment of robotics in manufacturing, particularly for SMEs. The project involves a multi-stage competition with significant financial support for third parties to encourage the development and uptake of innovative robotics solutions in the manufacturing sector, with a specific emphasis on the automotive industry as a key use case. The initiative seeks to strengthen Europe's position in frontier technologies and ensure its economic security and global competitiveness.
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Breakdown
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishments, developers of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and the following additional associated countries: Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. In addition, entities established in third countries which may become associated to Horizon Europe during 2026 and 2027 may be eligible to participate in this topic if the third country is identified for this topic as an eligible country in the List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe at the time of submission of the application.
Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: AI-powered robotics, manufacturing, automotive, digital, industry, and space. It focuses on developing advanced robotics skills, AI, and automation in manufacturing environments.
Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Project Stage: The project stage encompasses research, development, and demonstration, with an emphasis on creating adaptable frameworks that can be transferred across different industrial contexts.
Funding Amount: The funding range is variable. In Stage 2, the 10 teams or organisations selected from Stage 1 will receive a EUR 200,000 FSTP grant each. In Stage 3, the 3 best teams or organisations selected from Stage 2 will receive a EUR 1,000,000 FSTP grant each. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 1,200,000.
Application Type: The application type is an open call.
Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.
Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through 3 stages to succeed in obtaining this opportunity. Stage 1 involves an open call, Stage 2 is a competition among Stage 1 winners, and Stage 3 is the Grand Finale competition among Stage 2 winners.
Success Rates: Success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the structure of the competition suggests a decreasing success rate at each stage. 10 teams are selected for stage 2 and 3 teams are selected for stage 3.
Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned.
Summary: This Horizon Europe call, "Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)", aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in the manufacturing sector. It seeks to develop advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, with a particular focus on the automotive industry. The call involves a multi-stage competition where participants develop solutions for technical robotics challenges. Funding is provided through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with grants of EUR 200,000 awarded in Stage 2 and EUR 1,000,000 in Stage 3. The program is open to SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and other entities from eligible countries, and it emphasizes the importance of collaboration with user-industry companies. The overall goal is to enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, promote the deployment of AI and automation, and strengthen Europe’s position in frontier technologies. The call also implements the co-programmed European Partnership on AI, data, and robotics (ADRA), and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks for cohesion activities with ADRA. The call opens on January 15, 2026 and closes on April 15, 2026.
Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are SMEs, research organisations, public bodies secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism used in this program is a grant, specifically through Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The challenge can be submitted either by a single SME, research organisation or public body secondary or higher education establishment, developer of robotics solutions, or a small team of organizations. User-industry companies from the manufacturing sector (including automotive) should be core partners in the consortium.
Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The
Short Summary
Impact The funding aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in manufacturing by developing advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, particularly focusing on the automotive industry. | Impact | The funding aims to accelerate the adoption of AI-powered robotics in manufacturing by developing advanced robotics skills and adaptable frameworks that can be applied across various industrial contexts, particularly focusing on the automotive industry. |
Applicant Applicants should possess expertise in robotics, AI, and manufacturing, with the ability to develop innovative solutions and demonstrate collaboration with user-industry partners. | Applicant | Applicants should possess expertise in robotics, AI, and manufacturing, with the ability to develop innovative solutions and demonstrate collaboration with user-industry partners. |
Developments The funding will support projects that enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, including the development of advanced robotics skills, human-robot collaboration, and modular, adaptable solutions. | Developments | The funding will support projects that enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing, including the development of advanced robotics skills, human-robot collaboration, and modular, adaptable solutions. |
Applicant Type This funding is designed for consortia of SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and educational institutions, with user-industry companies from the manufacturing sector as core partners. | Applicant Type | This funding is designed for consortia of SMEs, research organizations, public bodies, and educational institutions, with user-industry companies from the manufacturing sector as core partners. |
Consortium A consortium of multiple applicants is required for the main coordination body, while individual participants can compete as single applicants or small teams. | Consortium | A consortium of multiple applicants is required for the main coordination body, while individual participants can compete as single applicants or small teams. |
Funding Amount The total budget for the project is €18,000,000, with grants of €200,000 for Stage 2 and €1,000,000 for Stage 3 awarded to selected participants. | Funding Amount | The total budget for the project is €18,000,000, with grants of €200,000 for Stage 2 and €1,000,000 for Stage 3 awarded to selected participants. |
Countries Eligible countries include EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, with restrictions on participation from entities established in China. | Countries | Eligible countries include EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Canada, Israel, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, with restrictions on participation from entities established in China. |
Industry The funding targets the manufacturing sector, specifically focusing on AI-powered robotics, digital industry, and advanced manufacturing technologies. | Industry | The funding targets the manufacturing sector, specifically focusing on AI-powered robotics, digital industry, and advanced manufacturing technologies. |
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