MAGICIAN Open Call 2 - Adaptation MAGICIAN capabilities framework to 5 new manufacturing use cases

The MAGICIAN Open Call 2 is an EU-funded opportunity focusing on the adaptation of the MAGICIAN capabilities framework to five new manufacturing use cases. It has a total funding pool of €1,000,000, with each project receiving up to €200,000. The opening date for applications is December 1, 2025, and the deadline for submission is March 2, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time.

Designed under the Horizon Europe program, specifically identified as HORIZON-CL4-2022-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-07, the call supports advanced manufacturing sectors such as Aerospace, Electronics, Heavy Industry & Energy, Interior Design Components, Maritime & Shipbuilding, Public Transport, Intermediate Components (like glass and plastic), and White Goods. The focus is on defect detection and automated rework processes in manufacturing, integrating robotics and AI.

Eligible applicants include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which can receive 70% of project funding, and startups, which may obtain up to 100% funding without mandatory cost-sharing. The call targets projects at the demonstration and validation stage, seeking to promote market adaptation of existing technologies developed within the MAGICIAN framework to new contexts.

The application process is a single-stage submission through an online portal, requiring a proposal description that combines technical and business-oriented elements, capped at 15 pages and submitted in English. Proposals will be evaluated based on three criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Implementation Quality, scored on a scale from one to five.

A clear success rate cannot be calculated as the number of applicants is unspecified, but typically, selective calls like this may yield success rates between 10-20%. All proposals must meet specific submission requirements; incomplete applications will be rejected.

Overall, the MAGICIAN Open Call 2 aims to encourage innovation in manufacturing by funding practical applications of robotic and AI technologies across diverse industrial sectors, enhancing Europe’s competitiveness in advanced manufacturing.

The MAGICIAN Open Call 2 focuses on adapting the MAGICIAN capabilities framework to 5 new manufacturing use cases.

General Information:

Opening date: 01 December 2025
Deadline model: Single-stage
Deadline date: 02 March 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time)
Total funding available: €1,000,000.00
Project acronym: MAGICIAN
Full name of the EU funded project: iMmersive leArninG for ImperfeCtion detectIon and repAir through human-robot interactioN
Grant agreement number: 101120731
Topic: HORIZON-CL4-2022-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-07 - Increased robotics capabilities demonstrated in key sectors (AI, Data and Robotics Partnership) (IA)
Expected duration of participation: 2001-11-30T16:00:00.000Z

Submission & Evaluation Process:

Proposals for a MAGICIAN Application Solution (AS) are submitted in a single-stage through the submission portal. Applicants must complete the application form and upload a proposal description file, which includes a technical description and a business-oriented description. This document should be a maximum of 15 pages, written in English, and submitted in PDF format. Missing mandatory documents will result in the proposal being considered incomplete and ineligible for evaluation. No additions or changes to received proposals will be accepted after the call closes.

The evaluation process is based on scores from 1 to 5, assigned according to three criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Implementation quality. The outcome will be a ranked list of all proposals, ordered by the total score. All applicants will be informed whether their Application Solution was accepted. The first call notifications are planned for release on 30 April 2026.

Further Information:

Five Application Use Case proposals, selected based on the ranked list, will receive up to €200,000 each. The funding rate will cover 70% of the budget for SMEs and up to 100% for startups designated as beneficiaries.

Task Description:

This Open Call aims to fund 5 distinct projects, each addressing a specific use case designed to extend and demonstrate the applications of a maximum of 2 capabilities envisioned within the MAGICIAN framework for the future MAGICIAN solution, in innovative domains beyond the automotive sector. Capabilities need to be adapted to a specific selected sector among: Aerospace; Electronics; Heavy Industry & Energy; Interior Design Components; Maritime & Shipbuilding; Public Transport; Intermediate Components (glass, plastic, textile); White Goods.

In summary, the MAGICIAN Open Call 2 provides funding for projects that can adapt and demonstrate the capabilities of the MAGICIAN framework in manufacturing sectors beyond automotive. The call is open to SMEs and startups, with funding covering a significant portion of project budgets. Proposals are evaluated based on excellence, impact, and implementation quality, with a total of 1 million euros available to fund 5 projects up to 200,000 euros each. The application process is single-stage, requiring a detailed proposal including technical and business descriptions. The goal is to foster innovation by applying MAGICIAN's robotics and AI capabilities to new manufacturing challenges in areas like aerospace, electronics, and maritime industries.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are SMEs and startups. The funding rate covers 70% of the budget for SMEs and up to 100% for startups.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity funds distinct projects, implying that single applicants are eligible, although the possibility of consortia is not explicitly excluded. The call aims to fund 5 distinct projects.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but given that it is an EU funding opportunity under Horizon Europe (HORIZON-CL4-2022-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-07), it is likely open to entities in EU member states and associated countries.

Target Sector: The program targets the adaptation of MAGICIAN capabilities to new manufacturing use cases in the following sectors: Aerospace, Electronics, Heavy Industry & Energy, Interior Design Components, Maritime & Shipbuilding, Public Transport, Intermediate Components (glass, plastic, textile), and White Goods. The original MAGICIAN framework is related to imperfection detection and repair through human-robot interaction, so the call is related to robotics and AI in manufacturing.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The opportunity is an EU funding opportunity, so it is likely open to entities in EU member states and associated countries. Brussels is mentioned as the reference time zone for the deadline.

Project Stage: The project stage is demonstration. The call aims to fund projects that extend and demonstrate the applications of capabilities within the MAGICIAN framework. The projects should address specific use cases.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to €200,000 per project. A total of €1,000,000 is available, to be distributed among 5 projects.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. Proposals are submitted through the MAGICIAN submission portal.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rate can be estimated. Since 5 projects will be funded, the success rate depends on the number of applications received. If many applications are received, the success rate could be below 10%. If few applications are received, the success rate could be higher.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for SMEs, as the funding rate covers 70% of their budget. Startups may receive up to 100% funding, so no co-funding is required for them.

Summary:

This is an EU-funded open call under the Horizon Europe program (HORIZON-CL4-2022-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-07) named MAGICIAN Open Call 2. It aims to fund 5 distinct projects with up to €200,000 each, totaling €1,000,000. The call focuses on adapting and demonstrating the MAGICIAN framework's capabilities, which involve immersive learning for imperfection detection and repair through human-robot interaction, to new manufacturing use cases beyond the automotive sector. Eligible applicants are SMEs (receiving 70% funding) and startups (receiving up to 100% funding). The targeted sectors include Aerospace, Electronics, Heavy Industry & Energy, Interior Design Components, Maritime & Shipbuilding, Public Transport, Intermediate Components (glass, plastic, textile), and White Goods. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline of March 2, 2026. Applicants must submit a proposal description and a technical description (max 15 pages) in English through the MAGICIAN submission portal. The proposals will be evaluated based on Excellence, Impact, and Implementation quality. The selected projects will extend and demonstrate a maximum of 2 capabilities envisioned within the MAGICIAN framework. The call seeks to expand the application of robotics and AI in manufacturing processes within the specified sectors.