Open Call: Automated Scientific Discovery in Materials Science

The European Commission supports projects developing safe, AI-enabled systems that can plan, run, and analyse laboratory experiments with human oversight. The topic has a total budget of €26.5 million, with an expected contribution of around €9 million per project. It targets laboratories with advanced automation and digitalisation that can integrate AI capabilities into their existing infrastructure. The topic supports the integration of laboratory automation, AI-driven decision-making, and robust data infrastructure. Projects should enable scientific instruments to plan, conduct, and analyse experiments semi-autonomously or fully autonomously, while retaining human oversight and interaction. The intended approach adds an intelligence layer to existing laboratory capabilities. It is aimed at laboratories that already have sufficient automation and digitalisation to adopt these systems without completely redesigning their equipment setup.

The stated funding allocation is:

The per-project figure is an expected contribution rather than a stated fixed award or maximum. The supplied information does not specify the funding rate, eligible expense categories, project duration, payment arrangements, or required applicant contribution. These conditions must be checked in the official call documents. The supplied description states that any legal entity may participate regardless of its place of establishment, subject to the Horizon Europe Regulation and additional call or topic conditions. This includes entities from non-associated third countries and international organisations. For this purpose, an entity may be: Permission to participate does not automatically establish eligibility to receive EU funding. Applicants should check funding eligibility, consortium requirements, and any country-specific or topic-specific restrictions.

Proposals may address:

Projects are also expected to address the complete experimental data lifecycle: These components should work together within a safe, trustworthy experimentation system. Closed-loop experimentation connects experimental planning, execution, and analysis in a repeating workflow. Results from one experiment inform decisions about subsequent experiments. AI-driven decision-making provides the intelligence layer that helps determine experimental actions. The topic retains a role for human oversight and interaction throughout the system. Interoperability allows instruments, software, and data systems to exchange information and work together. It is particularly relevant when connecting existing equipment or coordinating experiments across laboratories. Predictive maintenance uses information about equipment condition or performance to anticipate maintenance needs.

Projects are expected to contribute to:

Proposals should explain how the technical components contribute to these outcomes and how the resulting system will be demonstrated. Advanced laboratory equipment can generate substantial experimental capabilities, but coordinating instruments, data, and decisions remains a challenge. This topic supports an integrated approach in which AI helps manage experimentation while preserving human involvement. Its emphasis on reproducibility, trustworthy operation, and resource efficiency connects technical development with practical improvements in scientific research. The supplied information does not include a closing date, project duration, or complete application checklist.

1. What does this Horizon Europe topic support?

It supports safe, AI-enabled laboratory systems that integrate automation, decision-making, and data infrastructure for semi- or fully autonomous experimentation.

2. How much funding is available?

The total topic budget is €26.5 million, with an expected contribution of around €9 million per project.

3. What kinds of laboratories are targeted?

The topic targets laboratories with advanced automation and digitalisation that can add AI capabilities without completely redesigning their existing setup.

4. Can organisations outside the EU participate?

The supplied information permits participation regardless of establishment location, subject to applicable rules. Eligibility to receive funding must be checked separately.

5. Is human oversight required?

Yes. The described systems must retain human oversight and interaction, including when experimentation is highly automated.

6. What results should projects deliver?

Expected results include trustworthy closed-loop systems, functional demonstrators, improved productivity and reproducibility, and laboratory automation best practices.

7. What is the application deadline?

February 02, 2027 This Horizon Europe topic supports the integration of AI into already advanced scientific laboratories. Applicants should demonstrate a coherent experimentation system, robust data handling, human oversight, and a credible route to the expected scientific and operational results. For more information, visit the European Commission funding opportunity page.