FORTIS Open Call #2: Pushing towards the deployment of FORTIS and Exploiting the FORTIS solution in other key sectors

FORTIS Open Call 2 is a Horizon Europe cascade funding call under the FORTIS project to advance human–robot interaction solutions from TRL 4–5 to TRL 7 through integration, pilot deployment or cross‑sector transfer. The single-stage call opens 1 September 2026 and closes 4 November 2026 (17:00 Brussels time) with an indicative total budget of €3,142,746.92 across two topics: OC2.1 for integration and pilots and OC2.2 for cross‑sector exploitation. OC2.1 requires consortia of three eligible entities including at least one SME and partners from at least two eligible countries with indicative grants up to €250,000, while OC2.2 accepts two‑partner consortia including an SME with indicative grants up to €170,000. Standard Horizon funding rates apply (100 percent for non‑profit research entities, 70 percent for SMEs and for‑profits), the budget for non‑industry partners is capped at 30 percent and a lifetime ceiling of €200,000 applies per legal entity across FORTIS open calls.

What it funds

Scope and expected results

Short projects (10 months) to integrate, pilot-deploy or transfer human-robot interaction (HRI) technologies into the FORTIS framework or to validate FORTIS-enabled solutions in other civilian sectors. Projects must start at TRL 4–5 and aim to reach TRL 7 by completion.

Funding available:Total budget €3,142,746.92; Topic OC#2.1 budget €2,065,373.46 (indicative up to €250,000 per project, at least 8 projects); Topic OC#2.2 budget €1,077,373.46 (indicative up to €170,000 per project, at least 6 projects). Official call page and application are provided by the FORTIS consortium FORTIS Open Call 2 ¹

Who can apply

Multidisciplinary consortia of eligible entities including universities and research organisations (RTOs), mid-caps, SMEs, startups and domain end-users. Topic OC#2.1 requires 3 partners from at least 2 eligible countries (must include at least 1 SME). Topic OC#2.2 accepts 2-partner consortia (must include at least 1 SME); single-country consortia allowed.

Key eligibility and conditions

1. 1Strict lifetime funding ceiling of €200,000 per legal entity across FORTIS Open Calls.
2. 2Horizon funding rates: 100% for non-profit entities (universities/RTOs), 70% for SMEs/for-profits.
3. 3Budget for non-industry partners limited to max 30% of total project budget.

Important dates:Opening 01 September 2026; Single-stage deadline 04 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Apply online via the F6S portal.

Apply and find full call documents and Q&A on the FORTIS site and F6S platform Apply via F6S ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Official call information, application form and Q&A are hosted at the FORTIS Open Call 2 pages: fortis-project.eu and f6s.com

Call Title and Context

Overview

Opportunity Title:FORTIS Open Call #2: Pushing towards the deployment of FORTIS and Exploiting the FORTIS solution in other key sectors. This is a cascade funding open call launched under the EU-funded project FORTIS (Multi-Modal and Multi-Aspect Holistic Human-Robot Interaction), grant agreement 101135707, associated with the HORIZON-CL4 topic (Industrial leadership in AI, Data and Robotics – advanced human robot interaction). The call opened on 1 September 2026 and has a single-stage submission deadline of 04 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Expected project participation duration is 10 months and the total budget available for the call is €3,142,746.92.

Primary objectives:The open call aims to attract universities, research organisations, mid-caps, SMEs, startups and domain end-users able to integrate their technologies into the FORTIS framework or to demonstrate transfer and validation of FORTIS technologies to other civilian sectors. Projects must start at TRL 4–5 and be expected to reach TRL 7 by the end of the funded activity ¹.

Topics and Subtopics

Applicants must apply under one of two main topics. Each topic defines technical scopes, consortium requirements and indicative funding per project.

1. 1Topic OC#2.1: Pushing towards the deployment of FORTIS (Integration and pilot deployment). Subtopics: 1) Optimisation of HRC / Task Allocation; 2) Flexible Interface Digital Twin; 3) HRI Watchdog; 4) HRI Activities Digital Twin; 5) Omnideployment of the FORTIS Solution; 6) Ergonomics-Aware Human State and Interaction Context for Adaptive HRC; 7) Interfaces with XR; 8) Trust-Aware Multi-Sensor Localisation and Mapping for FORTIS Robotic Platforms.
2. 2Topic OC#2.2: Exploiting the FORTIS solution in other key sectors. Open topic for technology transfer and cross-sector validation in non-core civilian HRI domains such as agriculture, healthcare, events, retail, and similar sectors.

Eligibility and Applicant Types

Eligible applicant types explicitly invited in the call text include universities, research organisations (RTOs), mid-cap companies, SMEs, startups and domain end-users. The call is oriented to multidisciplinary consortia that combine technical and application partners able to integrate with the FORTIS ecosystem or validate solutions in new sectors.

Eligible Applicant Types (detailed):Eligible applicant types: universities, research and technology organisations (RTOs), mid-cap enterprises, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), startups, domain end-users (organisations operating in sectors targeted for pilots and validations), and other research organisations. Non-profit research entities and for-profit companies are both contemplated and attract different funding rates under the call rules ¹.

Funding and Financial Conditions

Total call budget:€3,142,746.92 split across the two topics. Topic-specific budgets, per-project indicative contributions, funding rates and limits are defined below.

Funding rates and constraints:Standard Horizon Europe rules apply — 100% funding rate for non-profit entities (universities/RTOs) and 70% for SMEs/for-profit entities. A strict lifetime cumulative funding ceiling of €200,000 per individual legal entity applies across FORTIS Open Calls (OC#1 and OC#2 combined). Budget for non-industry partners cannot exceed 30% of the total project budget.

Consortium, Geographic and Project Stage Requirements

Consortia requirements differ by topic and are mandatory. Topic OC#2.1 requires three eligible entities including at least one SME from at least two different eligible countries. Topic OC#2.2 requires two eligible entities including at least one SME; single-country consortia are allowed for OC#2.2. The call text refers to eligible countries (as per the FORTIS open call and cascade rules) but does not list them explicitly in the scraped content; applicants should consult the official call documentation on the FORTIS open call pages for the definitive list of eligible countries and any association rules ¹. Projects must enter with Technology Readiness Level TRL 4–5 and aim to reach TRL 7 by the end of the funded work.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The call is executed under an EU Horizon project and expects partners from eligible countries. The scraped call text refers generally to entities from eligible countries and requires cross-country consortia for OC#2.1; it does not enumerate a country list in the scraped content. Applicants should treat the geographic scope as EU and Horizon-related eligible countries and verify the definitive eligibility list on the official call page before applying ¹.

Application and Submission

Application method:single-stage open call. Applicants must apply online through the F6S application platform (f6s.com). The FORTIS consortium will communicate official information primarily via the FORTIS open call page and the F6S platform; no binding information will be provided through alternative channels. There is an online Q&A and discussion forum on the F6S call page and specific helpdesk contacts for platform and call support.

Application Type and Process:Open call, single-stage submission via the F6S portal. All mandatory sections on the F6S form must be completed. Online discussion and Q&A are available on F6S and official information is on the FORTIS website ¹.

Assessment, Evaluation and Selection

The scraped documentation indicates that up to 14 projects will be supported across the two topics (minimum 8 under OC#2.1 and minimum 6 under OC#2.2). The submission is evaluated in a single-stage process. Evaluation criteria specifics are not present in the scraped content; applicants should consult the call documentation for the evaluation criteria, weighting, and thresholds. The number of evaluation stages is therefore one (single-stage submission).

Application Stages:Single-stage submission. There is no multi-stage proposal submission indicated in the scraped content. Applicants will submit proposals once via the F6S form and projects will be selected from that single submission round ¹.

Nature of Support and Co-funding

Nature of support:The opportunity provides monetary grants (cascade funding) to selected project consortia. Funding is provided according to the Horizon-style funding rates described above (100% for non-profit research entities; 70% for SMEs/for-profit entities). The call text does not mandate additional co-funding beyond the established rules; the funding rates and ceilings effectively define the financial participation expected from applicants. Applicants must respect the lifetime funding ceiling of €200,000 per legal entity across FORTIS calls.

Co-funding Requirement:No separate co-funding is specified in the scraped content beyond the standard Horizon funding regime. The effective co-funding rate for for-profit beneficiaries is interpreted via the 70% funding rate; non-profit research organisations may be funded at 100% ¹.

Project Maturity and Target Sector

Project Stage:Projects must enter at TRL 4–5 and aim to reach TRL 7 by project completion. Target Sectors: The primary technical domain is Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) within robotics, AI and data-driven interaction systems. Topic OC#2.1 focuses on deployment in core FORTIS sectors (industrial pilots in construction, maintenance and logistics mentioned in broader project context). Topic OC#2.2 targets cross-sector exploitation and validation in other civilian domains including agriculture, healthcare, events, retail and similar verticals.

Application Templates and Proposal Structure Guidance

The scraped content does not include official application templates embedded in the text. Applicants must apply via the F6S online form and complete all mandatory sections presented there. The call documentation on the FORTIS site and F6S likely contains the application form and specific templates or guidance documents; applicants should download and follow those resources exactly. The call explicitly instructs applicants to use the F6S link and the FORTIS open call page for all documents and communication ¹.

Recommended Proposal Structure (applicants should adapt to the F6S form and official templates):A practical structure to prepare offline before populating the F6S form: 1) Proposal summary and selected topic/subtopic; 2) Consortium description and roles (including SME status and country); 3) Technical state-of-the-art and TRL justification (start TRL 4–5); 4) Work plan to reach TRL 7 within 10 months (tasks, milestones, deliverables, pilot sites); 5) Integration plan with FORTIS ecosystem and software/hardware interfaces; 6) Validation and exploitation plan (including cross-sector transfer if OC#2.2); 7) Budget breakdown, showing adherence to funding rate rules and non-industry partner cap (max 30%); 8) Ethics, data management, IP and sustainability considerations; 9) Risk management and consortium capacity. This recommended structure mirrors the technical expectations described in the call but is not an official template; applicants must follow the exact F6S form fields and any official template provided on the call pages ¹.

Success Rates and Selection Probability

The call states that an indicative total of 14 projects will be funded (minimum 8 under OC#2.1 and minimum 6 under OC#2.2). The scraped content does not provide the number of expected or historical applicants or success rate statistics. Therefore, no explicit success rate can be computed from the provided materials. Applicants should assume competitive selection and prepare high-quality, clearly integrated proposals consistent with the FORTIS objectives and evaluation criteria described in the official call documentation.

Contact, Communication Channels and Official Links

1. 1Main open call information: fortis-project.eu Link to FORTIS Open Call
2. 2Apply via F6S: f6s.com Link to Apply on F6S
3. 3Online Q&A and discussion forum: f6s.com Link to F6S Discussion
4. 4F6S platform technical support: support@f6s.com
5. 5Open Call helpdesk: fortis-opencalls@f6s.com

Applicants are warned that the FORTIS consortium will communicate official information primarily via the FORTIS website and F6S; no binding information will be provided via alternative channels. Always consult the official call page and platform for the authoritative resources and templates before submitting ¹.

Quick Reference Table

Concluding Summary

What is this opportunity about and how would you explain it? FORTIS Open Call #2 is a competitive cascade funding opportunity under the EU-funded FORTIS project aimed at accelerating the deployment of advanced human-robot interaction technologies and enabling cross-sector transfer of the FORTIS solution. It targets technology providers (SMEs, mid-caps, startups), research organisations and application end-users that can start from TRL 4–5 and demonstrate progress to TRL 7 within a 10-month project. The call funds a total of roughly €3.14 million across two topic streams: one focused on integration and pilot deployment within the FORTIS ecosystem (OC#2.1) and a second for cross-sector validation and technology transfer into sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, retail and events (OC#2.2). Topic OC#2.1 requires multi-country consortia (minimum three partners including at least one SME); OC#2.2 allows two-partner consortia and single-country proposals. Funding is provided as grants via the F6S application portal with Horizon-style funding rules, specific per-project funding caps, and a strict lifetime cap of €200,000 per legal entity across FORTIS open calls. Applicants must apply online and use the official FORTIS website and F6S platform for documentation and Q&A. Interested consortia should prepare a focused technical plan to integrate with FORTIS, a clear TRL advancement roadmap, deployment and validation activities, exploitation and sustainability plans, and a compliant budget aligned with the funding rules. For the authoritative call text, templates, and eligibility clarification, consult the official FORTIS Open Call #2 page and the F6S application pages ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and application portal: FORTIS Open Call #2 information and application materials are available at fortis-project.eu and the application form is hosted on F6S: f6s.com. Contact: fortis-opencalls@f6s.com; F6S support: support@f6s.com.

FORTIS Open Call #2 is a Horizon Europe cascade funding opportunity under the FORTIS project, designed to accelerate human robot interaction solutions from TRL 4 to TRL 7 through integration, pilot deployment, or transfer into new civilian sectors.[3][10] The call opens on 1 September 2026, follows a single stage process, and closes on 4 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time, with an expected participation duration of 10 months.[3]

What the call is about

The call supports innovators who can integrate technologies into the FORTIS framework or demonstrate cross sector adoption of the FORTIS solution in other key domains such as agriculture, healthcare, events, and retail.[3][10] Proposals must start at TRL 4 to 5 and aim to reach TRL 7 by the end of the project.[3][10]

• OC#2.1 Pushing towards the deployment of FORTIS, focused on integration and pilot deployment.[3]
• OC#2.2 Exploiting the FORTIS solution in other key sectors, focused on technology transfer and cross sector validation.[3]
• OC#2.1 subtopics include task allocation, digital twin interfaces, HRI watchdog functions, HRI activity digital twins, omnideployment, ergonomics aware human state and interaction context, XR interfaces, and trust aware localisation and mapping.[3]

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include universities, research organisations or RTOs, mid caps, SMEs, startups, and domain end users, provided they form an eligible consortium.[3][10] Individual applicants are not eligible, and the call is intended for multidisciplinary consortia able to demonstrate technical capacity and sector relevance.[10]

Across the full open call, the total available funding is €3,142,746.92 and an indicative total of about 14 projects is expected to be supported, at least 8 under OC#2.1 and at least 6 under OC#2.2.[3][10]

Funding rates and financial conditions

• Non profit entities such as universities and RTOs can receive up to 100 percent of eligible costs.[3][10]
• SMEs and other for profit entities can receive up to 70 percent of eligible costs.[3][10]
• The budget allocated to non industry partners may not exceed 30 percent of the total project budget.[3][10]
• A strict lifetime cumulative ceiling of €200,000 applies per legal entity across FORTIS Open Calls #1 and #2 combined.[3][10]
• Project implementation is expected to last 10 months.[3]
• In OC#2.1, payments may be structured in instalments linked to sprint completion, typically 30 percent, 30 percent, and 40 percent.[10]

Application route and key references

Applications must be submitted online through the F6S application portal F6S application page, and the open call information page is available at FORTIS Open Call 2.[3][10] The official project page is FORTIS project, and the call is associated with the Horizon Europe action HORIZON-CL4.[3]

Practical applicant takeaways

Applicants should prioritise a strong consortium with at least one SME, ensure the work plan can credibly move the solution from TRL 4 to TRL 7 within 10 months, and align the proposal tightly with one of the defined call topics or cross sector validation use cases.[3][10] The most important constraints to check early are consortium size, country coverage, the 30 percent cap on non industry partners, and the €200,000 lifetime entity limit across FORTIS open calls.[3][10]