Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments

The EIC Pathfinder Challenge titled "Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments" is part of the Horizon Europe program. It aims to support innovative research and development in the field of construction robotics, particularly focused on autonomous robotic systems that can collaborate in performing construction tasks. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, research organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and public-private partnerships from EU member states and Horizon Europe-associated countries.

Funding is provided through grants with amounts ranging from 500,000 to 4 million euros per project, with an average award of approximately 3.73 million euros. The call encourages collaborative efforts, typically requiring either a consortium of at least two entities from different member states or a single legal entity. Projects should target early-stage research and should progress toward achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, which involves validation in laboratory environments.

This challenge seeks to foster significant advancements in the construction sector by transitioning it toward more automated, electrified, and collaborative approaches. The main focus is on developing autonomous mobile multi-robotic platforms capable of performing site preparation, substructure, and superstructure tasks while enhancing productivity, safety, and sustainability.

Each funded project is anticipated to meet specific objectives. They include developing a load-bearing material-robot building system demonstrating TRL4, creating an autonomous mobile multi-robot platform for assembly tasks, and executing a TRL4 demonstration of an autonomous assembly sequence. The initiative aligns with European strategic goals, such as the European Green Deal and the European AI Strategy, addressing labor shortages and promoting innovative solutions to improve construction processes.

The application process is structured as a single-stage submission, with a deadline set for October 29, 2025. Success rates for previous proposals indicate a competitive environment, with around 7.7% of applicants funded. Co-funding is generally not required as grants cover 100% of eligible costs. The overall budget for this call is 120 million euros, with an expectation to fund approximately eight projects. Proposals should demonstrate innovative approaches that contribute to the digital and green transitions in the construction sector.

The HORIZON-EIC-2025-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01-03 call, titled "Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments," is part of the EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2025 under the Horizon Europe program. It aims to foster radical innovations in on-site construction robotics by developing breakthrough technologies for autonomous collaborative robots that can work together in swarms to perform construction tasks. The goal is to transition the construction sector towards a digitalized, electrified, and more automated future.

The call specifically targets the development of autonomous collaborative on-site construction robots for an integrated, designed-for-robotics, digital production and assembly chain. It is open to the three main construction tasks (site preparation, substructure, and superstructure) applied to buildings and infrastructure, with innovative applications in adjacent segments also considered.

Each funded project is expected to deliver on three specific objectives:

Objective 1: Develop a simplified structural, load-bearing, material-robot building system. This system should assemble a representative and future-relevant structure (pavilion) using discrete modules. The system must demonstrate Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, meaning validation in a laboratory environment, of the autonomous collaborative multi-robotic assembly. The structure can represent various infrastructure, building, or construction elements, and can integrate unprocessed and pre-processed in-situ building materials. The technologies should be demonstrated at a relevant human scale or larger, incorporating design-for-robotic-assembly aspects and including a virtual simulation of the assembly process. Key design decisions must be validated against the TRL4 demonstration objectives.

Objective 2: Develop an autonomous mobile multi-robotic collaborative platform. This platform should use at least two mutually aware collaborative robotic systems specifically designed for the assembly tasks outlined in Objective 1. This requires a structured systems engineering approach, including functional system analysis and allocation of functions between humans and machines. The design should define system states and modes, along with transitions, to ensure safe autonomous operations and effective robot-robot and human-robot collaborations at TRL4. The project should also describe how the technology can be scaled to meet the full dimensions of commercial applications. Utilizing existing industrial robots or modifying existing construction tools is allowed, but novel multi-robotic platforms are encouraged to overcome scaling limitations.

Objective 3: Achieve a TRL4 demonstration of an autonomous assembly sequence. This involves using the building system developed in Objective 1, executed by the robotic platform developed in Objective 2. The demonstration should take place in a laboratory environment and include tests exploring the system’s resilience and limits under controlled, unstructured real-world conditions. A subsequent disassembly sequence demonstration is optional but encouraged. The tests should identify key weaknesses and recommend future technology developments.

The call specifically excludes on-site 3D-printing of cementitious materials or polymers as a primary construction task.

The expected outcomes and impacts of this challenge align with the European Green Deal, the European AI Strategy, and Horizon Europe's strategic orientations. These include addressing labor market shortages, enhancing productivity and competitiveness in the construction industry, improving worker safety, facilitating a shift towards offsite fabrication and onsite assembly, reducing emissions from construction activities, and lowering costs and risks associated with construction projects. The challenge aims to serve as a lighthouse for industrialization in areas like affordable housing, renovation, circular construction, and infrastructure development.

The call encourages consortia to collaborate on developing performance metrics and communicating outputs to accelerate the adoption of radical innovations. The portfolio of selected projects will aim to cover a complementary set of projects spanning application fields (super-structure, sub-structure, site-preparation, building, infrastructure) and approach fields (type of robot, number of agents, coordination strategy, level of autonomy, multi-modal sensors, resilience strategy, type of discrete building elements).

Specific conditions include restrictions on applications concerning the evolution of European communication networks (5G, post-5G). Proposals must meet general eligibility requirements outlined in Annex 2, as well as specific requirements for the challenge.

The EIC Pathfinder Challenges support collaborative or individual research and innovation from consortia or single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country. Consortia of two entities must be comprised of independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries. Consortia of three or more entities must include at least three legal entities, independent from each other and each established in a different country. Legal entities can be universities, research organizations, SMEs, start-ups, or natural persons. Mid-caps and larger companies are not permitted as single beneficiaries.

The proposal page limit for sections 1 to 3 of Part B is 30 A4 pages.

The call has a budget of EUR 120,000,000 and is expected to fund approximately 8 projects. The contribution per project is expected to range from EUR 500,000 to EUR 4,000,000. The call is a single-stage process, with a planned opening date of July 24, 2025, and a deadline of October 29, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The call aims to revolutionize the construction industry by promoting the development and adoption of autonomous, collaborative robotic systems. It seeks to address key challenges such as labor shortages, productivity gaps, and environmental concerns by fostering innovative solutions that integrate off-site fabrication with on-site robotic assembly. The focus is on creating adaptable, efficient, and safe construction processes through the use of multi-robotic collaboration, advanced control algorithms, and human-robot interaction. The ultimate goal is to transform construction sites into digitalized, electrified, and automated environments, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient future for the sector.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups, and natural persons. Mid-caps and larger companies are not permitted as single beneficiaries. The EIC Pathfinder Challenges support collaborative or individual research and innovation from consortia or from single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country.

Funding Type: The funding type for this opportunity is a grant, specifically a HORIZON EIC Grant, utilizing a Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity requires either a consortium or a single legal entity. If applying as a consortium, specific requirements apply based on the number of entities involved. Consortia of two entities must be comprised of independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries. Consortia of three or more entities must include as beneficiaries at least three legal entities, independent from each other and each established in a different country.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility for applicants includes Member States and Associated Countries.

Target Sector: The target sector for this program is construction, specifically focusing on on-site construction robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies for the green and digital transitions of the construction sector.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions Member States and Associated Countries as regions for eligible legal entities.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project for this opportunity is at the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, which involves validation in a laboratory environment.

Funding Amount: The funding range for this opportunity is between 500,000 EUR and 4,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type for this opportunity is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is 8, but the success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This EIC Pathfinder Challenge, titled "Towards autonomous robot collectives delivering collaborative tasks in dynamic unstructured construction environments," aims to foster the development of breakthrough technologies in autonomous collaborative on-site construction robotics. The challenge is part of the Horizon Europe program and seeks to revolutionize the construction sector by integrating digital technologies, AI, and robotics to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

The core objective is to transition the construction industry from traditional methods to a more automated, electrified, and collaborative approach, addressing issues such as labor shortages, productivity gaps, and environmental concerns. The challenge encourages projects that cover site preparation, substructure, and superstructure tasks, with a focus on autonomous electrified construction equipment and human-robot collaboration.

Projects funded under this challenge are expected to achieve three specific objectives: developing a material-robot building system demonstrating TRL4, creating an autonomous mobile multi-robotic collaborative platform, and achieving a TRL4 demonstration of an autonomous assembly sequence. The challenge emphasizes off-site modular production combined with on-site autonomous assembly, excluding on-site 3D-printing of cementitious materials or polymers as a primary construction task.

Eligible applicants include universities, research organizations, SMEs, and start-ups from EU Member States and Associated Countries. The funding ranges from 500,000 EUR to 4,000,000 EUR, and the application process involves a single-stage submission. This initiative aligns with the European Green Deal and the European AI Strategy, aiming to drive the digital and green transitions in the construction sector while promoting affordable housing, circular construction, and infrastructure development.