Call for Applications: FORTIS Open Call 2

Deadline: 04-Nov-2026

The FORTIS Open Call #2 invites consortia of SMEs, mid-caps, universities, and research institutions to develop, test, and scale innovative solutions in collaborative robotics, AI-driven automation, Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), and digital twin technologies. Selected projects can receive up to €250,000 for existing industrial pilots or up to €170,000 for technology transfer to new sectors. The call supports projects that enter at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4–5 and aim to reach TRL 7 through a 10-month programme involving technical mentorship, regulatory guidance, real-world validation, and industry collaboration.

About FORTIS Open Call #2

FORTIS is an EU-funded initiative focused on advancing human-robot collaboration and the deployment of next-generation Human-Robot Interaction technologies. The project takes a human-centric approach to technology development. Its goal is to help bridge the gap between people and advanced technologies while improving: - Workplace safety. - Efficiency. - Productivity. - Human-robot collaboration. - Public-service delivery. - Technology adoption. - Industrial automation. FORTIS supports the development and deployment of technologies that can operate effectively alongside people in industrial and civilian environments. What Does FORTIS Open Call #2 Support? Open Call #2 focuses on solutions that combine: - Collaborative robotics. - AI-driven automation. - Digital twins. - Human-Robot Interaction. - Advanced automation technologies. - Real-world validation. - Cross-sector technology transfer. The call is divided into two main topics.

Topic OC#2.1: Deployment in Existing Industrial Pilots

Topic OC#2.1 supports projects that deploy FORTIS solutions in existing industrial pilot environments. The objective is to demonstrate how FORTIS technologies can operate in real industrial settings and generate measurable improvements.

Projects can address areas such as:

- Human-robot task allocation. - Digital twin environments. - AI watchdog systems. - Ergonomics-aware robotics. - Extended Reality (XR) interfaces. - Trust-aware localisation. - Collaborative robotic systems. - AI-driven industrial automation. Selected projects under this topic can receive up to €250,000 per project.

Topic OC#2.2: Technology Transfer to New Sectors

Topic OC#2.2 focuses on transferring FORTIS technologies into new application areas beyond the existing industrial pilots.

Potential sectors include:

- Agriculture. - Healthcare. - Airports. - Logistics. - Other relevant cross-sector environments. The objective is to demonstrate how Human-Robot Interaction technologies can be adapted to new environments and use cases. Selected projects under Topic OC#2.2 can receive up to €170,000 per project. Key Technology Areas Applicants can develop solutions around several technological and application areas. Task Allocation Projects can explore intelligent ways of allocating tasks between humans and robots. The objective is to improve efficiency while ensuring that human workers and robotic systems can collaborate effectively. Digital Twins Digital twin environments can be used to model, simulate, monitor, and optimize physical processes and robotic operations. These technologies can help applicants test solutions before or during real-world deployment. AI Watchdogs AI watchdog systems can support the monitoring of automated or robotic operations. They can contribute to safer and more reliable human-robot interaction environments. Ergonomics-Aware Systems FORTIS supports approaches that consider human ergonomics when designing robotic collaboration systems. This can help create safer and more human-centered workplaces. XR Interfaces Extended Reality interfaces can provide new ways for humans to interact with robots, automated systems, and digital environments. Trust-Aware Localisation Projects can also explore robotics localisation systems that take trust and human interaction into account. Funding Available FORTIS Open Call #2 provides different maximum funding amounts depending on the selected topic. Topic OC#2.1 Projects deploying FORTIS solutions in existing industrial pilots can receive: Up to €250,000 per project Topic OC#2.2 Projects transferring FORTIS technologies to new sectors can receive: Up to €170,000 per project Funding Rate The percentage of eligible costs covered depends on the type of organization.

Non-profit organizations: Up to 100% of eligible costs.

SMEs and profit-making organizations: Up to 70% of eligible costs.

Applicants should therefore consider their organizational status when preparing the project budget. 10-Month Programme Selected projects participate in a 10-month programme. Funding payments are provided in three instalments. Payments are contingent on successful completion of: - Project milestones. - Required deliverables. - Programme requirements. Applicants should therefore develop realistic implementation plans and clearly connect activities with expected milestones and results. Technology Readiness Level Requirements FORTIS Open Call #2 is designed to support technologies that are sufficiently mature for further testing and real-world development.

Projects are expected to:

- Enter the programme at TRL 4–5. - Progress toward TRL 7 by completion. This means applicants should not propose technologies that are only at an early research or conceptual stage. The proposed solution should already have sufficient technical maturity to undergo development, testing, validation, and demonstration. Technical Mentorship Selected projects receive structured support during the programme. Technical mentorship can help beneficiaries address development and implementation challenges while progressing toward higher technology readiness. Mentorship is particularly relevant for projects seeking to move from experimental validation toward real-world deployment. Regulatory Guidance The programme also provides regulatory guidance. This can help selected consortia