Up to €300,000 for Innovative Manufacturing Solutions Using Artificial Intelligence, Data and Robotics

For SMEs and startups (in consortium with an industrial end user) | Budget – €2.4 million (up to €300,000 per project) | Deadline – 8 April 2026

On 4 February 2026, the first call for proposals under the European project ROB4GREEN was launched. The call aims to support the pilot implementation of innovative manufacturing solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI), data processing and robotics.

The funding targets companies that develop or apply technologies for more environmentally friendly, sustainable and efficient manufacturing, with a focus on processes after the first product life cycle (such as reuse, disassembly and recycling).

Key Thematic Challenges

Project proposals must address one of the following four challenges, using AI, data and robotics:

• Extending product lifetime(e.g. intelligent diagnostics, predictive maintenance, reuse);

• Value retention(identification, sorting and reuse of high-value components);

• Parts collection(automated disassembly and separation of components using robotics);

• Decommissioning and recycling(intelligent systems for disassembly and preparation for recycling).

  
  

Who Can Apply

Applications must be submitted in a consortium consisting of 2 or 3 organisations, registered in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country.

The mandatory consortium structure includes:

• Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or startup – mandatory. Acting as the lead partner, responsible for technical development and serving as a technology developer, provider or integrator;

• Industrial end user – mandatory. Providing a real-life pilot scenario and responsible for testing and validating the developed solution in an operational environment;

• Third partner – optional. This may be a research organisation, SME or mid-cap company (company with medium market capitalisation), contributing additional expertise or technologies.

Funding and Support

The call is funded under the Horizon Europe Programme 2021–2027, with a total budget of €2.4 million.

• Maximum grant per project: €300,000

• Maximum funding per organisation within a consortium: €200,000

• No co-financing required

Approximately 8 projects are expected to be funded – two per challenge.

In addition to financial support, selected projects will benefit from:

• technical mentoring and sector expertise;

• access to testing and demonstration environments under real conditions;

• increased visibility and access to a European partner network.

  
  

Eligible Activities and Costs

Projects must:

• start at TRL 4 (Technology Readiness Level – technology validated in a laboratory environment);

• reach TRL 7 (system demonstrated in an operational environment) by the end of the project.

Eligible costs include:

• personnel costs;

• software and hardware (including depreciation);

• travel costs and participation in events;

• indirect costs – up to 25% of eligible direct costs.

An important requirement is the use of up to two tools from the ROB4GREEN framework (a set of technological modules and solutions developed within the project).

Project Evaluation

Proposals will be evaluated by two independent experts based on the following criteria:

• concept and level of innovation;

• technology implementation approach (highest weighting);

• impact;

• team capacity and experience.

The top 16 proposals will be invited to an online interview.

Final results are expected by the end of May 2026.

Timeline

• Project duration: up to 10 months (from 1 June 2026 to 1 March 2027)

• Application deadline: 8 April 2026, 17:00 (CET)