WASABI: Open Call for Experiments 2

The WASABI project is calling for applications for its second Open Call for Experiments, aimed at small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector. The total funding available is €1,522,250, which is intended to support approximately ten individual experiments focused on developing and utilizing AI-based assistance technologies in manufacturing processes or products. Each project is expected to receive around €150,000 in funding, and the duration of the funded activities will be twelve months.

SMEs from any manufacturing sector are eligible to apply, and the application process will be conducted online in a single-stage format. Proposals must be submitted through the Evaluation Management System (EMS) platform, and each submission will be evaluated based on criteria such as technical excellence, impact, and implementation.

The primary aim of the WASABI project is to integrate digital intelligent assistance solutions and human-AI collaboration in manufacturing to enhance operational efficiency. The specific areas of interest for this call include advanced functionalities like human-machine interfaces for complex processes, employee onboarding systems, conversational AI for data access, and conversation-guided maintenance operations.

The WASABI initiative strives to make advanced digital intelligence solutions widely accessible to smaller organizations, enabling them to implement these technologies without overwhelming complexity. This can help enhance workers' cognitive abilities and facilitate knowledge transfer while promoting sustainability and innovation within the manufacturing sector.

The call opens for submissions on August 7, 2025, and will close on October 9, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. This opportunity is part of the EU's Horizon Europe program, specifically within the topic focused on ICT innovation for manufacturing sustainability. Applicants are encouraged to participate actively in the WASABI ecosystem and collaborate with Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) as part of their experiments.

For further information, interested parties can explore the WASABI project website or reach out via provided contact details.

The WASABI project is launching its 2nd Open Call for experiments, aiming to fund approximately 10 application experiments. These experiments should focus on the development and utilization of AI-based assistance for processes or products within the manufacturing sector.

The primary objective of this open call is to attract applicants from all manufacturing sectors who are working on advanced functionalities in the implementation of digital assistance solutions. Specific areas of interest include: Human machine interface for complex processes, Agile onboarding of new employees in complex manufacturing systems, Conversation AI facilitating data access in different thematic areas, and Conversation guided maintenance operations.

Proposals must be submitted online by SMEs through a single-stage process via the Evaluation Management System (EMS) platform, accessible at https://wasabi.ems-innovalia.org. Each proposal will be evaluated by two evaluators based on criteria such as technical excellence, impact, and implementation.

The WASABI project centers on digital intelligent assistance solutions that leverage human-AI collaboration within the manufacturing domain. The WASABI solution aims to enhance the cognitive abilities of workers and accelerate the acquisition and transfer of knowledge through Natural Language Processing (NLP). The project seeks to make digital intelligence assistance and conversational artificial intelligence solutions standard practices, accessible, affordable, and manageable even for small companies. This will enable companies to achieve sustainability principles, technological and operational innovation capacity, and market competitiveness.

The total budget for this Open Call for experiments is EUR 1,522,250.00, which will be used to fund around 10 experiments.

The tasks expected of the experiments include: Developing a digital assistant to address a specific challenge in manufacturing, Creating a WASABI shop to distribute the developed OVOS skill, Participating in the WASABI ecosystem, and Collaborating with a (E)DIH included in the European DIH Map.

Key details of the open call are as follows: The opening date is 07 August 2025. The deadline for submission is 09 October 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 12 months. The project acronym is WASABI. The full name of the EU funded project is White-label shop for digital intelligent assistance and human-AI collaboration in manufacturing. The grant agreement number is 101092176. The relevant topic is HORIZON-CL4-2022-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-06 - ICT Innovation for Manufacturing Sustainability in SMEs (I4MS2) (Made in Europe Partnership) (IA).

For further information, applicants can visit the WASABI website at www.wasabiproject.eu or contact the project team via email at info@wasabiproject.eu or the Open Call contact at wasabi_opencall@innovalia.org.

In summary, this WASABI Open Call represents a funding opportunity for SMEs in the manufacturing sector to develop and implement AI-based digital assistance solutions. The call aims to foster innovation in areas such as human-machine interfaces, employee onboarding, conversational AI, and maintenance operations. Successful applicants will receive funding to conduct experiments, develop digital assistants, and participate in the WASABI ecosystem, contributing to the broader goal of enhancing sustainability, innovation, and competitiveness in the European manufacturing landscape. The focus on human-AI collaboration and the use of NLP technologies highlights the importance of creating accessible and manageable AI solutions for even small companies, enabling them to leverage the benefits of digital intelligence in their operations.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is specifically targeted towards SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises).

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding, as indicated by the phrase "cascade funding" in the text. The open call will fund experiments.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity specifies that proposals will be submitted online "by the SME," suggesting that a single applicant is required, not a consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The text does not explicitly mention geographic eligibility. However, given that it is an EU funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, it is highly likely that eligibility extends to EU member states and associated countries. The topic is under HORIZON-CL4, which usually includes EU member states and associated countries.

Target Sector: The program targets the manufacturing sector, with a focus on ICT (Information and Communication Technology) innovation for manufacturing sustainability. It is particularly interested in digital intelligent assistance solutions, human-AI collaboration, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) applied to manufacturing. The topic HORIZON-CL4-2022-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-06 also indicates a focus on the twin transition (digital and green) in manufacturing.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, so it is likely targeted at EU member states and associated countries. The mention of the "European DIH Map" suggests a focus on the European Digital Innovation Hubs network, which spans across Europe.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets application experiments, suggesting that the expected project stage is at the development and validation stage, moving towards demonstration. The call aims to fund experiments focused on the development and use of AI-based assistance.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is EUR 1,522,250.00, and the intention is to fund around 10 experiments. This suggests that the funding range per experiment is approximately EUR 150,000 per project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, specifically the "2nd Open Call for experiments."

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to fund their experiments.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage, as indicated by the "Deadline model single-stage."

Success Rates: The text mentions that around 10 experiments will be funded out of the total number of applications received. Without knowing the number of applications, it is impossible to determine the exact success rate. However, given the competitive nature of EU funding, the success rate is likely to be below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The WASABI project is launching its 2nd Open Call for experiments, aimed at SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The call focuses on funding approximately 10 application experiments that develop and utilize AI-based assistance for manufacturing processes or products. The goal is to enhance digital assistance solutions through human-AI collaboration and NLP, making these technologies accessible and manageable for small companies. The total budget for this call is EUR 1,522,250.00.

Eligible applicants are SMEs from all manufacturing sectors. The funding mechanism is a grant, and the application process involves a single-stage online submission through the Evaluation Management System (EMS) platform. The projects should focus on developing digital assistants, creating a WASABI shop to distribute developed OVOS skills, participating in the WASABI ecosystem, and collaborating with a (E)DIH included in the European DIH Map.

The call aims to address advanced functionalities in digital assistance, such as human-machine interfaces, agile onboarding of employees, conversation AI for data access, and conversation-guided maintenance operations. The WASABI project seeks to increase the cognitive abilities of workers, accelerate knowledge transfer, and promote sustainability, technological innovation, and market competitiveness in the manufacturing domain. The opening date for submissions is August 7, 2025, and the deadline is October 9, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The expected duration of participation is 12 months.