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

The main goal of this opportunity is to develop breakthrough technologies for autonomous collaborative on-site construction robots, aiming for a fully integrated, digital production and assembly chain designed specifically for robotics. The focus is on advancing both off-site modular production and on-site autonomous multi-robotic collaborative assembly, covering construction tasks such as site preparation, substructure, and superstructure, while ensuring seamless coordination among these activities. Key focus areas include boosting productivity, addressing labor shortages, improving worker safety, reducing emissions, and supporting the shift to electrified and autonomous construction equipment. There is a strong emphasis on fostering collaboration between human workers and robotic agents in shared workspaces. This opportunity is open to entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country of the European Union.

• Projects must address the development of autonomous collaborative on-site construction robots and their integration into a digital production and assembly chain.
• Proposals should cover tasks across site preparation, substructure, and superstructure, including coordination between these phases.
• Projects must aim to enhance productivity, address labor shortages, improve safety, reduce emissions, or support electrification and autonomy in construction equipment.
• Applicants can be consortia or single legal entities from eligible countries, following the specific requirements for entity composition.
• Single beneficiary projects cannot include mid-caps or larger companies.

Example projects:

• A consortium develops a system of autonomous robots that collaboratively assemble building modules on-site, reducing manual labor and emissions.
• A university and SME partner to create a digital platform for coordinating human and robotic teams in shared construction workspaces.
• An SME leads a project to integrate electrified robotic equipment for on-site substructure assembly, improving safety and efficiency.

• Direct personnel costs (researchers, technicians, project management) essential for R&I work.

• Equipment & consumables required for experiments, prototyping, and device development.

• Subcontracting costs for specialized expertise or services not available within the consortium.

• Travel, workshops & networking expenses for collaboration, dissemination, and participation in portfolio-wide activities.

• Piloting ad‑hoc portfolio activities such as joint events, shared toolkits, or commercialization preparation (up to €50,000 per project).

• Budget for this Call: 120,000,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 8
• Minimum value per project: 500,000€
• Maximum value per project: 4,000,000€
• Maximum project duration: 48 months

• Applicants must meet the general and specific eligibility requirements for this Challenge.
• Applicants can be consortia or single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country of the European Union.
• Consortia of two must include two independent legal entities from two different eligible countries.
• Consortia of three or more must include at least three independent legal entities, each from a different eligible country, with at least one from a Member State and two from different Member States or Associated Countries.
• Eligible entities include universities, research organizations, SMEs, start-ups, and natural persons.
• Single beneficiary projects are not open to mid-caps or larger companies.